Good Morning
The Racial Equity Screen Office (RESO) is grateful to be working and gathering on the Unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory also known as Vancouver. We are fortunate to have Larry Grant from the Musqueam Nation here to provide an Indigenous Welcome and Blessing to officially open East by Northwest Global Summit.
Land Acknowledgement, Welcome and Opening Remarks
Actress, Director, Writer, & Teaching Artist
Marion Jacobs is an Actress, Director, Writer and Teaching Artist who is proud to be Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo) and Bahamian. She has a degree in performing arts acting from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and graduated with honors. Credits include Gloria: A life (Strawberry Theatre), Tiaras Hat Parade (Book-It Repertoire Theatre), Keepers of the Salish Sea (Holy Crow) and Wolf Cull (Longhouse Theatre/Urban Ink). You can catch Marion in the Crave Original series Don’t Even.
Government & Industry Welcome
EVP, Content and Industry Development Strategy, Canada Media Fund
Nathalie Clermont has been working in the film, television and digital media industry for more than twenty-five years, with extensive experience in policy development and financing. Since joining the organization in 2007, she has been a key advisor on CMF policies and programs. She also ensures consistency in service standards and application processes for all CMF programs, with a focus on developing alternative funding partnerships to leverage CMF investments.
Prior to joining the CMF in March 2007 as Director of Program Management, Nathalie spent 15 years at the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), where she was the team leader of the Business Affairs Unit, which was responsible for equity investment programs in cinema and television. Nathalie holds a B.A. in Film, Communications, and Public Relations from the Université de Montréal.
VP, Creative BC
Robert markets British Columbia internationally as a destination of choice for projects and companies seeking a world class creative industries centre in which to do business. In his role, he leads the administration of Creative BC’s tax credit and granting programs, balancing attraction of international business with support for BC’s domestic content creators.
Senator, Canada
The Honourable Yuen Pau Woo was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2016, representing British Columbia. He is Joint Chair of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations and a member of the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Committee. He was previously President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.
EXNW is supported, in part, by a contribution from Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport Associations program.
EXNW is supported, in part, by a contribution from Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport Associations program.
Founded in 1967, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation that invests in the development, production, promotion and distribution of the Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual industry. As the largest investor in Canadian cinema, Telefilm supports the economic power and cultural impact of the audiovisual sector in collaboration with industry players. Additionally, Telefilm provides recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the certification of treaty-based audiovisual co-productions, and administers programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Letterboxd.
Creative BC is an independent non-profit society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative sector, comprised of five distinct industries: motion picture, interactive digital media, music and sound recording, and both book and magazine publishing. The organization acts as an economic development agency with programs and services that expand B.C.’s creative economy, including: home of the BC Film Commission; administrator of provincial motion picture tax credit programs; administrator of funding programs; and provider of strategic business attraction, export, and research in support of the sector.
Supported by the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors, the Canada Media Fund (CMF) is a not-for-profit organization that invests in Canadian creators and companies to tell stories that reflect and connect us all. We fund audiovisual and interactive digital media content—across all platforms—that builds a stronger cultural identity at home and on the world stage. The CMF puts stories front and centre, opening pathways to domestic and global markets and promoting a screen-based sector that is more resilient, more inclusive, and fuelled for growth. Visit our website to learn more about what we do: https://cmf-fmc.ca/
Inspirit Foundation is a Canadian public foundation that invests in narrative change to build a more inclusive and pluralist Canada. Through philanthropy, impact investing, and partnerships, Inspirit supports initiatives that strengthen civic life, expand representation, and shift power to communities.
RESO Founder & Board Chair & EXNW Creator
Bio +
Has dedicated almost 30 years to advocating for and building ecosystems that expand opportunities for Canadian Asian and racialized artists in the screen industry.