Speakers

Actor, Director, Writer, Producer

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Actor, director, and writer Randall Park is best known for his work as: Louis Hwang on ABC’s groundbreaking sitcom Fresh Off The Boat; Jimmy Woo in Marvel’s Ant Man and The Wasp and Wandavision; and as “Asian Jim” from the iconic cold open of The Office. Randall co-wrote, produced and starred in the critically-acclaimed Netflix romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe with his long time friend Ali Wong. He also played Kim Jong Un in the controversial Seth Rogen comedy The Interview. He is a Los Angeles native and a proud UCLA Bruin.

Creator/ Director, NERA

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Jasmeet Raina is a writer, director, actor, comedian, and producer based in Toronto, Canada. After nearly a decade of creating sketch and character-driven comedy on YouTube, where he amassed millions of views, Jasmeet built a loyal audience through stories inspired by the idiosyncrasies of the South Asian community and his upbringing as a first-generation South Asian Canadian. A graduate of the Sundance Institute | YouTube Creator's Intensive (2016), he has long been passionate about expanding beyond digital content to tell grounded, character-driven stories that place underrepresented voices at the center of their narratives.

In 2024, Jasmeet made his television creator debut with the critically acclaimed comedy series Late Bloomer, serving as creator, co-showrunner, writer, director, executive producer, and lead actor. He received the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Script for the pilot episode, Nudes. The series returned for a third season in 2026, further cementing Late Bloomer as one of Canada's most celebrated comedy series and expanding its international reach through distribution in India and Australia.

CEO, Tunnel

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Since transitioning from tech to film in 2000, Alan Pao has established himself as a prolific filmmaker with more than 200 feature film and television credits as a producer, director, writer, editor, VFX artist, and post supervisor. His notable credits include It Follows, Under the Silver Lake, The November Man, and the upcoming Family Movie and The Dreadful. In 2005, Pao founded Tunnel, where he pioneered a proprietary digital intermediate workflow that helped transform the company into a leading full-service production and post-production studio. Today, he oversees operations spanning film financing, visual effects, color correction, post-production sound, and supply chain automation solutions for major studios. In 2024, he founded New Hollywood and Scriptini, AI-powered filmmaking platforms designed to democratize the creative process and empower both emerging and established filmmakers. Pao is a graduate of UCLA and resides in Santa Monica with his cat Link.

CEO & Executive Producer, Fathom Film Group

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Ann Shin is CEO of Fathom, an award-winning writer and executive producer known for acclaimed, hit shows. She leads Fathom’s premium mandate across true crime, documentary and scripted. As Series Producer, she delivered series including Stay Tooned, Kpop Evolution, The List, and Save Us From Our House, working with Amazon, AMC, CBC, Bell Media, Discovery, and others. She also produced and directed the documentary A.rtificial I.mmortality. My Enemy, My Brother was Oscar-shortlisted and Emmy-nominated; The Defector won 3 CSAs. She was named to The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 Power List.

Director, AylexTV Inc. / Aylex Academies

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Aylex Academies is on a mission to make world-class education free for everyone. Through our growing portfolio of YouTube channels spanning golf, badminton, pickleball, piano, tennis, and beyond, we bring expert coaching to over 20 million learners worldwide. Built on a simple teacher-and-student format, we turn complex skills into clear, accessible lessons with no tuition, no barriers. Our vision is bold: 100+ channels delivering free education across every discipline, so anyone with curiosity can learn from the best.

RESO Founder & Board Chair & EXNW Creator

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Has dedicated almost 30 years to advocating for and building ecosystems that expand opportunities for Canadian Asian and racialized artists in the screen industry. 

President/Founder, DFSB Kollective

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Founder of Korea’s 1st independent music artist & label services agency • Chief Representative of one of the first and foremost Korean music exporters to top international DSPs (Digital Service Providers) such as Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, TIDAL, Tencent Music Entertainment, NetEase Cloud Music, TikTok, Meta, and more • Executive Producer of Korean music showcases and Featured Speaker on Korean music trends at top international music industry conferences in North America (SXSW), Asia-Pacific (Music Matters), and Europe (MIDEM) • Special Project Consultant for international advertising/PR agencies (RGA/Octagon/MSL Group), video game developers (Ubisoft/Riot Games/Rockstar Games), and movie/documentary production studios (A24/YouTube Originals/Vice Media/Sony Pictures Animation) • Frequent Media Analyst of Korean pop culture industry trends for international/local TV, radio, magazine, and newspaper outlets • MusicTech Mentor at SparkLabs startup accelerator • Former Creative Planner, TV Producer/Presenter, and Head of Digital Media Production at MTV Korea • Dartmouth College (BA Government/Asian Studies) • Vancouver Film School (Foundation Film Program).

VP, Head of Distribution, KC Global Media Asia LLC

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Bonnie is responsible for securing new partnerships and leading key account negotiations for all KC Global Media channels across Southeast Asia excluding Indonesia, and Pacific Islands, to expand the brand’s presence and create new revenue streams. In addition to affiliate sales, Bonnie oversees the pre-selling of scripted content to various platforms and investors, and scouting for co-production opportunities with production houses and platforms across the region. Indonesia-born Bonnie started her media and entertainment career at Ying Group Pte Ltd. She was part of the film distribution team at The Lippo Group, under the Cinepolis Chain based in Jakarta, handling content acquisitions, marketing, and distribution. Prior to joining KC Global Media, Bonnie handled Affiliate Sales and Content Distribution for WarnerBros Discovery. There, she was responsible for the distribution and renewal of CNN, HBO and Cartoon Network with major broadcasting partners including such as Astro, Telkomsel, Mola TV, MNC Vision, First Media, Singtel, and Starhub.

RESO Operations Manager; EXNW Summit Manager

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With over 15 years of experience in the medical and legal fields and a dedication for racial equity, Caitlin brings a wealth of administrative expertise to RESO. Beyond her professional roles, Caitlin has a deep passion for the arts, and is actively engaged in Vancouver's arts scene as an actor, improviser, and writer.

Short Forum Programmer, Vancouver International Film Festival

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Casey Wei is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice in filmmaking, writing and performance is informed by participatory activities such as editing, publishing and programming. Her video installation The Zhang Clan (2024) won the inaugural Lind Biennial. Her moving image works have screened at The Cinematheque (Vancouver, BC), Images Festival where Wei was the 2019 Canadian Spotlight Artist (Toronto, ON), Or Gallery (Berlin), Clermont-Ferrand (France), and International Film Festival Rotterdam (The Netherlands). She is the Short Forum programmer at Vancouver International Film Festival, and a curator of DIM Cinema at The Cinematheque (Vancouver, BC).

CEO of Crave Global Inc.; EVP & Business Head, CreAsia Studio, a Banijay company

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Charles Kim is the Founder and CEO of Crave Global, the first end-to-end platform built to convert Western celebrity influence into transactional revenue across China and the broader Asian market. He has spent more than two decades structuring cross-border capital and partnerships between the United States and Asia, with over 100 syndicated transactions across Korea, Japan, and China. His expertise spans asset finance, project finance, private equity, M&A, capital markets, and sales and trading, with strength in special situations that demand creative deal structuring. He is known for negotiating, establishing, and scaling international joint ventures in emerging markets, supported by an extensive network of banks and institutional investors across Asia.

Programming Director, Vancouver Latin American Film Festival

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Christian has been involved with VLAFF since 2006 and has been a jury member at film festivals in Rio de Janeiro, Havana, Cartagena, Valladolid, Guadalajara, Biarritz, and Huelva, among others. Christian was also a jury member for the Colombian National Documentary Prize. In addition to participating in panels and workshops, Christian is also the founder and director of the Festival del Nuevo Cine Mexicano de Durango in Mexico. During 2018 and part of 2019, Christian was the Head of the Film Commission of the state of Durango, Mexico. In 2015 he received an official recognition from the Consulate General of Colombia in Vancouver, for his work promoting Colombian cinema. He is the director & co-creator of the 2021 feature Santuario: El viaje perrote de Paty Aguirre. Christian is now finishing his second feature film Historia Miníma de Durango.

VP of the Board & Programming Senior Advisor, Vancouver Asian Film Festival

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Clement Lau serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF). Over the past eight years with VAFF, he has also contributed as a Senior Advisor in Programming, shaping festival programs and audience engagement. In addition to his VAFF work, Clement is the founder of CRW Lab Inc., an AI Assisted Animation and AI-Adaptive Learning Studio. By merging animation with adaptive learning technologies, CRW Lab develops edutainment platforms designed for young children, aiming to empower learning through engaging, technology-driven experiences.

Director of Business Development and Partner Licensing, tinyBuild Games

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With over a decade in Film/TV and licensing, at tinyBuild Corey is responsible for executing cross media, licensing and new gaming partnerships for all new and existing company IP.

CEO/Advisor, Leeding Media/Curtain Call

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A veteran strategist with 29 years of experience driving innovation across the global film entertainment landscape, Lee orchestrated high-stakes transactions, including major slate investments (Content Partners), mezzanine financing (The Professor), and global production for Possessor: Uncut and Forbidden Kingdom. He has proven track record in casting (Rogue One, XXX: Return of Xander Cage), project development (Outside the Wire), and the marketing/distribution of major franchises like Divergent, Ghost Rider, Ender’s and a premier library of 500+ exclusive titles.

Director, Lumberwitch Films

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Dom Cutrupi is an Italian-Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. In 2024, he began directing for the fast-growing vertical series format and has since directed around 30 verticals. His micro-drama Mafia’s Tender Torture became the most-watched vertical series in the world (outside of China) in 2025. His work includes series for ReelShort, DramaBox and DramaWave, establishing him as a leading voice in vertical storytelling.

Executive Director, MENA Film Festival

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Ghinwa Yassine is an anti-disciplinary artist, art educator, and cultural producer based on the land of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people, so-called Vancouver. Her work uses various media, including film, installation, performance, text, and drawing. She was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, worked in Dubai and London, studied in the Netherlands, and moved to Vancouver in 2017. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in the Netherlands, Lebanon, UAE, Canada, Iran, and Croatia. Ghinwa has an extensive background in education, brand design and strategy, project management, and event planning and production, and is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of MENA Film Festival.

Director, Rivet Productions, LLC; Head of Virtual Production, USC’s School of Cinematic Arts

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Habib has been nominated for two Academy Awards and won two BAFTAs for his work on Twister and The Perfect Storm. Habib invented the Virtual Production System used by Jon Favreau on The Jungle Book and by Spielberg on Ready Player One. His film credits include Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania, Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace, Greyhound, and Star Trek: First Contact. He deploys AI and real-time techniques for film making and combines his experience in film and real time engines to bring their benefits to Virtual Production. His visual effects career included developing groundbreaking effects while at Industrial Light & Magic, Electronic Arts, and as Director of Visuals for XBox Publishing at Microsoft. He is on the executive board of the VFX Branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, and a founding member of the Visual Effects Society. Habib is head of Virtual Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and the George Méliès Endowed Chair in Visual Effects.

Head of Production / Assistant Professor, Buffalo Buffalo Labs / Centre for Digital Media

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Jaclynn is a Senior Producer and Project Manager with a proven 7-year track record in indie and AAA games, XR entertainment, and interactive digital media. At Buffalo Buffalo, she oversees production across prototyping, development, and post-launch, with game titles including Fresh Tracks, Birdseed VR, and Re:Rite. She previously managed game co-development projects at Sprung Studios, earning credits on Minecraft and Borderlands 4. Jaclynn currently also teaches Production and Transmedia courses at the Centre for Digital Media (CDM). She holds a Master's in Digital Media from the CDM.

Producer of Global Business, Big Ocean ENM

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Jaeyoung Jen Park is a Producer on the Global Business team at Big Ocean ENM, a Seoul-based entertainment company behind OUR BELOVED SUMMER, FLEX X COP, and TOMORROW. She works across international co-productions and co-developments, connecting Korean content with partners and audiences worldwide. Her experience includes K-culture documentaries, BEEF Season 2, a K-pop feature with Nemsia Studios in Nigeria and more. Her team's global projects span across Japan, the U.S., the U.K., Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and Nigeria.

Co-founder & Producer, Third Culture Content

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Janice Chua is a global film and TV producer who serves as co-founder of Third Culture Content. Chua was the vice president of the International Division at Imagine Entertainment, where she managed the development and production of local language content in international territories, including Taiwan Crime Stories, which was nominated for twelve awards in Taiwan's Golden Bell and two awards in Busan's Asia Contents Awards and Global OTT Awards. Prior to that, Chua was Vice President of Development and Production Asia at Ivanhoe Pictures, where she developed and packaged Chinese-language projects for China and Southeast Asia. Chua also served as one of the producers of Crazy Rich Asians. Born and raised in Singapore, Chua started her career in China as an international film sales manager. She then became Director of International at Beijing Galloping Horse, overseeing international business and co-productions such as John Woo's The Crossing.

CEO, Infinitize

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Jenny is the Founder and CEO of Infinitize and a leading expert in fandom-driven marketing, recognized for energizing massive global communities across K-pop, anime, webtoon, gaming, and other passion-led verticals. Her award-winning work includes setting the Guinness World Records title for the “Most Used Hashtag on Twitter/X in 24 Hours.

For more than a decade, Jenny and her team have helped brands and creators reach tens of millions of fans by unleashing the power of fandom through bold creative campaigns and community-first experiences, generating hundreds of millions of organic views on TikTok. This year, she also co-founded Vendetta, Infinitize’s gaming-focused spin-off, extending her expertise in entertainment, community-building, and digital storytelling into a new frontier.

Producer, Kanvas Creations Co. Ltd

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Jessica Kam-Engle is a seasoned TV/film producer. She is founder of the pan-Asia production company Kanvas Creations, and has recently helped launch CreAsia Studio for Banijay Group as their production arm in SE Asia. Previously, she was Head of Content and Development for Disney+ APAC, and Head of Original Production for HBO Asia. In 2008-16, she was a film producer in Beijing/Hong Kong and produced 10 feature films including critically acclaimed The Piano in a Factory. She also had stints at Celestial Pictures, MTV Asia, MGM Gold Network and Dow Jones Newswires.

Archive Producer, Filmmaker, D as in W Productions

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João Vitor (JV) Corrêa is a Brazilian-Canadian writer, producer, and archives specialist whose work spans documentary, television, and scripted storytelling. He has worked numerous award-winning international documentary films that have garnered Emmy, Peabody, Gotham and CSA Awards. His credits include projects for CBC, Crave, Netflix, Hulu/Disney+, Amazon Prime, MGM+, VICE Media, Knowledge Network, the NFB and others. A multiple Canadian Screen Award nominee and FOCAL Award recipient with True North (TIFF’25), João is currently developing a premium limited scripted series with Pink Buffalo Films. His work explores, identity, memory and the human experience through character-driven, informed storytelling.

Chairperson & CEO, Film Development Council of the Philippines

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Jose Javier Reyes is a multi-awarded producer, director, writer, and academician, currently serving as Chairman and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He previously served as Chairman of the Film Program at the School of New Media Arts at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (2018–2024) and as Chairman of the Competition and Monitoring Committee of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, the Philippines' premier festival for independent cinema.

Reyes is also a member of the Education Committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival and formerly served as Creative Consultant for Regal Entertainment. A recipient of Best Director and Best Writer honors from major Philippine award-giving bodies, he received the Writers Union of the Philippines Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 and the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2006. He remains an active producer, writer, director, and educator.

Director, KandyMac Productions 

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Kandyse McClure is a South African-born Canadian actress and producer, known for her roles in Battlestar Galactica, Hemlock Grove, and currently Virgin River (Netflix), where she plays Kaia Bryant. She serves as Secretary of the New West Film Society supporting the organization’s year-round programming and its annual New West International Film Festival.

She is honored to return as Co-Chair of East by Northwest Summit this year, having presented the EXNW Global Connector Award to Grace Park at last year’s EXNW Ball. 

Founder & President, Art & Action Productions

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Karin is an award-winning producer, the distributor of over 100 titles, and a filmmaker advocate. Recently, she has raised two innovations funds to explore new financing and revenue models for independent storytelling.

Manager, CJ ENM

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Currently, KayLynn is CJ CJM Music Global Business Manager focused on global business development, localizing show formats for the West (North/South America, MENA, Europe), and designing new entertainment projects for linear channels and OTT platforms. Previously she was CJ ENM Senior Associate Producer in New Business Development and IP production, leading large-scale entertainment formats including PRODUCE 101 JAPAN. Contributed to launching and positioning artist groups such as JO1, INI, and ME:I, each achieving consistent million-unit sales and strong commercial success across domestic and international markets.

Project Manager, Reelshort Canada, Crazy Maple Studios

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As an experienced creator and writer, Keri Lee was invited to join Crazy Maple Studio soon after first publishing in 2018. Since then, she has worn many hats, notably in the past as their Community Stories Manager, curating and empowering a community of writers, and then as Director of Creative Strategies. Currently, she is the Canadian Reelshort Project Manager, with a focus on co-productions and brand integration.

Chair, CISF for BPOC Creators

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Lalita is an award-winning documentary producer and long-time advocate for equity and representation in the screen sector. Her films have screened internationally and sparked important conversations around social change. She serves as Chair of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators, supporting high-impact programs that address gaps in the funding ecosystem. Lalita has received numerous awards for both her productions and her commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of diverse Canadian storytellers.

Owner / Managing Director, Wave Films

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Jerry Koedding is a Germany-born, Singapore-based producer and founder of Wave Films, a cross-border production company operating across Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UK, and Canada. Since 2012, he has produced 400+ hours of content for international broadcasters and streamers, with his Malay-language feature debut among Suria's highest-rated broadcasts. He is now developing a trans-Pacific genre film slate with active Canadian productions.

Senior Producer, Electronic Arts

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Senior Producer at Electronic Arts with 10 years of experience on marketing and production across franchises such as FIFA, FC, NHL, UFC, F1, Skate and Star Wars.

Co-Founder, AI on the Lot

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Mike Gioia co-founded AI on the Lot, the world's largest AI film conference. Mike works for Sean Parker at his new AI media lab Cantina Labs designing AI systems and incubating creative projects.

Executive Director, Government Relations & Public Policy, OCAD University

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Miriam Kramer is Executive Director of Government Relations and Public Policy at OCAD University, where she also oversees the Cultural Policy Hub. With over 25 years’ experience across Canada and the U.S., she leads initiatives at the intersection of culture, technology, and public policy, advancing creative industries, AI policy, and international cultural collaboration. Miriam is a recognized sector connector, working with governments, funders, and global partners to strengthen Canada’s cultural policy ecosystem.

CEO, Mokster Films

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With over 27 years of experience, Nelson Mok is an accomplished leader in the Asian film industry. Formerly with Golden Harvest, Warner Bros, and WME Independent, he has held pivotal roles in distribution, acquisition, international sales and now producing. As co-founder of Mokster Films, Nelson focuses on developing, financing, and selling high-profile content. His track record includes global hits like "More Than Blue" and the record-breaking "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies."

Operations & Finance Director, Out On Screen

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Piper Fawkes (they/them) is the Operations & Finance Director at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival and has worked for the organization since 2019. In their career, Piper has specialized in arts administration, operations, finance, and systems management. They are passionate about efficient processes in harmony with empathy and human connection. Most recently, Piper completed the Governance & Financial Resilience intensive at Banff Centre. When they are not working, Piper will always be found with their two Weimaraners: Maven and Keel.

Executive Director, Mosquers Film Festival

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Based in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory, Rhia Aden is a filmmaker, programmer, and screen sector leader committed to amplifying Muslim and other underrepresented voices in film. As Executive Director of the Mosquers Film Festival, she champions Muslim and BIPOC storytelling while creating opportunities for emerging creatives. Previously, she managed talent development at the British Film Institute. Rhia also advises the Canadian Independent Screen Fund's Audience Development Program and recently completed her debut narrative short film, The Eldest Daughter.

VP, Creative BC

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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.

Program Manager, Mosquers Film Festival

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Roha Hena is a Toronto-based filmmaker, multidisciplinary storyteller, and arts programmer. Her first short documentary on Toronto’s early Muslim communities won the Audience Choice Award at the Muslim Media Hub Showcase. She recently completed More Chai Please, her narrative short directorial debut. As Program Manager at the Mosquers Film Festival, she developed the festival’s inaugural fellowship for BIPOC creatives and now leads research on equitable representation in the Canadian screen industry.

Screenwriter

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Ryan Scott Atimoyoo is an award-winning Cree writer and filmmaker from Little Pine Reserve, Saskatchewan. A graduate of New York’s Circle in the Square Theatre School, UBC’s Joint MFA in Screenwriting and Film Production, and Netflix’s Pacific Screenwriting Program, Ryan writes character-driven stories rooted in identity, resilience, justice, and Indigenous experience. His credits include SkyMed, Sullivan’s Crossing, and Hudson & Rex. His VR and digital work has screened internationally and earned festival recognition. He is represented by Anna Archer at Lucas Talent.

Actor, Writer

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Born in Los Angeles, USA, raised in Vancouver, Canada, and educated in Sheffield, U.K., it's safe to say Ryan's international experiences helped shape the actor he is today. Growing up in Vancouver, Ryan's life revolved around being a well-rounded individual, focusing on academics, music, and sports. In the end, his career trajectory took him to medical school in England, where he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences. However, his childhood dream of acting never truly died.

Returning home after five years abroad, Ryan used the change in scenery to pursue the things that interested him the most as a kid. Then, at the beginning of 2015, after a brief foray into the fashion industry, that passion began to bloom. From that point on, Ryan has been acting non-stop, appearing in various TV shows, films, commercials, and stage performances.

In addition to acting, Ryan now finds his talents extending to areas behind the camera, where he has shown a proclivity for writing, directing, and producing. Those skills combined with his desire to tell and uplift important diverse stories, prove why Ryan is an award-winning, multi-hyphenate filmmaker to watch.)

Executive Producer & Head of Development, Inferno Pictures

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Sami is committed to championing bold, genre-forward storytelling and underrepresented voices across both Canadian and international markets.

Sami Tesfazghi is a film and television producer and Head of Development at Inferno Pictures, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His feature film credits include the Netflix thriller How It Ends and The Parts You Lose, co-produced with Gran Via and producer Mark Johnson. His television credits include the critically acclaimed CBC/BET+ period drama The Porter, and Inferno Pictures recently wrapped production on a new limited series for CBC.

Currently in active development, Sami is producing the television adaptation of the critically acclaimed graphic novel CHEW, in partnership with Atomic Monster and Blumhouse, with Randall Park attached to star and produce. He is also developing a female-led dark comedy procedural set up at MGM and Amazon Studios, which takes audiences into the criminal underbelly of wine country.

Founder and the Head of Production of Interdimensional VFX

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Setareh Samandari is an award-winning writer, director, producer, VFX Supervisor, and activist, and the Founder and Head of Production of Interdimensional VFX. A member of the Visual Effects Society (VES), she holds a PhD in Film and Philosophy, an MA in Political Science, and specialized training from the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. Her work explores the intersection of visual effects, AI, storytelling, and social impact. She is the author of Disruption of the Circle in Film, Language, and Other Cocoons and has contributed to projects including Forbidden University, Dark Asset, The Apple Tree, Terrarium, and Limit Exceeded (2026). Her films and visual work frequently examine themes of freedom, human rights, and innovation.

Writer

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Tanvi Bhatia is a screenwriter whose background spans multiple genres and industries. Since being awarded a residency with the Pacific Screenwriting Program’s Scripted Series Lab, she has written on Allegiance (CBC/NBCU), Heartland (CBC) and shows in development. For years, she was involved in migrant justice and anti-oppression organizing, earning her a nomination for the YWCA Young Woman of Distinction award in 2018. She carries her commitment to change-making into the industry, serving on the Writers Guild of Canada’s IDEA committee.

Producer, No More Productions

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Thea Loo is a producer and director whose work has screened at Sundance, Palm Springs ShortFest, VIFF, and the Whistler Film Festival. Her documentary INAY, commissioned by Knowledge Network, won the Arbutus Award at VIFF 2024. TEARS BURN TO ASH, her latest short directed by Natalie Murao, screened at Palm Springs ShortFest this past June. Currently, Thea is an MBA candidate at York University's Schulich School of Business.

Co-Founder, Wong Fu Productions

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Wesley Chan is a Chinese American filmmaker, creative director, and cofounder of Wong Fu Productions– a digital production company internationally renowned for over 20 years of authentic storytelling. His work with Wong Fu includes hundreds of short films/sketches, award-winning original series, and their first feature film, Everything Before Us. Beyond Wong Fu, Wesley's creative voice continues to grow but always maintains the unique perspective from his modern Asian American experience. Wesley is currently exploring his own independent creative endeavors across various interests like filmmaking, design, and graphic arts.

Community Managerr, Digital Extremes

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Zi bridges game development and creator culture between China and North America.

As Community Manager at Warframe, she manages the official creator program and community engagement for millions of players across regions.

Previously, she led influencer campaigns for major publishers including NetEase (Marvel Rivals), Tencent, and miHoYo, specializing in creator partnerships and translating cross-cultural communication into strategic advantage.

Independent Writer/Narrative Designer/Author

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Deborah Chantson is a TV and video game Writer/Narrative Designer of South African-Chinese cultural heritage. Her career has spanned almost two decades, including recently freelancing as a funding application and content consultant. Her blogs have been featured on GameDeveloper.com and Sony PlayStation. She is the author of the novels, "Past Perfect Vacation" (published 2025), and "Quiet Billionaire Housewife" (expected Q4 2026). She is a frequent lecturer, Writers Guild of Canada member, and a Certified Accessible Player Experiences® Practitioner.

Director, Interactive, Digital, and Emerging Media, Canada Media Fund  

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Based in Vancouver, Janine is an experienced media producer and arts administrator with a focus on digital strategy and immersive technologies. She will help develop policy and programs to ensure the CMF’s mandate is fulfilled in consistency with the distinctiveness of Canada’s IDM market. Prior to joining the CMF, Janine held senior roles provincially with Creative BC and federally with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). While at the NFB, she was responsible for all their digital products and platforms, and managed award-winning collaborations with key partners, such as Google, the Guardian, imagineNATIVE, and VICE Media. Most recently, Janine was a programs manager at Creative BC, responsible for the Domestic Motion Picture Fund and the Interactive Fund. In that role, she designed several industry-leading funding programs, including the first digital media funding available in BC, and the first targeted funding for equity seeking motion picture creators in BC.

Journalist

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Jeevan Sangha is a culture writer, editor, and freelance journalist born and raised in Surrey, BC. She explores the intersection of media, politics, and culture—with a specific passion for covering the Punjabi-Canadian experience. Jeevan is currently a senior editor at Shado Magazine, and you can find her words in national publications including CBC Music, Billboard Canada, The Tyee and more.

Comedian

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Julie Kim is an international headliner and one of Canada’s top comedians, known for sharp, joyful comedy about family, identity, ambition, parenting, and everyday chaos. She has performed at major festivals across North America and abroad, including Just For Laughs, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Halifax Comedy Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and more. A Canadian Screen Award-winning performer and writer, Julie has toured nationally with Rick Mercer’s Stand-Up for Canada and is a regular on CBC’s The Debaters.

President, Black Opiate Entertainment

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Karen has worked full-time in the film and television industry since 1996. Starting as a producer and lawyer, Karen has written and directed ten short films, three music videos, directed a true-crime documentary series for Investigation Discovery (US), a TELUS web series, and five feature films. The most recent two films: “Armageddon Road” is a darkly comedic feature film set in 1970s Las Vegas (2026) and “Mrs. Chang’s Perfect Teeth,” a short horror film that played at VAFF (2025).

Director of Global Marketing Communications, Montreal AI Ethics Institute

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Kei Baritugo is a narrative and movement builder, and the Director of Global Marketing Communications at the Montreal AI Ethics Institute, a trusted authority on responsible AI and civic competence. In 2024, she co-produced the international launch of the Ethical AI Alliance. She is the founder of BoldLove, a purpose-driven PR agency. With 20 years of experience, she has led global campaigns and events across AI, arts, entertainment, technology, and social impact.

Director, Strategic Planning, Original Programming, Bell Media Inc.

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Li Yeh is Director of Strategic Planning for English-language original programming at Bell Media, bringing more than two decades of experience across business affairs, rights strategy, and content development in the Canadian television industry.

Since joining Bell Media in 2005, Li was a Senior Specialist, Business and Legal Affairs, and also was Head of Business Affairs, overseeing business affairs at Bell Media Studios. Working closely with senior leadership, Li currently leads business and content rights strategy across development and independent productions, to support Bell Media’s strategic programming priorities and partnerships.

Bell Media Original titles supported by Li’s team include Shoresy, The Traitors Canada, Sullivan’s Crossing, Late Bloomer, The Office Movers, Canada’s Drag Race, and Heated Rivalry.

Actor, Producer, Gamer

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Osric Chau is an actor, producer, and gamer whose creative work is shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a deep love of storytelling. A lifelong player of games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Stardew Valley, and Dota, he sees gaming as more than entertainment. It is a lens for how he approaches strategy, community, problem-solving, worldbuilding, and the many ways people connect through shared experiences.

VP, Creative BC

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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.

Actor, Writer

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Born in Los Angeles, USA, raised in Vancouver, Canada, and educated in Sheffield, U.K., it's safe to say Ryan's international experiences helped shape the actor he is today. Growing up in Vancouver, Ryan's life revolved around being a well-rounded individual, focusing on academics, music, and sports. In the end, his career trajectory took him to medical school in England, where he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences. However, his childhood dream of acting never truly died.

Returning home after five years abroad, Ryan used the change in scenery to pursue the things that interested him the most as a kid. Then, at the beginning of 2015, after a brief foray into the fashion industry, that passion began to bloom. From that point on, Ryan has been acting non-stop, appearing in various TV shows, films, commercials, and stage performances.

In addition to acting, Ryan now finds his talents extending to areas behind the camera, where he has shown a proclivity for writing, directing, and producing. Those skills combined with his desire to tell and uplift important diverse stories, prove why Ryan is an award-winning, multi-hyphenate filmmaker to watch.)

CEO & Founder, IMPACT – The Independent Media Producers Association of Creative Talent

Bio +

Samantha Kaine is a Jamaican-Canadian, award-winning film and television producer with two decades of experience advancing racial equity in Canada’s cultural sector. She is the Founder and CEO of IMPACT, a national non-profit that addresses systemic barriers facing Black producers through leadership development, business training, market access, and responsible AI integration. Samantha has led advocacy and policy initiatives with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, and the Indigenous Screen Office. She serves on the boards of the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the English Language Arts Network and holds executive credentials in AI and analytics from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a Mini-MBA from McGill University.

Executive Producer, VFX at Netflix (Eyeline)

Bio +

Suzanne brings over two decades of experience in film production and visual effects, leading complex, high-end projects from concept to delivery. She began her career at DDB Worldwide managing major brand campaigns and honing her skills in creative problem-solving and fast-paced production. After years of producing content in the evolving world of digital media - spanning music videos, installations, independent films, and early global streaming collaborations - Suzanne established herself in VFX. She has served as VFX Producer and Executive Producer on dozens of features and series with returning clients, while her work has earned Emmy & VES nominations (Falling Skies), and an HPA Award win for Best Visual Effects in a Television Series for Netflix’s Lost in Space.

CEO/Founder, The Collectiv Digital Entertainment Ltd.

Bio +

Tinnie Chow is Founder and CEO of The Collectiv Digital Entertainment, leading PLAY IT FORWARD, a digital-first distribution and audience development initiative focused on exporting Canadian BIPOC films to global audiences. With over 20 years of experience across television, film, journalism, and digital media, she has held leadership roles at MTV, CBC, META working in the intersection between broadcast, digital, social media and technology. Tinnie led the launch of MTV Chi and MTV K, the first channels dedicated to Asian Americans, and served as Director of Programming for MTV China in Beijing. She is now based in Vancouver and championing diverse storytelling for Canadian filmmakers under the Play it Forward initiative, supported by Telefilm.

CEO, Tunnel

Interested In +

Scripted, film, action, thriller, horror, high concept.

EP and International Scripted Consultant

Interested In +

Looking for scripted in the following genres: crime (episodic or serialised); mystery; thriller; grounded high-concept; romance (drama or rom-com); comedy-drama. Focused on projects which are character-led, feature an elevated take, and offer a distinctive voice / POV.

CEO & Executive Producer, Fathom Film Group

Interested In +

Scripted drama and comedy, unscripted true crime doc series, limited or renewable, unscripted factual series.

VP, Head of Distribution, KC Global Media Asia LLC

Interested In +

Lifestyle unscripted, series and docs.

Partner & CEO, Omnifilm

Interested In +

Scripted series, drama and comedy. Non-scripted access-driven series and limited series. Also open to kids and family projects. We do not develop feature films.

Development Executive, Lark Productions

Interested In +

Scripted Television - drama (esp procedurals, thrillers), comedy.

CEO, Crave Global Inc.; EVP & Business Head, CreAsia Studio, a Banijay company

Interested In +

On the content side, most interested in series and film projects, particularly anything with a strong international or cross-border angle given his background in Korea, Japan and China. Not really interested in horror and pure action. On the financing side, wants to hear from founders across tech, startups, music, IP, and celebrity brands. His background is investment banking, he's comfortable talking about capital structure, term sheets, and fundraising strategy regardless of industry. If someone has a gaming or tech pitch and wants feedback on their raise, that's exactly the kind of conversation he's looking for.

CEO/Advisor, Leeding Media/Curtain Call

Interested In +

Scripted, horror, sci-fi, drama.

Producer of Global Business, Big Ocean ENM

Interested In +

Looking for scripted series and features. We are open as long as it makes sense for it to be a co-production/co-development. However we're more focused on the below genres for...series - rom-com with a striking male character, mystery/crime features - horror, erotic thriller, rom-com, buddy-com, k-pop/music, YA (romance).

Producer, Kanvas Creations Co. Ltd

Interested In +

Scripted, non-scripted, films.

Manager, CJ ENM

Interested In +

Music related scripted / non-scripted

Director, Strategic Planning, Original Programming, Bell Media Inc.

Interested In +

Medical procedures, comedies, etc. Looking for everything except blue collar docuseries (i.e., discovery-type docuseries).

Owner / Managing Director, Wave Films

Interested In +

Taking pitches with Monse Loera. Interested in films only - Scripted, preferably genre (horror, thriller, sci-fi, action, mystery), but also open to rom-com if it is not cookie cutter.

Development Coordinator, Wave Films

Interested In +

Taking pitches with Manuel (Jerry) Koedding. Interested in films only - Scripted, preferably horror, thriller, sci-fi, action, mystery, and rom-com.

CEO, Mokster Films

Interested In +

Scripted feature film from Asia.

Independent Production Associate, Knowledge Network

Interested In +

Documentary.

Actor, Director, Writer, Producer

Interested In +

Taking Pitchers together with Sami Tesfazghi and looking for Comedy pitches in film and tv. Asian American stories with commercial appeal. Indie projects that can be made on a micro budget. As well as Documentary or Doc Series.

Executive Producer & Head of Development, Inferno Pictures

Interested In +

Taking Pitchers together with Randall Park and looking for Comedy pitches in film and tv. Asian American stories with commercial appeal. Indie projects that can be made on a micro budget. As well as Documentary or Doc Series.

Co-Founder, Wong Fu Productions

Interested In +

Primarily scripted dramatic feature films and series, open to comedy/rom-com as well.

VP, Scripted, Lark Productions

Bio +

Nicole Mendes, VP Scripted at Lark Productions, oversees strategy and development for the scripted arm of the company. Nicole executive produces Allegiance, an original police procedural for CBC and Universal International Studios, which has sold to over 100 countries around the world.

Actor, Writer

Bio +

Born in Los Angeles, USA, raised in Vancouver, Canada, and educated in Sheffield, U.K., it's safe to say Ryan's international experiences helped shape the actor he is today. Growing up in Vancouver, Ryan's life revolved around being a well-rounded individual, focusing on academics, music, and sports. In the end, his career trajectory took him to medical school in England, where he eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences. However, his childhood dream of acting never truly died.

Returning home after five years abroad, Ryan used the change in scenery to pursue the things that interested him the most as a kid. Then, at the beginning of 2015, after a brief foray into the fashion industry, that passion began to bloom. From that point on, Ryan has been acting non-stop, appearing in various TV shows, films, commercials, and stage performances.

In addition to acting, Ryan now finds his talents extending to areas behind the camera, where he has shown a proclivity for writing, directing, and producing. Those skills combined with his desire to tell and uplift important diverse stories, prove why Ryan is an award-winning, multi-hyphenate filmmaker to watch.)

CEO & Founder, IMPACT – The Independent Media Producers Association of Creative Talent

Bio +

Samantha Kaine is a Jamaican-Canadian, award-winning film and television producer with two decades of experience advancing racial equity in Canada’s cultural sector. She is the Founder and CEO of IMPACT, a national non-profit that addresses systemic barriers facing Black producers through leadership development, business training, market access, and responsible AI integration. Samantha has led advocacy and policy initiatives with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Canada Media Fund, Telefilm Canada, and the Indigenous Screen Office. She serves on the boards of the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the English Language Arts Network and holds executive credentials in AI and analytics from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a Mini-MBA from McGill University.

Executive Director, Reelworld Screen Institute 

Bio +

Tonya Williams  is an award-winning actress, producer, arts executive, and activist whose career in the entertainment industry spans more than fifty years. An Officer of the Order of Canada, she has received some of the nation’s highest honours, including the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, induction into Canada's Walk of Fame, the Canadian Screen Awards Changemaker Award, the ACTRA Award of Excellence, a WIFT-T Crystal Award, two NAACP Image Awards, the Legacy Awards Visionary Award, and numerous other honours recognizing her contributions to the arts and social impact.

Tonya is internationally recognized for her nineteen-year role as Dr. Olivia Winters on the iconic television series The Young and the Restless. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Reelworld Screen Institute, as well as the founder of the Reelworld Film Festival and Reelworld Foundation. She established Reelworld in 2000 to address the lack of opportunity, access, and inclusion for Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour within Canada’s screen industries.

Deputy director, Independent Production Fund

Bio +

Catherine Moreau brings over 15 years of experience in the audiovisual and media sector, both in production and content development. In 2021, she joined the Independent Production Fund (IPF) as Deputy Director of the Montreal office, where she manages the French-language programs and champions the interests of emerging talent nationwide. Her work at the IPF has deepened her expertise in project analysis and financing, while sharpening her strategic perspective on the challenges and opportunities of an industry undergoing significant transformation.

Senior Manager, Data Equity, Canada Media Fund

Bio +

Diego is a Colombian-Canadian Creative Producer and Media Strategist based in Montréal with over 20 years of experience as a producer, director, and concept developer on social impact documentaries, fiction and digital media. He has a BFA in Cinema (Film Production) and a Graduate Certificate in Digital Technologies and Design Art Practice from Concordia University. Driven by narrative, ethics and collaboration, his work often focuses on issues of marginalization, the environment and North-South relations. He has directed and produced eight documentary projects, including a television series and an interactive project plus one short fiction, which have all played in television or shown at national and international film festivals. Through his company Cuiba Media, he specialized in the co-development of cross-media projects with a strong international appeal. He is the co-founder of Makila, a non-profit media incubation platform and is the co-creator and lead developer of the Cuban Hat Project, a grassroots documentary pitching contest that has been featured at events such as Hot Docs (Toronto), IDFA (Amsterdam), RIDM (Montréal) and Sunny Side of the Docs (La Rochelle). He also sits on the board of the Alter-cine Foundation which provides financial support to documentary filmmakers in the global South.

Program Consultant, Ontario Creates

Bio +

Gillian is a Program Consultant at Ontario Creates, bringing nearly 20 years of experience across the creative industries. Her background spans rights and licensing within Canada’s independent publishing sector, as well as her role as Executive Director of the Frankfurt Book Fair: Canada Guest of Honour Project where she collaborated with multiple levels of government and industry partners to develop an international showcase celebrating the depth and diversity of Canada’s creative industries.

Director, Interactive, Digital, and Emerging Media, Canada Media Fund  

Bio +

Based in Vancouver, Janine is an experienced media producer and arts administrator with a focus on digital strategy and immersive technologies. She will help develop policy and programs to ensure the CMF’s mandate is fulfilled in consistency with the distinctiveness of Canada’s IDM market. Prior to joining the CMF, Janine held senior roles provincially with Creative BC and federally with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). While at the NFB, she was responsible for all their digital products and platforms, and managed award-winning collaborations with key partners, such as Google, the Guardian, imagineNATIVE, and VICE Media. Most recently, Janine was a programs manager at Creative BC, responsible for the Domestic Motion Picture Fund and the Interactive Fund. In that role, she designed several industry-leading funding programs, including the first digital media funding available in BC, and the first targeted funding for equity seeking motion picture creators in BC.

Chairperson & CEO, Film Development Council of the Philippines

Bio +

Jose Javier Reyes is a multi-awarded producer, director, writer, and academician, currently serving as Chairman and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He previously served as Chairman of the Film Program at the School of New Media Arts at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (2018–2024) and as Chairman of the Competition and Monitoring Committee of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, the Philippines' premier festival for independent cinema.

Reyes is also a member of the Education Committee of the Metro Manila Film Festival and formerly served as Creative Consultant for Regal Entertainment. A recipient of Best Director and Best Writer honors from major Philippine award-giving bodies, he received the Writers Union of the Philippines Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 and the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2006. He remains an active producer, writer, director, and educator.

Chair, CISF for BPOC Creators

Bio +

Lalita is an award-winning documentary producer and long-time advocate for equity and representation in the screen sector. Her films have screened internationally and sparked important conversations around social change. She serves as Chair of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC Creators, supporting high-impact programs that address gaps in the funding ecosystem. Lalita has received numerous awards for both her productions and her commitment to mentoring and supporting the next generation of diverse Canadian storytellers.

Executive Director, Bell Fund

Bio +

Marcia Douglas is Executive Director of the Bell Fund, a CIPF supporting the development and production of high-quality market-driven Canadian content across all platforms, from broadcast to digital. With more than 25 years in the Canadian screen industry, Marcia previously held senior roles at the Canada Media Fund and the Canadian Media Producers Association. She also champions the advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and sustainability.

EVP, Content and Industry Development Strategy, Canada Media Fund

Bio +

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

Bio +

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.

COO & EVP, Finance, Strategy & Analytics, Canada Media Fund

Bio +

Trent brings over 30 years of industry and financial experience to the CMF. Before joining us, he spent eight years as VP of Finance and Chief Operating Officer at Portfolio Entertainment, where he was responsible for business growth, development, and strategy, as well as overseeing the finance team and day-to-day operations. Trent was integral in launching Portfolio’s animation studio in 2014, and he built a reputation for developing strong partnerships and creating new business opportunities that saw Portfolio’s programming land on prominent television networks and digital content providers.

Prior to joining Portfolio, Trent spent 14 years at Teletoon Canada as VP of Business Operations, where his initial responsibility for finance and strategic planning quickly grew to encompass several other portfolios, including Affiliate Relations, Sales Promotions, Traffic, and New Business Development. Trent was responsible for overseeing launch operations of Teletoon Retro, which achieved the highest level of distribution of any digital network in Canada. He has also previously worked in financial roles at the Family Channel and Diversey.  Based in Toronto, Trent has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Brock University and holds the designation of CMA.

Actress, Director, Writer, & Teaching Artist

Bio +

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.

Senator, Canada

Bio +

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.