Speakers
An avid film lover, Safia Abdigir is a Toronto-based arts culture worker specifically interested in the facilitation of diverse perspectives in the Canadian film industry, including 2SLGBTQ+ racialized identities. She is the Industry Programming Manager at Reelworld, where she oversees the festival as well as year-round programs.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Theatrical, festivals and marketing AMA
Francesca joined Telefilm in 2006 as the Deputy Director, English Market for the Canadian Television Fund (now Canada Media Fund), by 2008 she was promoted to Director of that team and is now very excited to be the Director of National Promotions and Communications. Francesca has always been a fan...show more
Speaking on: Keynote conversation: Francesca Accinelli and Mehernaz Lentin, Telefilm Canada
Amos Adetuyi is the executive producer of the legal drama Diggstown (CBC/BET), which was sold to FOX and is currently in its fourth season of productions. Amos’ television producer credits also include two internationally acclaimed TV series: Jozi H, a medical drama (CBC/SABC) nominated for Best Series Gemini, and the...show more
Speaking on: Keynote conversation: Francesca Accinelli and Mehernaz Lentin, Telefilm Canada
Melissa Amer is the Interim Regional Feature Film Executive for Ontario and Nunavut at Telefilm Canada. Telefilm's mission is to support the development, production, promotion and distribution of the screen-based industry in Canada. Prior to joining Telefilm, Melissa worked at the Canadian Television Fund, Alliance Atlantis and the Canadian Film...show more
Speaking on: Post-session Chatroom: Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding
Stuart Arbury joined Ramo Law in 2017 as a television executive before becoming Vice President of Packaging and Sales in 2021. In his role he collaborates with clients to review, develop, package, and take-out series projects, both scripted and unscripted. Stuart draws on his diverse professional background in order to marry the creative...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Co-production Discussions
A TikTok creator with over 2.1 million followers, the Winnipeg-born Babalola is also a creative executive at Toronto's Little Engine Moving Pictures, where he’s developing a coming-of-age tween mystery series and a 3D-animated preschool series on which he’s also writer and director.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Angelica Babiera is a staff reporter for Playback and previously worked at Village Media Inc., where she was a civic reporter for GuelphToday and EloraFergusToday. A graduate of York University's English and Professional Writing program, specializing in journalism, she's also been a Metroland Media Group reporter covering various beats for...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove; Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
maxine bailey joined the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) in May 2021 as executive director. In this role, maxine is responsible for implementing CFC's strategic plan, managing the financial performance and health of the organization, and ensuring the success of its operations. Furthermore, maxine builds, establishes and maintains key long-term relationships...show more
Speaking on: Supporting underrepresented filmmakers
Pahull Bains is an experienced magazine writer/editor, with bylines in publications like Vogue India, GQ India, Wired, FASHION and Billboard. As the Outreach and Marketing Manager at Reelworld, she works on sponsor, industry and media outreach, as well as marketing and communications.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Theatrical, festivals and marketing AMA
Janne Barklis is a packaging and sales agent at The Gersh Agency. She has worked for mini-major studios (Lionsgate, Pathé), foreign sales companies (Bankside Films, XYZ Films) and TV production companies (Dancing Ledge Productions) in both London and Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Exeter and London Film...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Commissioning, agents and acquisition FAQ
Eric Bizzarri is an award-winning Canadian director and producer based in Toronto. Primarily interested in the nuances of human relationships, Eric's work investigates toxic masculinity, friendships and intimacy. Through his work, Eric explores the integral and challenging relationships young adolescents experience that define the rest of their lives. His films...show more
Speaking on: Marketing your film; Chatroom: Theatrical, festivals and marketing AMA
The co-founder of Oakville, Ont.-based Sahkosh Productions who hails from Montreal has been a star in short form, with credits including web series Ainsi va Manu (Hogtown) for TV5 and TFO and doc Tales of Ordinary Fatphobia. Upcoming projects include the doc Words Left Unspoken and scripted series Hotel Beyrouth.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Head of development at Toronto's Film Forge, Toronto-born Bobkin has also been an associate producer and production coordinator on features such as Haya Waseem's Quickening, and has lined up a slew of roles, including associate producer on Brandon Cronenberg's forthcoming Infinity Pool.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Antoine Bourges is a Paris-born filmmaker currently based between Toronto and Vancouver. He is an alumnus of Berlinale Talents, TIFF Filmmaker lab, and the New York Film Festival’s Artist Academy. His films navigate the intersection of documentary and fiction cinema, with an emphasis on human relations within institutional systems. His shorts,...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
Kelly Boutsalis
Associate Programmer, International, Canadian features
TIFF Toronto International Film Festival
Kelly Boutsalis is the Associate Programmer, International, Canadian features for the Toronto International Film Festival. She's also a freelance writer, and has written about film and television for NOW Magazine, Elle Canada, Flare, POV Magazine and more. She's also written about lifestyle, design, and culture for publications including the Toronto...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Theatrical, festivals and marketing AMA
Adriana Chartrand joined the Telefilm Canada team as Lead, Indigenous Initiatives and Content Analyst since June 2021. Adriana, who is Red River Métis(Michif)/mixed settler, comes to Telefilm from imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival where she was the Institute Manager, responsible for developing, administering, and overseeing annual professional development labs...show more
Speaking on: Post-session Chatroom: Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding; Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding
Erin Creasey is Director, Industry Development at Ontario Creates. Erin's portfolio includes investment programs and strategic development for the film, television, interactive digital media, book and magazine sectors. Previously, Erin worked in Ontario's book publishing industry for close to two decades.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Co-production Discussions
Michael has almost 10 years of experience in international sales and acquisitions. Getting his start at the international sales company Cinemavault, he has managed acquisitions of films in all genres, and at many budget ranges, including the Academy-Award nominated film 'Tangerines.'
Michael co-founded Annex Entertainment in 2015, with a...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Vortex Media, Cineflix Productions, RavenBanner
Anita Damiani has been appointed Quebec Regional Feature Film Executive for the Francophone market as of April 1, 2022. A graduate of Communications Studies, Damiani has over 20 years of experience in the industry, including 16 years at Telefilm as a distribution analyst, marketing specialist and lead for the national
Luis De Filippis is a Canadian-Italian filmmaker whose work has played and received awards at festivals including TIFF, San Sebastián, and Sundance. Her films include the short FOR NONNA ANNA (2017), and her debut feature SOMETHING YOU SAID LAST NIGHT (2022).
Speaking on: Supporting underrepresented filmmakers
Erin is the CEO for Creative Saskatchewan. She is responsible for the overall operation of the organization, by providing strategic leadership and working closely with the provincial government, industry stakeholders, the Board of Directors, and the senior management team. Erin was Creative Saskatchewan's first employee, as the Director of Programs,...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Co-production Discussions
Bryan has worked in Vancouver, Toronto, South Korea and New York as a filmmaker and producer credits include: RICEBOY SLEEPS (CRAVE/CBC FILMS), ALI AND RATU RATU QUEENS (Netflix) and DAUGHTER (CBC GEM/AMAZON PRIME).
During the 2010’s he was artistic director of two theatre companies where he wrote, ran development...show more
Speaking on: Post-Case Studies Chatroom: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps; Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
After working in distribution for 5 years, Luc Déry founded micro_scope in 2002. He has produced 25 features that have distinguished themselves internationally, earning selections in the world's most prestigious festivals and cumulating over a hundred international awards. Both Incendies and Monsieur Lazhar were nominated as best foreign language film...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove
Ken Dhaliwal is a Partner with Dentons Canada LLP, practicing in the Toronto office. Ken primarily practices in the film, television and digital media industries. His national and international clients are involved in a wide range of activities from financing to production and distribution. He acts for banks and other...show more
Speaking on: Financing film
Damon is a veteran producer responsible for bringing to screen some of Canada’s most critically and commercially successful films and television (BROTHER, RUDE, THE GRIZZLIES, THE BOOK OF NEGROES and WILDHOOD). An early champion of diversity, equity and inclusion both in front and behind the camera, Damon transitioned early in...show more
Speaking on: Financing film
Remi Dufour, CPA is the primary lead for Creative Saskatchewan's film and television finance portfolio and delivers economic reporting for the sector.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Co-production Discussions
Mark Edwards is the founder and managing partner of Edwards Creative Law, LLP, an entertainment law boutique with offices in Ottawa, Toronto & Winnipeg, and a practice that extends to every common law province in Canada. Mark’s personal focus is live-action and animated films and series, video games, and digital...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Co-production Discussions
David Eilenberg is the Vice President and Head of Roku Originals. He is leading the charge to establish Roku’s free ad-supported streaming service The Roku Channel as a destination for both scripted and unscripted original content. He is responsible for overall strategic vision, creative strategy, go-to-market execution, as well as...show more
Speaking on: Keynote conversation: David Eilenberg, Roku Originals
As development producer of unscripted entertainment and formats at Toronto-based marblemedia, Espensen has created and developed series including Best In Miniature (CBC Gem, Discovery+ U.K. & Ireland), and ideated and developed Race Against The Tide (CBC, CBC Gem). She also co-developed Netflix's Drink Masters, which launched in October.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Writer, Director, Producer. 2021 saw the release of the action-thriller & Shudder Exclusive, For the Sake of Vicious (Raven Banner, Federgreen Entertainment, Dread Pictures), which was written and co-directed by Eveneshen. The film found international acclaim playing in well over a dozen esteemed film festivals (Fantasia, Sitges, Frightfest, Telluride Horror...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Co-production Discussions
Bio coming soon...
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: FilmNation, Mongrel Media, Bell Media; Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Cinetic Media, Mongrel Media
Gracie Garcia works across management and finance at Cinetic Media, the multi-hyphenate firm specializing in film finance, sales, development, and talent management. Before Cinetic, Gracie produced theater in New York City and graduated from the film department with honors at Wesleyan University.
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Cinetic Media, XYZ Films; Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Cinetic Media, Mongrel Media
One of Playback's 10 to Watch for 2022, Mitch Geddes is a Production Executive on Bell Media's Original Programming team, responsible for overseeing the production and ongoing development of current original drama series and feature film projects across Bell Media's family of channels. He currently manages a portfolio of projects...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: CBC/Radio-Canada, Neshama Entertainment, Bell Media; Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Neshama Entertainment, Bell Media; Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Lauren Grant owns Clique Pictures, a vibrant film and television production company that focuses on working with female creative talent in front and behind the camera. In 2021, Clique Pictures released the feature films Sugar Daddy and The Retreat as well as Lauren’s directorial debut Things We Feel But Do Not...show more
Speaking on: Financing film
Kim Guise is the new Western Regional Feature Film Executive for a two-year term since June 6, 2022. With over 20 years of experience in the film and television industry, including 10 years as an investment analyst at Telefilm in Vancouver, Kim has been involved in the audiovisual industry for...show more
Speaking on: Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding
Hilary studied political science and film studies at Dalhousie University, and went on to work in short film distribution at Ouat Media in Toronto. From Ouat she moved onto the Canadian Film Centre, working first in development and later in administration and distribution.
In 2015 she accepted a position...show more
Speaking on: Marketing your film
Paris Herbert-Taylor is an Australian-born, Hong Kong-raised, former Canadian Permanent resident, and current US green card holder. After working in Publicity and Public relations in the Canadian film world, Paris moved to Los Angeles in 2017 to pursue writing, producing and development. She joined Pride of Gypsies // On The...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Vortex Media, Pride of Gypsies//On the Roam
Stephanie Sonny Hooker is a first-generation Trinidadian-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto. She has worked extensively in various screen mediums, producing music videos, commercials, and web series. Stephanie has also produced three feature films: EDGING by writer-director Natty Zavitz, which was awarded "People's Pick for Best Flick" at the 2017 Canadian...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove
Ayesha Husain is Telefilm Canada's Lead, Inclusion Initiatives and Content Analyst in the English Market, Project Financing, based in Toronto. Ayesha has over fourteen years of experience in the screen-based media sector. A graduate of the University of Toronto, she obtained a bachelor's degree in English and Cinema Studies as well...show more
Natalie leads acquisitions strategy for the programming team at Crave, as well as working collaboratively with Bell Media’s original programming team in the selection and commissioning of Canadian originals for Crave.
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: FilmNation, Mongrel Media, Bell Media; Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Cinetic Media, XYZ Films
Joan is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Black Screen Office where she works to empower Black Canadians working within the screen industries to thrive and share their stories. She is committed to making sector practices and policies equitable and free of anti-Black racism and to work collaboratively with decision-makers...show more
Speaking on: Supporting underrepresented filmmakers
As the Director of Content, Crave, Tory leads the English-language content team responsible for programming Canada's premium SVOD and Pay services Crave and STARZ with Bell Media.
In this role, Tory oversees English content strategy including but not limited to acquisitions, commissioning decisions, budget management, scheduling and SVOD merchandising...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media; Chatroom: Commissioning, agents and acquisition FAQ; Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Vortex Media, Pride of Gypsies//On the Roam
Shant Joshi is a queer Indo-Canadian producer based in Los Angeles and Toronto. His credits include the films Framing Agnes (Sundance, NEXT Audience Award, NEXT Innovator Award), International Dawn Chorus Day (Berlin, TEDDY Award Winner), Porcupine Lake (Toronto), and Noor & Layla (BlackStar); the hit web series Teenagers (CSAs); and...show more
Speaking on: Supporting underrepresented filmmakers; State of the nation: market trends
As Head of CBC Films, Gosia oversees the Original Scripted Feature Film slate for CBC and GEM. Previously, as an Executive at Bell Media, Gosia was responsible for the development and production of original scripted series across a large portfolio of channels and platforms including CTV and Crave. A few...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: CBC/Radio-Canada, Neshama Entertainment, Bell Media
Susan Kelly
Senior Director, Business & Rights, Scripted & Acquired Programming
CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Susan Kelly is the Senior Director of Business & Rights for CBC's Scripted & Acquired Programming. She leads the business groups that negotiate deals with the independent producers who produce original scripted programs for CBC, such as Schitt's Creek, Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland, Dino Ranch and Kim's Convenience as well as...show more
Speaking on: State of the nation: market trends
Peggy Lainis is the Regional Feature Film Executive – English Market, Quebec Region at Telefilm Canada.
Based in the Montreal office, Peggy joined Telefilm Canada as a Business Affairs analyst in 2007 and moved into her current role in 2009. Prior to working at Telefilm, Peggy worked in various...show more
Speaking on: Post-session Chatroom: Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding; Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding
Sally is the Executive Director of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for BPOC creators, a national fund run for and by Black and racialized creators. She also serves on the Boards of the CONTACT Photography Festival and Wavelength Music, and on the Festival Advisory at the Reel Asian International Film...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Creating a more inclusive industry
Mehernaz plays a critical role in ensuring that Telefilm remains at the heart of Canada’s cultural sector by developing and implementing a feature film business plan aligned with Telefilm’s strategic objectives as well as the new realities of the film industry. She brings to Telefilm well over two decades of...show more
Speaking on: Keynote conversation: Francesca Accinelli and Mehernaz Lentin, Telefilm Canada
As co-writer on Jonathan Keijser's film Peace by Chocolate, director of development at Toronto/L.A-based Fae Pictures and writer on CTV's Transplant, Malik has already made a big mark. But the Edmonton-based scribe is just getting started, with many upcoming projects including the feature Queen Tut.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Ian Malone is the Director Of Development at Neshama Entertainment. He previously worked for over a decade as an Executive Producer and Executive Story Editor. He has written and produced for a wide array of broadcasters, including Netflix, the BBC, the CW, Family Channel, and Nickelodeon. His credits include the...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: CBC/Radio-Canada, Neshama Entertainment, Bell Media; Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Neshama Entertainment, Bell Media
Jamie Manning's Night Market produces film and television driven by diverse voices and unique visions. It strives to support both emerging and established artists while bringing intriguing, thought-provoking and inspiring material to niche and mass audiences worldwide.
Speaking on: Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
Laurie has been in the film business for over twenty-five years. She is Co-Founder and Co-President of Elevation Pictures, a Canadian distribution company launched at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Elevation is one of the largest independent film companies in Canada, with accolades including The Imitation Game winning the...show more
Speaking on: State of the nation: market trends
Lori McCurdy is on Telefilm's Project Financing team which is responsible for funding decisions on feature films at all levels. Her mandate is to develop and support feature film talent (producers, writers and directors) in the Atlantic region, primarily through investment in an annual portfolio of projects with budgets less...show more
Speaking on: Post-session Chatroom: Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding; Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Cinetic Media, Mongrel Media
Shehrezade Mian is a Pakistani-Canadian producer based in Toronto. As a child she grew up in 5 different countries, speaking 5 different languages, and developed a keen interest in narratives about under-represented communities and the human condition. Mian now seeks to champion auteur driven films with a distinct voice and...show more
Speaking on: Post-Case Studies Chatroom: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps; Financing film; Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding; Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
Meelad Moaphi is a BFA ('10) and MFA ('19) graduate of York University's Film Production program. Born in Iran, Meelad spent most of his childhood in Japan before settling in Canada, having also worked in Spain in between. His short film credits include ARRHYTHMIA (2009), REPUBLIC OF GOD (2010), A...show more
Speaking on: Post-Case Studies Chatroom: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
Andrew is the Founding Member/Interim Executive Director of the Disability Screen Office (DSO), which he spearheaded during his term at Accessible Media Inc. while overseeing the original independent productions for AMI-tv. The DSO is a national not-for-profit organization that works with the screen-based media industry in Canada to positively affect disability representation...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Creating a more inclusive industry
Hager Namly joined Telefilm Canada on December 2020 as the Inclusion Initiatives Advisor and Content Analyst in the French Market, Project Financing, based in Montreal.
Hager has close to seven years of experience as a coordinator with Item 7 and as a sales consultant for TVA Films. Her passion for cinematic...show more
Speaking on: Post-session Chatroom: Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding; Access to Telefilm’s Feature Film Funding
V. T. Nayani (pron. nine-knee) is a Tamil director, producer, and writer, born and raised in Toronto. Her work intimately and tenderly explores how we continuously come of age, at every stage of life. V. T. is an alumna of the CBC's Workshop for Diverse Creators, HotDocs' Doc Accelerator, Reelworld...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove; Post-Case Studies Chatroom: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove
Matt Orenstein is Vice President of Acquisitions and Strategy at Vortex Media. Previously, Matt was the co-founder of the Canadian film distribution company, ABMO Films, which released films including Academy Award-nominated First Reformed and Suspiria. Matt also worked at eOne as part of the US acquisitions group and is a...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Vortex Media, Pride of Gypsies//On the Roam; Speed Meetings: Vortex Media, Cineflix Productions, RavenBanner
Claire has worked in the film industry for over 15 years, beginning her career at TIFF and the Kingston Canadian Film Festival before moving into theatrical publicity and promotions. At Alliance Films and then eOne, she held the role of Director, Publicity and Promotions until 2015. At that time, she...show more
Speaking on: Marketing your film
Anick Poirier co-founded Sphere Films Intl (formerly WaZabi Films) with Lorne Price in August 2019. She was previously SVP for Seville International, Entertainment One’s boutique film sales outfit, representing a portfolio of award-winning independent films and documentaries from around the world, including Xavier Dolan's Matthias et Maxime, The Death and Life of John...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove
Lorne has over 20 years of experience in the Canadian and International Film and Television industry in development, production and distribution. Early in his career he worked alongside pioneers John Dunning and Andre Link in a development role. He then worked with producer Ina Fichman at Rock Demers’ Productions La...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Commissioning, agents and acquisition FAQ
Named to Variety’s 2022 “Legal Impact Report,” 2021 “Women's Impact Report,” 2021 “Dealmakers List,” Daily Journal’s 2022 “Top 100 Women Lawyers” list, and Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2022 “Women of Influence,” Elsa Ramo represents financiers, producers and production companies in the sale, production and/or exploitation of content from traditional theatrical...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Theatrical, festivals and marketing AMA
Anthony was born in Seoul, South Korea and then immigrated to Vancouver, Canada with his family in the early 90s. After his mother enrolled him in a high school drama class with the hopes of helping him overcome his shyness and fear of public speaking, Anthony quickly discovered his passion...show more
Rebecca Steele is a Vancouver-based producer and founder of film production company, Kind Stranger Productions. With a reverence for international cinema and enthusiasm for collaborating with auteur filmmakers, under her company banner she aspires to amplify a broad spectrum of voices and partner on international co-productions.
Having spent...show more
Speaking on: Post-Case Studies Chatroom: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps; Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
This Calgary-born talent has racked up major credits including co-creator, director and cinematographer of OUTtv and IFC's Slo Pitch, and director on series such as CBC/HBO Max's Sort Of. Their future looks even brighter, with production underway on their first feature film as a writer-director.
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Kerry Swanson is an experienced executive and fundraiser dedicated to the growth and development of some of Canada's leading Indigenous arts organizations and initiatives over the last seventeen years. Kerry has served as both Board Chair and Executive Director of the imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, the world's largest...show more
Speaking on: Supporting underrepresented filmmakers
Ms. Todd is a leader in Indigenous media, having directed over 100 projects including award-winning documentaries, such as Forgotten Warriors and Hands of History, with the NFB, plus digital media, animation and television. She is also a producer, who has contributed to the development of the Indigenous media industry, by...show more
Speaking on: State of the nation: market trends
Kelly Townsend is a news editor at Playback, with previous experience in B2B and entertainment journalism. Before joining the Playback team in 2018, she worked in the editorial, marketing and communication departments at B2B publisher Dovetail Communications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from York University and is a graduate of Humber...show more
Speaking on: Case studies: This Place, Viking, Ashgrove; Case studies: Rosie, Concrete Valley, Riceboy Sleeps
Lisa is an Emmy award-winning producer, Managing Director of the Racial Equity Media Collective, and consultant for the Documentary Organization of Canada's Business Concierge pilot program. She was previously the Acting Industry Programs Director at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. Before that she was Head of Operations at Multitude...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Creating a more inclusive industry
Clement Virgo is one of Canada's foremost film directors. His first feature film, RUDE, premiered at Cannes 1995 in Un Certain Regard and went on to play other festivals around the world including TIFF, London and Sundance (1996) and was again included at Locarno 2019 as part of the Black...show more
Speaking on: Marketing your film
Recognized as one of Canada's Top 40 under 40 in 2019, Bill is an executive with a track record of success across multiple industries. As the CEO of Landmark Cinemas Canada Bill leads a team of 1,500 full and part time Cast Members across 40 locations in Canada. Bill successfully...show more
Speaking on: State of the nation: market trends
From his Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary Black Sun, to his lauded web series Courtside and a writer credit on Paramount+/MTV's Hip Hop My House, Toronto-based Wallace's star is already soaring. He’s now developing a short film billed as a Black rom-com, as well as an original television series and his...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
Natalie joined the production/development team at FilmNation May 2021. Prior to FilmNation, she spent over four years at Focus Features identifying films for a specialty audience. Starting her entertainment career in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor, she's developed a taste for quality material with commercial appeal. Natalie is based...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: FilmNation, Mongrel Media, Bell Media
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Cinetic Media, XYZ Films
Norm Wilner
Programmer, Digital Releasing and Industry Selects
TIFF Toronto International Film Festival
Norm Wilner spent 35 years as a Toronto film critic and entertainment journalist, most recently as the senior film writer for NOW Magazine, before joining TIFF as a programmer in digital releasing and co-host of Secret Movie Club. He lives in Little Italy with his wife, the author and designer...show more
Speaking on: Marketing your film
With a strong background in the performing arts, arts administration and project management, Alan Wong strives to foster a healthy, robust artistic and cultural community as the Executive Director of the Gimli International Film Festival (GIFF). Alan holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Brandon University and a Certificate in...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Theatrical, festivals and marketing AMA
Toronto-born Wong's talents spread wide. She's currently assistant to the EVP of current at Boat Rocker Studios (L.A.), has made short films on the Asian experience, was associate producer on Amy Jo Johnson’s film Tammy's Always Dying, and is working on an Asian-Canadian crew database as well as a feature...show more
Speaking on: Chatroom: Playback 10 to Watch mixer
As a Development Executive in Original Programming with a focus on developing scripted originals, Carolyn (Jay) Wu (they/them) works with the Development team to develop scripted content for CTV, Crave and the Entertainment Specialty channels of Bell Media. They collaborate with independent production partners, writers, and creatives to develop a slate of scripted projects...show more
Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media
David Zitzerman is a partner and head of the Entertainment Law Group at Goodmans LLP. He has exclusively practised entertainment law for over 25 years.
David's practice focuses on the film, television and online industries in Canada and the United States. His clients include independent producers, Canadian networks, Hollywood...show more
Speaking on: Financing film
