Hear directly from documentarians and producers on how to sharpen your pitch, and tell a compelling story in order to connect with funders and potential audiences. Presented by UCalgary Alumni
Participants

Brigid Tierney
National Film Board
Brigid Tierney is a Canadian film programmer and creative facilitator with a strong focus on youth engagement, community storytelling, and socially driven media. She currently serves as Manager of Programming at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), where she supports institutional initiatives and the curation and selection of programming from development to launch. Prior to her role at the NFB, Brigid was the manager of TIFF Next Wave and community engagement at the Toronto International Film Festival, where she developed and managed programming aimed at engaging young audiences and emerging filmmakers. Through this work, she built platforms for youth to lead and championed fresh, diverse perspectives in cinema. Brigid’s career is rooted in her passion for film as a tool for social change. She has worked extensively in community-based media projects, combining film, education, and advocacy to empower young people and marginalized communities across Canada. With a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies and Communication, Brigid continues to bridge the worlds of artistic expression and social impact, leveraging film as a catalyst for engagement, equity, and change.

Marie-France Guerrette
National Film Board
Marie-France Guerrette is a producer at the National Film Board of Canada’s French Documentary Unit, a position she’s held since December 2022. With over 15 years of experience in the film and television industry, Marie-France brings a wealth of expertise in producing, directing, and telling compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences. An award-winning filmmaker, her documentaries and factual TV series have been broadcast both nationally and internationally, earning her numerous accolades. Known for her empathetic and creative storytelling, she focuses on revealing unique characters and perspectives that shed light on essential, universal themes. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Marie-France is deeply committed to fostering bold and innovative voices within the francophone filmmaking community. At the NFB, she collaborates with auteur filmmakers with strong, distinctive visions, amplifying stories that challenge, inspire, and connect us all.
David York
Producer
David formed 52 Media Inc. in 2006 after a successful run starting-up and growing non-fiction departments for Barna-Alper Productions, Cineflix and Temple St. Productions. David has produced more than 100 hours of television programming including Gerrie & Louise, which won David and Sturla Gunnarson an International Emmy; Air India 182, (also with Sturla Gunnarsson) which premiered at Hot Docs in 2009, and was broadcast commercial free by CBC; Wiebo’s War, a feature length documentary which David directed in co-production with NFB; 4 seasons of War Story for HISTORY and The Beetles are Coming, Gorilla Doctors, Great Wild Indoors and The Way Out for CBC. David has recently completed a theatrical Documentary, Love, Harold, directed by Alan Zweig, in co-production with NFB; and Locals Welcome, a food/culture documentary series for CBC with Host Suresh Doss. Over his career, David had films commissioned by networks including CBC, CTV, Oxygen, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and BBC. David has won an International Emmy Award, several Canadian Screen Awards and Geminis, and his work has screened at film and TV festivals around the world.

Dominique Keller
Filmmaker
Dominique Keller is a Canadian documentary filmmaker and show runner whose work has been recognized on international stages. Her films have premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, Documentary Edge Festival (New Zealand), and DOXA (Vancouver). Her work has also represented Canada at the Beijing Imperial Museum and
the Shanghai World Expo. Dominique’s recent feature documentary Love: The Last Chapter (NFB co-production) earned her an AMPIA award for both writing and directing, while her APTN series Rodeo Nation won Best Documentary Series. She is currently working as the Writer, Executive Producer, and Showrunner on Season Two of the hit APTN series Horse Warriors.