Anam Abbas is a Canadian-Pakistani filmmaker. As a producer and DOP her first feature Showgirls of Pakistan, premiered in competition at IDFA 2020 and was released globally by VICE in 2021. Anam's first feature documentary as a director, award-winning This Stained Dawn, premiered in International Competition at the 2021 Sheffield...show more

Speaking on: In Flames: from Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program to the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes

Adani Pictures is a Toronto-based media production company, helmed by producers Rua Wani and Jessica Adams. We help creators and visionaries tell progressive stories through film, TV, and digital media. Our mission is to provoke curiosity and engagement, centered in a belief that everyone’s story deserves to be seen.

Co-founder Jessica...show more

Speaking on: Navigating financing for Canadian film in a global ecosystem; Topic Tables > Financing + funding: the good, the bad and the money

Melissa Amer is the Regional Feature Film Executive for Ontario and Nunavut at Telefilm Canada.  Telefilm’s mission is to finance, develop, and promote the screen-based industry in Canada.  Prior to joining Telefilm, Melissa worked at the Canadian Television Fund, Alliance Atlantis and the Canadian Film Centre.  She studied film and...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Financing + funding: the good, the bad and the money

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers

Pahull Bains is the Outreach and Marketing Manager at Reelworld Screen Institute, where she also works on partnerships and festival programming.

Pahull is also an experienced magazine writer/editor, with bylines in publications like Vogue India, GQ India, Wired, FASHION and Billboard. Born and raised in India, she now resides in Toronto.

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Jean Benoît is the Director of Operations at Axia Films. He’s responsible for managing brand identity, nurturing partnerships and spearheading content sales and distribution.

Previous to joining Axia he was at Astral Media, and the VP of Sales Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. During his 30 year career Jean has worked on...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Photon Films, Axia Films, CBC

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, male-male abuse, friendships and intimacy. His films have been distributed by CBC, Super Channel, Revry and Amazon Prime (US, UK, Germany). His most recent...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers

Kelly Boutsalis is the International Programmer, Canada for the Toronto International Film Festival. She's also a freelance writer, and has written about film and television for the New York Times, NOW Magazine, Elle Canada, Flare, POV Magazine and more. She's also written about lifestyle, design, and culture for publications including...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers

Mekhala Chaubal is currently Senior Manager, Program Acquisitions and Feature Films at CBC, overseeing the licensing and negotiations of finished content for CBC's linear, specialty and digital platforms (CBC Main Network, the Documentary Channel, CBC Gem, Canadian Reflections, and others), and pre-license funding for CBC Films.

Working with producers, distributors and...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Photon Films, Axia Films, CBC

Mitch Davis has been a Director of International Programming at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal since 1997 and Co-Festival Director - now Artistic Director- since 2003.  As a filmmaker, Davis directed the shorts Divided Into Zero (1999 - winner, Jury Award for Best Narrative Short at the Chicago Underground...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers

Taisa Dekker is passionate about the screen-based industries and the promotion of Canadian artists and creators. She got her start working on productions in Calgary, Alberta and graduated from SAIT Polytechnic's Cinema, Television, Stage and Radio program. Taisa’s 17-year career with ACTRA began at the Alberta branch, where she was...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Paula Devonshire graduated with a Business degree from the University of Toronto and degree in Radio and Television from Ryerson University. She attended the prestigious Canadian Film Centre’s Producer's Lab, Trans-Atlantic Partners and was the first Canadian to participate in the Inside Pictures Producer...show more

Speaking on: Navigating financing for Canadian film in a global ecosystem

Mark Edwards is the founder and managing partner of Edwards Creative Law, LLP, an entertainment law boutique with offices in Ottawa and Toronto 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 media.

Mark...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Financing + funding: the good, the bad and the money

Avi Federgreen’s over twenty-five years of experience in the Canadian film industry includes over seventy films produced. Federgreen also is the creator of the Indiecan10K & Indiecan20K First Feature Initiatives that have now helped 8 first features get made in Canada. Federgreen's producing credits include Home Free, One Week, Still...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Federgreen Entertainment, Neshama

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.

With over two decades in the Canadian film industry, Olivier Gauthier-Mercier has quietly held influential roles at eOne Entertainment, Remstar Corp, and Elevation Pictures, and Sphere Films, shaping the distribution landscape. Passionate and strategic, Olivier drives industry progress.

Speaking on: Finding your audience in the modern film market

Lindsay Blair Goeldner is a film producer and the VP of Production at Fae Pictures, an award-winning media production company on a mission to decolonize Hollywood. Originally hailing from Toronto, she is currently based in New York City. She has produced and overseen production on award-winning projects that have played...show more

Speaking on: Finding your audience in the modern film market

Edward Hanrahan is a Virtual Production professional at William F. White INTL. one of the world’s largest film supply companies. He is responsible for helping the largest film and television productions in the world utilize ICVFX while filming on LED volumes.

Spanning over 15 years in VFX, his careers highlights include...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Indie innovations: from sustainability to AI to discoverability

Sardé Hardie is a Toronto based writer, producer, community organizer and film executive acquiring new content and securing sales on broadcast and digital platforms for Photon Films. Prior to joining Photon Films, she was at Entertainment One as a Sales Executive within the Film and Television division. In 2018 she...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Vortex Media, Photon Films, OUTtv; Speed Meetings: Photon Films, Axia Films, CBC

Zena Harris builds sustainability programs that embed sustainable practices, influence stakeholders and shift industries.  Professionally, she has worked in three sectors - industrial engineering and construction, higher education, and entertainment – in a corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial context respectively.  Most recently, she founded a sustainability consulting company with the focus...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Indie innovations: from sustainability to AI to discoverability

Hilary's career in film began in short film distribution at Ouat Media, before moving onto the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), working in development, administration and distribution. While at the CFC she contributed to an online film magazine, The Seventh Art, where she managed a Live Directors Series, which brought prominent...show more

Speaking on: Finding your audience in the modern film market

Natalie leads acquisitions strategy for English programming for Canada’s premium SVOD and Pay services Crave and STARZ with Bell Media, and oversees scheduling strategy for the English Pay TV channels. Additionally in this role, Natalie works collaboratively with Bell Media’s original programming team in the selection and commissioning of Canadian...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Bell Media, Vortex Media; Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Elevation Pictures, FilmNation

Beth joined Amazon Studios in 2022. In her role, she sources and develops original Canadian programs for Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video to strengthen Amazon studios’ ties within the Canadian screen industry.

Previously she was the Director of Development for New Metric Media, where she developed a slate of scripted dramas...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Cinetic Media, Amazon Studios

A Co-owner and Executive Producer of one of Canada's largest production companies, Indigenous-owned Eagle Vision, Kyle Irving O.M. has produced more than 300 hours of film and television content over the last 22 years.

Speaking on: Going modern: will C-11 breathe new life into Canadian film?

Laurie’s 20+ years of in-depth experience in the feature film, television and screen-based industry has prepared her for almost anything, scripted or improvised! Her experience climbing the ranks at respected industry membership organizations saw her creating professional development programming for the full range of creative workers, from entry level to...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Joan Jenkinson is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the Black Screen Office. She is an accomplished television executive and an outspoken advocate for Black Canadians working in the screen industries. Under her leadership the BSO has been named the 2022 Changemaker Organization of the Year by Playback, Canada’s...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

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 merchandizing for...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Elevation Pictures, Bell Media, FilmNation; Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Cinetic Media, Amazon Studios

Zarrar Kahn is a Canadian-Pakistani film director and screenwriter, whose debut feature film In Flames premiered at the 2023 Cannes and TIFF Film Festivals. 

He directed a number of short films in the late 2010s and early 2020s, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting new filmmakers, before making In Flames. He is an alumnus of the...show more

Speaking on: In Flames: from Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program to the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes

Floyd Kane started his career as an entertainment lawyer working on productions such as the long-running satirical news program This Hour Has 22 Minutes and the Oscar-winning documentary, Bowling For Columbine. He transitioned into writing with his creation of the half-hour CBC drama North/South. Since that time, Floyd has written...show more

Speaking on: Navigating financing for Canadian film in a global ecosystem

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Indie innovations: from sustainability to AI to discoverability

Annelise comes from a background as an independent film producer, with training at such prestigious institutions as the Canadian Film Centre and Banff Centre for the Arts which she transitioned into a career in digital marketing in 1995.

Today, her focus is helping creatives and storytellers use the digital opportunity to...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Indie innovations: from sustainability to AI to discoverability

Speaking on: Finding your audience in the modern film market

Sally is Executive Director of the Canadian Independent Screen Fund for Black and People of Colour Creators (CISF), the country’s only dedicated For Us, By Us fund governed and operated by the Black and racialized creators it serves.

Sally has overseen CISF’s administration of the Rogers-BSO Script Development Fund since 2021...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Financing + funding: the good, the bad and the money

Jason is an independent Creative Producer and co-owner of Shut Up & Colour Pictures. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production from NSCAD University. Jason has produced five feature films at S&C, and works as the company’s creative director on client based work, as well as writing...show more

Emmy-nominated director Zach Lipovsky started his career on Spielberg's filmmaking competing "On the lot" where he placed 5th out of 12,000 directors worldwide. Zach has gone on to direct and produce projects for TV and film for Syfy, TNT, Lionsgate, Legendary, Universal, and Disney where he was the producing director...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Joy was appointed CEO of the National Screen Institute in January 2020. By providing a clear vision for the organization, Joy’s work has resulted in unprecedented growth and furthered the organization’s mission to increase the number of underrepresented storytellers through training and mentorship programs.

Joy currently serves on several boards including...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Adrian Love is currently the Executive Vice President and General Manager at Elevation Pictures overseeing the theatrical distribution team. Previously he served as the VP of Distribution and Operations at eOne Films and the VP of Marketing and Acquisitions at Alliance Films. Having worked in the Canadian independent film space...show more

Speaking on: BlackBerry: a marketing case study from title to screen

Winnie Luk is the inaugural Executive Director of the Disability Screen Office. The Disability Screen Office is a national, disability-led, not-for-profit organization that works with the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster authentic and meaningful disability representation throughout the sector.

Winnie is a disability advocate, 2SLGBTQI+ activist, and...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Lauren MacKinlay is an award-winning producer based in Toronto, Ontario. Currently, she is a Creative Producer with Neshama Entertainment, working across scripted development in Canada, the United States and internationally. She recently served as an Executive Producer on Neshama’s new one-hour drama The Way Home (Hallmark), which was a ratings...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Federgreen Entertainment, Neshama

Jessica McNair is a writer and producer based in Toronto. She is currently an Associate Producer for the Banff World Media Festival where she oversees the production of the Rockie Awards International Program Competition and Rockies Gala. Going into its 45th year, the Banff World Media Festival and Rockie Awards...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers

Berry Meyerowitz is the co-founder of Quiver Distribution, a film and TV company operating in the U.S., Canada and international markets. Quiver acquires, develops, finances, and produces high-quality, talent-driven films from both established and emerging stars and filmmakers. The company recently produced and released the Netflix Original Happiness for Beginners...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Bell Media, Vortex Media

Shehrezade Mian is a Pakistan-Canadian producer based between Canada and Pakistan who seeks to champion auteur driven films with a distinct voice. Mian is an alumnus of the TIFF- Netflix Talent Accelerator, the first European Audio-Visual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) Producers Program presented by the NSI and CMF, and the WIFT mentorship...show more

Speaking on: In Flames: from Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program to the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes

Matthew Miller (Writer, Producer, BlackBerry) is the co-founder and president of Zapruder Films in Toronto. Working with director Matt Johnson he has developed a reputation for tackling challenging material that weaves historical fact with fiction and plays with filmmaking conventions and aesthetics to defy audience expectation. Projects include The Dirties (2013),...show more

Speaking on: BlackBerry: a marketing case study from title to screen

J.C. leads scripted and unscripted content strategy for Cineflix Productions and oversees the deal making process with networks and third parties. He curates the development slate, boosting growth through internally generated ideas as well as partnerships with outside creatives, and is responsible for building the division's emerging feature doc business. As part...show more

Speaking on: Navigating financing for Canadian film in a global ecosystem

Fawzia Mirza (she/they) is a White House Champion of Change in Asian storytelling, an alum of the Tribeca Film Institute, TIFF Writer's Studio and Filmmaker Lab, Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative, and the Canadian Academy of Women Directors' Program, and her new feature script HEIRLOOM was named to the 2022 Muslim...show more

Speaking on: Case study: The Queen of my Dreams’ journey from short film to feature

Anna Newallo has three decades of experience in the Film and Television industry. As a Program Consultant at Ontario Creates, her portfolio contains a wide range of programs and initiatives including the Film Fund (Production and Development), Marketing and Distribution Initiative and Industry Development Program.

As a producer, her award-winning independent...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Financing + funding: the good, the bad and the money

Matt Orenstein is Vice President of Acquisitions and Strategy at Vortex Media. Notable Vortex Media titles include Nitram, Peace By Chocolate, and I Don’t Know Who You Are. Upcoming releases include Sometimes I Think About Dying, Raging Grace, and You Can Call Me Bill. Previously, Matt was the co-founder of...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Quiver Distribution, Bell Media, Vortex Media

Founded in 1994 by Hussain Amarshi, Mongrel Media is a leading independent film distributor focused on bringing the best of local and world cinema to Canadian audiences. Since its inception, the company has built a reputation as an innovative and distinct brand with a discerning taste, and prides itself on...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Vortex Media, Photon Films, OUTtv; Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Federgreen Entertainment, Neshama

Brandon Patry graduated from Laurentian University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. Shortly following his undergraduate degree, Brandon attended Cambrian College’s Graphic Design program before shifting career focus to the film industry and obtaining a position with Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival.

Starting out on an...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers

Combining a passion for inclusive stories and original voices, KarmaFilm founder Anand Ramayya has built an impressive, twenty-year track record as a BIPOC and equity seeking producer with over 80 hours of content notably OUR BIG PUNJABI
FAMILY(2023), DONKEYHEAD (2022) & the groundbreaking stop motion series WAPOS BAY receiving over 40...show more

Speaking on: Going modern: will C-11 breathe new life into Canadian film?

Nataline Rodrigues is a strategic, results driven, entertainment executive with a proven track record in production and programming. With a solid foundation in independent production and seasoned experience as a broadcast executive, Nataline is known for her commitment to creative excellence and delivering compelling cross platform content in all genres...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Vortex Media, Photon Films, OUTtv

Noah Segal is the co-president of Elevation Pictures. Since its launch in 2014, Elevation has established itself as a leading independent distributor in Canada with Academy Award winning titles such as The Imitation Game, Moonlight, Room and The Father alongside box office hits Lady Bird, Paw Patrol: The Movie and...show more

Speaking on: Going modern: will C-11 breathe new life into Canadian film?; Speed Meetings: Elevation Pictures, Bell Media, FilmNation; Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Elevation Pictures, FilmNation

In her role as Director of Physical Production at FilmNation, Liz Siegal is responsible for driving production planning forward, finding locations for principal photography, attaching producers and production service partners, and managing all budgeting and scheduling work.  Liz provides producorial services across a diverse slate of films, giving script notes...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Elevation Pictures, Bell Media, FilmNation; Speed Meetings: Bell Media, Elevation Pictures, FilmNation

Kelly Townsend is the 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...show more

Speaking on: Navigating financing for Canadian film in a global ecosystem; Case study: The Queen of my Dreams’ journey from short film to feature; BlackBerry: a marketing case study from title to screen

Aaron Unrau is the Manager of Industrial Relations at the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC), the labour organization that represents more than 2,600 professional English-language screenwriters. Overseeing both the administration and enforcement of the WGC’s collective agreement, Aaron wears both a pocket protector and sheriff’s badge at all times. Speaking...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Connecting voices: unions, guilds and community organizations

Jeff oversees the development and production of scripted projects for Cineflix Productions. He developed and produced the multi-award-winning films I Was Lorena Bobbitt, and Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey, which was the number one movie on Netflix in multiple territories in 2021.

In addition to gripping crime thrillers like...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Financing + funding: the good, the bad and the money

Jocelyn Wexler has been a Development Executive at Wild Sheep since 2020. She is responsible for creative materials and pitch decks, finding/acquiring new IP, and has spent considerable time in writers' rooms steering development.

Recently, Jocelyn led Wild Sheep Content in launching AI in Hollywood (aiinhollywood.com) to provide a one-stop shop...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Indie innovations: from sustainability to AI to discoverability

Lauren is the Head of Programming for OUTtv, currently with services in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.  With servicing multiple territories, she has successfully negotiated contracts with companies worldwide.  Lauren is part of the development team at the network and continues to work closely with...show more

Speaking on: Speed Meetings: Mongrel Media, Vortex Media, Photon Films, OUTtv

A recent recipient of the 2023 Visionary Award at The Legacy Awards, Tonya has been named one of the 100 most influential Black Canadians by Afroglobal Television in 2022, and Playbacks 2021 Changemaker of the year,  she is an award winning actress and producer who has worked in the entertainment...show more

Speaking on: Going modern: will C-11 breathe new life into Canadian film?

Andria is a CMPA IndieScreen Award-Nominated producer and the co-founder of Baby Daal Productions, which she runs with her wife, filmmaker Fawzia Mirza. She produced Fawzia’s feature film debut THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS, a Pakistan-Canada co-production that world premiered at TIFF 2023. Baby Daal’s feature slate also includes Sandra...show more

Speaking on: Case study: The Queen of my Dreams’ journey from short film to feature

In his role as Director of Programming, Curtis Woloschuk articulates the Vancouver International Film Festival's artistic vision through curation, program development, and community building. He is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the organization's Programming department and implementation of an annual programming plan that delivers VIFF's mandate and ensures...show more

Speaking on: Topic Tables > Festival insights: meet the festival programmers