Program Developer & Advisor

Doreen Manuel (Secwepemc/Ktunaxa), MFA, is the sixth child of Grand Chief George Manuel and Spiritual Leader Marceline. She is the Director of the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation. Doreen serves on the Board of Directors for Knowledge Network, Women in Film & Television, and Moving Images Distribution and is an advocate for equity and inclusion in the film and TV industry.

Advisor

Gregory Coyes has worked in the Indigenous media community over the last three decades as an award-winning filmmaker, and as an educator and writer. He has produced and directed with the National Film Board, and consulted and written for the Smithsonian at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC.

A graduate of Yale University, Greg is currently teaching, and coordinating the Independent Indigenous Digital Filmmaking program at Capilano University in North Vancouver. His Masters thesis focused on the SLOW MEDIA Community, which creates and promotes decolonized media, and an Indigenous sense of cinematic time and space. Greg is Metis/Cree from St. Albert, Alberta.

Advisor

Actor, Writer, Producer, Director
CEO – Redcloud Studios Inc.

Jennifer Podemski is an award-winning director, writer, producer and actor. Born and raised in Toronto, Jennifer makes her home in Barrie, Ontario.  She is of mixed Anishinaabe (First Nation) and Ashkenazi (Jewish) descent.

In 1999 Jennifer shifted her focus to producing as a way to address the lack of Indigenous representation in the film and television industry. She launched Big Soul Productions with Laura Milliken, becoming Canada’s first Indigenous owned and operated, full-service film and television production and post production company. Big Soul Productions produced a variety of documentary television series, scripted short films and the award- winning, multi-season, all Indigenous dramatic television series Moccasin Flats for Showcase Television and APTN.

In 2005, Jennifer branched out independently and has been creating, producing, writing and directing content through her production company Redcloud Studios Inc. Her most recent credits include five seasons of the paranormal television series The Other Side (APTN), the award-winning feature film Empire of Dirt and two seasons of documentary series Future History (APTN) for which she received the 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Director Factual.

In 2020, Jennifer launched The Shine Network, a digital platform designed to amplify the voices of Indigenous women content creators and offer professional development opportunities to Indigenous women.

Instructor

Amanda Burke is a Vancouver based actress who loves working on both 'big budget' (The X-Files, Riverdale, The Twilight Zone, Hold The Dark) and independent (Cadence, Bella Ciao!, The Curse of Willow Song, and upcoming Exuvia) productions. She served on the board of Women in Film & Television Vancouver for four years, three as chair of their International Film Festival committee, and one as Vice President.

Instructor

Digital Strategist & Mentor, Veria.ca & StorypreneursUnite.com

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 define, find, attract and engage their audiences and to work toward strategic and sustainable models for impact and revenue generation. She works extensively with government organizations, educational institutions, creative industry associations and media production companies in North America & Europe. Her podcast STORY+AUDIENCE with screenwriter Jill Golick can be found on all major podcasting platforms.

She has also recently launched a new digital marketing online course for media in conjunction with the National Screen Institute – Canada and released a study with Telefilm Canada entitled Thanks COVID! 15 Lessons for Film Distribution from the First Wave.

Instructor

Biljana Radovic analyzes applications to Film Incentive BC and the Production Services Tax Credit, including production budgets, distribution and financing agreements and other documentation, in order to determine eligibility in accordance with the program legislation and regulations.

Biljana is a published playwright and academic writer; a former editor in chief and accredited film critic at the international film festivals VENICE (2005), MILAN (2005), TIFF (2004), FEST (2004) etc.

Prior to joining Creative BC in 2019, Biljana was a Business Affairs and Production Associate at Omnifilm Entertainment and had over a decade long career in Business Affairs in Motion Picture, Indie Film Distribution, Screenwriting for Endemol’s format driven TV shows, and Theatre Production.

Biljana’s academic competencies are Post Baccalaureate diploma: North American Business Management (2016. Capilano University, North Vancouver), Master’s degree: Production of Dramatic Arts and Media - Film and TV (2008. University of Arts, Belgrade), and Bachelor’s degree: Dramaturgy (2005. Academy of Arts, Belgrade).

Instructor

Since 1983 Christine Haebler has worked on various big budget US studio films. She then moved into producing in 1994 and earned a Best Motion Picture Genie nomination for Hard Core Logo. She then went on to produce Gary Burn’s Kitchen Party, Peter Greenaway’s Nightwatching ( 2004) Sandra Nettelbeck’s Helen (2007) starring Ashley Judd and was Executive in Charge of Production for Sony on Hard Wired ( 2008) starring Cuba Gooding Jr and Val Kilmer. She teamed up with Trish Dolman to produce Daydream Nation (2010) starring Kat Dennings, Josh Lucas and Andie MacDowell and followed that up with Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014) with Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Christopher Plummer, Jean Reno and Stellan Skarsgård. Also Shut In ( 2016) starring Naomi Watts and Jacob Trembley. She produced the multi-award-winning feature film Indian Horse (2018), based on the novel by Richard Wagamese that was executive produced by Richard and Clint Eastwood and recently French Exit ( 2019)  the adaptation of author Patrick DeWitt’s acclaimed novel for Sony, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges. In 2020/21 she produced Monkey Man for Bron starring Dev Patel and is currently executive producing Bones of Crows, a feature film and dramatic 5 part miniseries for Elevation Pictures and the CBC, from award-winning Indigenous filmmaker, Marie Clements.

Instructor 

Cynde is Exec Producer/CEO for Really Real Films, a feature film and television production company based in Vancouver, BC, since 1998.

With an educational background in finance from Ryerson University, her film career has included accounting, production management and producing. Cynde is a familiar presence at International Film Markets, and is pro-active with work on CMPA’s national co-pro committee, MPPIA, was a board member for the Alliance Aboriginal Media Professionals, and is involved in mentoring emerging producers for a number of organizations, On Screen Manitoba, AAMP, Women in Film, Whistler’s Aboriginal Filmmaker Fellowship.

Recently,  Cynde produced a slate of four films based on VC Andrews book series, “The Casteel Saga”, for A&E Network. One of the films, Web of Dreams, was nominated for 14 Leo awards, including Best TV movie.

Previous titles include Pumpkin Pie Wars, Joyous Christmas, Maggie’s Christmas Miracle for Hallmark, Christmas Calendar (seven Leo nominations),  and A Princess for Christmas (winner of four Leos 2018 including Best TV movie) and feature films If I Had Wings and Shana-The Wolf’s Music, an official Swiss/Canadian coproduction feature film, winner of 26 international awards.

Instructor 

John Dippong is a skilled manager, film industry specialist, and social advocate with three decades of experience in film development, financing, production, distribution, and all aspects of film festival event production. John recently departed Telefilm Canada where he oversaw all of Telefilm’s film development and production investments in the Western Region between 1998 and 2010, and Telefilm’s Promotion Program portfolio between 2010 and 2020. Prior to joining Telefilm, he produced Bruce Sweeney’s feature, DIRTY (Sundance, TIFF, Berlin); created Moving Pictures: The Travelling Canadian Film Festival; and was Canadian Images Programmer at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Most recently, John has joined the board of Story Money Impact, and started V Street Media, a company interested in zigging while others are zagging, championing the chance-takers and outliers who have yet to be discovered, and helping to create platform agnostic content and events about future-forward stories and ideas.

Instructor

Leigha has an extensive education with several certificates, degrees, and professional designations. She has also started and run three successful businesses and helped countless others achieve their entrepreneurial goals. Leigha has helped turn small sole proprietorships into incorporated multidivisional businesses.  

Beyond her professional experience of starting and operating businesses, Leigha is an instructor with Capilano University in the School of Business. Leigha teaches within many different units at the University, exemplifying the breadth of her knowledge and capabilities. Leigha’s professional goal is to be able to show professionals and students the opportunities that are in front of them, helping create the pathway to achieving their goals.

Instructor

Lori Massini practices entertainment law, assisting numerous Canadian and American producers and studios with their legal and business affairs needs. Lori has acted as production counsel for original programming for networks such as Nickelodeon, Disney, the Food Network and Discovery.

She has extensive experience negotiating contracts for actors, directors, producers and crew, managing employment and labour issues, advising on corporate legal matters and overseeing complex financing arrangements.

Lori was formerly Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs for a major film and production studio. She is active in the arts, and is an accomplished dancer and musician. Lori is a co-creator of Producer Essentials.

Instructor

Creator, Director, Producer Narco Leap: https://youtu.be/Ty-govmlVJo

Kate Green is an award-winning director and producer whose rare storytelling ability captures audiences with its honesty. As a female leader in entertainment, Kate works tirelessly to carve a path for other women within the industry. She is a recipient of the Banff Spark Mentorship program and was recently chosen by the Directors Guild of Canada as one of the first directors in Vancouver to write and direct a short film to be shot on a virtual LED stage. This ground-breaking technology was made famous by the series The Mandalorian. Her ability to stay curious enables her to capture the nuanced texture of a character's story, allowing the audience member to feel themselves and their likeness through her work.

Kate is the creator, director and producer of NarcoLeap a sci-fi web series which first aired on TELUS OptikTV, CBC GEM, and Air Canada and has sold internationally as well. Season one of NarcoLeap garnered a Canadian Screen Award nomination, a Writers’ Guild of Canada nomination, and three Leo Award nominations and won “Best Sci-Fi” at Miami Web Fest, Baltimore Next Media Web Fest and the Asia Web Awards. NarcoLeap Season two was one of the first female lead, indie, BC-based projects to go back to production after COVID and recently released on Highball TV to enthusiastic audiences and was also nominated for its 2nd Canadian Screen Award for Best Web Program or Series and six Leo Award nominations thus far. It is currently being developed as a television series.

Kate has also worked on numerous programs in lifestyle and factual television as a producer or director. Her work has aired on various networks such as HGTV, W Network, CBC, History, Fuel TV, and Slice. Kate’s first documentary, Not A Stranger, won the “Audience Choice Award” at the Vancouver Short Film Festival and was nominated for “Best ‘Made in Canada’ Short” at Northwestfest. Kate’s second documentary, Melting Stars, won “Best Short” at the International Wildlife Film Festival. Kate’s latest short film, a zombie western titled Murphy’s Law recently aired on CBC and CBC GEM and won “Best Horror Thriller” at the Wild Bunch Film Festival.

Kate is a proud Alumna of Women in the Director’s Chair Story & Leadership Program, the National Screen Institute of Canada, Reykjavík International Film Festival Talent Lab, Vancouver Island University, and the University of British Columbia.

Instructor

Kevin Eastwood is an award-winning director, producer and writer who lives and works on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories in Vancouver.

He is currently directing a four-part documentary series for Screen Siren Pictures and Knowledge Network about the post-contact, social, political and environmental history of what is now known as British Columbia. His previous credits as director include the CBC Television documentaries Humboldt: The New Season and After The Sirens (both nominated for Best Documentary Program at the Canadian Screen Awards), and the critically acclaimed documentary series Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH (Winner: Leo Award for Best Documentary Series and The People's Choice Award for Favourite TV Series).

His credits as a producer include the documentaries Haida Modern (Winner: Leo Award for Best Feature Length Documentary), Haida Gwaii: On The Edge of The World (Winner: Best Canadian Documentary at Hot Docs), Oil Sands Karaoke and Eco-Pirate: The Stroy of Paul Watson; the CBC Television series The Romeo Section; the CTV movie Elijah (Gemini Award Winner for Best TV Movie); and the feature films Preggoland (Official Selection: TIFF), Fido (Official selection: TIFF, Sundance) and The Delicate Art of Parking (Winner: Best Canadian Film at the Montreal World Film Festival).

Instructor

Producer

Kim C. Roberts brings over two decades of experience as an entertainment lawyer to Sepia Films.  As a partner at the boutique law firm of Roberts & Stahl, Roberts provided legal advice on a wide range of film and television projects. At Sepia, Roberts oversees co-productions, production financing, contract negotiations, E&O insurance and tax credits for Canadian and foreign productions, as well as all aspects of production legal.

Roberts is also involved in the development and production of Sepia’s feature film slate, utilizing strong working relationships with financiers, cultural agencies and distributors and providing input on the slate’s creative elements.

Together with Tina Pehme, Roberts has produced Sepia’s feature films including Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet (2018),The Games Maker (2014), In Their Skin (2012), A Shine Of Rainbows (2010), Partition (2007), Civic Duty (2007), Love On The Side (2004), feature documentaries including Keepers of the Magic, The Boy From Geita (2014), Hue: A Matter Of Colour (2013), And The Beat Goes On... (2009) and more than a dozen movies for television since 2012. Roberts also executive produced the award-winning Canada/UK co-production It’s All Gone Pete Tong (2004).

Roberts is also the company’s resident mixologist.

Instructor

Nathaniel is an associate lawyer at Chandler Fogden Aldous Law Corporation in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he provides legal services in the areas of film, television, digital media and music. His clients include production companies, individual producers, animation studios, writers, directors, performers, musicians, visual artists and others in the creative fields.

He joined the British Columbia bar in 2013 after graduating from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia.

Nathaniel is a board member of the Whistler Film Festival Society, chairs the board of Up In The Air Theatre Society, and volunteers with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver. Nathaniel is originally from Ottawa, Ontario, and is of Mohawk/Delaware ancestry of Six Nations of the Grand River.

Instructor

Executive Producer, Producer, Line Producer for Independent Production

With over 35 years of experience, Patti brings to independent producers/directors and broadcasters the security of complete financing and management for their projects. Second Son Productions Inc., Patti’s company, oversees all aspects of financing, development, production, post and delivery of the final project.

Patti’s role focuses on the creative financial supervision of production for the participating broadcasters and stakeholders as well as the critical selection and management of crew. Patti manages production scheduling, business affairs and bank financing. Other services include budget management, production cost reporting, and film tax credit and funding applications and production audit preparation.

Patti Poskitt has extensive experience in all aspects of production. A graduate of Capilano College's rigorous Media Program, she has worked her way through the ranks in production coordination, management and all forms of producer titles. Stints in daytime television have provided Patti with strong connections to countless resources. She has numerous credits in all genres of programming, but prefers to focus on award winning one off documentaries doc series and music specials and independent feature films.

Instructor

After working for several years in a Vancouver chartered accounting firm, Robert first joined Creative BC when it was BC Film + Media. At that time, he became part of the organization's newly forming tax credit team.

Now Creative BC's Vice President, 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.

During his tenure with the organization, Robert has become the expert on motion picture tax credits, originally helping to launch the BC film and television tax credit program in 1998. He went on to play an integral role in the evolution of British Columbia’s motion picture industry tax policy.

Instructor

Sarah is General Counsel, where she applies her expertise and comprehensive legal and business affairs experience to support both the production crew and the corporate team across Thunderbird Entertainment. She has been in entertainment law for more than twelve years, both in private practice and in-house.

Sarah was previously a Director of Business & Legal Affairs at DHX Media (now WildBrain). She studied Law at the University of Victoria. Sarah has worked on numerous productions, including the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs television series and My Little Pony.

Instructor

Selwyn Jacob joined the National Film Board’s BC & Yukon Studio in 1997 and went on to produce over 50 NFB films. His many credits include Crazywater, directed by Inuvialuit filmmaker Dennis Allen; Hue: A Matter of Colour, directed by Vic Sarin; Mighty Jerome, written and directed by Charles Officer; and the digital interactive app Circa 1948, by Vancouver artist Stan Douglas.

Jacob’s most recent feature documentary credits include Mina Shum’s Ninth Floor, about the infamous Sir George Williams Riot of 1969 that was selected to TIFF’s 2015 annual top ten list of Best Canadian Films, and Baljit Sangra’s Because We Are Girls, exploring the impact of sexual abuse on a conservative Indo-Canadian family living in small-town British Columbia. Selwyn retired from the NFB in June, 2019, and his last production was Now Is The Time, directed by Haida filmmaker, Christopher Auchter. Selwyn has since returned to the private sector as an independent producer/director.

Instructor

Trish Dolman founded Screen Siren Pictures in 1997 and is a leading Western Canadian feature film, documentary, television, producer and director. Trish has amassed more than 30 credits - 13 documentaries, 14 feature films and several international treaty co-productions over her 28-year career including: Reservation Soldiers (2007) with award-winning filmmaker Lisa Jackson, Indian Horse (2018), an adaptation of Richard Wagamese’s novel with Paula Devonshire (producer), British Columbia – An Untold History , a landmark 4-part historical documentary series set to premiere in 2021 on Knowledge with Leena Minifie (producer); Portraits from a Fire and Out of the Barren with director Trevor Mack and Bones of Crows, a dramatic miniseries produced, written, and directed by award-winning filmmaker/playwright Marie Clements.

In 2010, Trish was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in British Columbia by the Vancouver Sun. In 2019, she received the Douglas Dales Industry Builder award from Sim Video and was nominated for the 2021 Indiescreen CMPA Established Producer award and for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.

Trish regularly mentors emerging filmmakers and producers through Women in the Director’s Chair, the CMPA and Alberta Producers Accelerator.

Coordinator

Shaelyn Johnston is an award-winning, Anishinaabe and Irish Canadian writer from Vancouver, BC. She writes predominantly for screen but also enjoys creative non-fiction and uses both genres as a way to explore her culture and the interconnectivity of relationships.

Shaelyn's short film, The Healing Dance, which she wrote, directed, and co-produced, was one of 30 Telus Storyhive productions in the inaugural Indigenous Storyteller Edition in 2019. It has since screened at festivals across Canada and the USA including the LA Skins Festival in Los Angeles and the St. John's International Women's Film Festival in St. John's, Newfoundland. 

In 2020, Shaelyn was selected as a participant in both the Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative and Whistler Film Festival's Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship. She was also awarded a Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) award and Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship through the University of British Columbia, where she is currently a full-time MFA student in the School of Creative Writing. Shaelyn is a co-teacher with the esteemed Women in Film & Television, Tricksters and Writers feature film screenwriting program.