An ejector mechanism (8) is provided for use in any system which uses photographic film, such as cameras, film development equipment and any other systems designed for film cartridges. One embodiment of the ejector mechanism includes an ejector slide (10), an ejector slide spring (12), a trigger lever (20), a trigger lever spring (22), a cover plate and a loading chamber. The ejector slide includes a spring hook (14), a first guide pin (15), a second guide pin (16), a trigger lever tab (17), a trigger lever notch (18) and a film cartridge pin (19). The trigger lever (20) includes a trigger lever spring attachment (80), a trigger lever slot (82), a pawl (84), a trigger lever head (86) and a trigger control tab (87). The cover plate includes a ejector spring attachment (29), a trigger spring hook (31), a first guide slot (30) and a trigger control ramp (44). The first guide slot (30) engages the first guide pin (15) attached to the ejector slide to support first guide pin (15) movement along the first guide slot (30). The first guide slot (30) further includes a latch tab and a latch slot (72). The loading chamber, which receives a film cartridge endwise, i.e. axially, includes a second guide slot (62), a trigger lever guide pin (64) and a film cartridge access slot (66). The second guide slot (62) engages the second guide pin (16) attached to the ejector slide to support second guide pin movement along the second guide slot. The ejector slide spring (12) is positioned on the ejector spring attachment and the spring hook (14). The trigger lever spring (22) is positioned on the trigger spring hook (14) and the trigger lever spring attachment (80). The ejector slide and the trigger lever are positioned between the loading chamber and the cover plate.