Jeremy Workman is a documentary filmmaker who has been praised for creating his own genre of uniquely cinematic character portraits that bring you deep inside extraordinary worlds. Workman's documentaries have garnered significant recognition, playing at major film festivals and seeing global releases in theaters, television, and on streaming sites. His acclaimed films include SECRET MALL APARTMENT (Netflix), LILY TOPPLES THE WORLD (Discovery / HBO MAX), DECIDING VOTE (The New Yorker), THE WORLD BEFORE YOUR FEET (Prime), and MAGICAL UNIVERSE (IFC FIlms / AMC+). In 2026, he will be premiering his newest documentary SCHOOL FOR DEFECTORS which tells the story of a tiny school in South Korea where all the students are North Korean defectors. Lastly, he is already hard at work on his next documentary WHIZ-BANG! which dives into the mad-cap world of Rube Goldberg artists.

Jeremy Workman

Vicki Van Chau (周倩瑜) is a filmmaker and cultural worker based in Calgary, Alberta on Treaty 7 territory. She has produced and directed several award-winning short films that have screened across Canada and internationally. She is currently the Executive Director of the Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society (AMAAS) where she serves media artists and media art organizations across the province through advocacy work, development opportunities and bridging connections. She has received the Spirit of Helen Award (2014, AMAAS), the Horizon Alumni Award (2018, AUArts) and the Echo Award (2021, EMMEDIA) for her contributions to the media arts community. In 2022, she received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award and was inducted into Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40. In 2023, she received the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contribution to the arts & culture in Alberta.

Vicki Van Chau

Cody Lefthand grew up with a “camera glued to [his] hand.” He made short films with his friends when younger, eventually joining the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers. His first feature-length documentary, Stories we Have Earned: The Stoney Nakoda Film Project, tells the story of the intersection between film history in Banff and Nakoda heritage and how these films have shaped perceptions of Stoney Nakoda culture. Lefthand, a member of the Eden Valley Stoney Nakoda First Nation, said he was inspired to become a filmmaker after realizing the power of storytelling and when he explored the world of film, he recognized its “ability to capture and share our experiences in a way that resonates with others.”

Cody Lefthand

Matt has been fortunate enough to have spent over 3 decades in the cinema exhibition industry. His realm of various roles include boots-on-the-ground in cinemas, pioneering new business initiatives for alternative programming, event cinema development, communications, film & event distribution for movie theatres, and a brief stint within gaming/esports activities. Matt is currently with MUBI as the Distribution Director, supporting all theatrical releases within Canada

Matt DeVuono

Guillaume Carlier is a Franco-Canadian filmmaker and co-founder of Kino Sum Productions. Guillaume began his career making DIY punk short films closely tied to Calgary’s music scene such as “Moses”, a Best of 2015 by Beatroute Magazine. After his documentary short “Calgary, Ugly”, premiered at the 2017 Calgary International Film Festival, Guillaume worked as a television director, writer, cinematographer, and editor. During this time, his work was broadcast by Unis TV, CBC, Radio Canada, and Superchannel. Notably, he directed the AMPIA-award winning television series Histoires de chars (Best Information or Lifestyle Series) and Thunder: The Life and Death of Arturo Gatti (Best Documentary Series). As writer/director, his documentary Borrowed From Nature was commissioned by CBC Television and broadcast on NHK Japan. His experimental docufantasia feature film, Everybody Altogether Now, was released in 2022.

Guillaume Carlier

Kara MacLean is an experienced domestic and international entertainment publicist based in Los Angeles, currently Senior Vice President at the international entertainment PR agency Organic. Originally having grown up in Toronto, she is an avid cinephile and her first job (with a proper paycheck) was working at the Toronto Film Festival. MacLean has worked for over fifteen years in entertainment and has represented projects at the top festivals around the world, including Cannes, Berlin, SXSW, Venice, TIFF, Sundance and others. She has worked on the international and domestic campaigns for numerous films and series, and has worked with some of the world’s most talented filmmakers.

Kara MacLean

DARREN DEAN is an American producer, writer and director, and a four-time Independent Spirit Award nominee (including the prestigious Independent Spirit Piaget Producer’s Award). With frequent collaborator Sean Baker, he created the award winning features PRINCE OF BROADWAY (which he co-wrote), tangerine, and 2017’s Oscar nominated THE FLORIDA PROJECT. He has also produced such award-winning fare as 2010’s KINYARWANDA (dir Alrick Brown), which won the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance, and THE INFILTRATORS (dirs. Alex Rivera & Cristina Ibarra), which won the NEXT Audience Award and NEXT Innovator Prize at Sundance in 2019, Spirit Award nominee PREMATURE, Sabrina Carpenter's first feature leading role in THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE LONG ROAD. He has also been nominated for an NAACP Image Award (KINYARWANDA) and has won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Feature (for the groundbreaking tangerine). His 2025 releases include THE WELCOME TABLE (dir by Josh Fox) for HBO and A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR (dir Nicola Rinciari).

Darren Dean

Aleisha Anderson is an Alberta-based director, producer, and co-founder of Thousand Year Films, an independent production company dedicated to creating impactful stories. Her debut feature, Father of Nations (2022), premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival, received a theatrical release through Cineplex theatres across Alberta, and earned multiple awards and industry recognition. Her award-winning short film, If Walls Could Talk (2023), further established her presence on the festival circuit. In 2026, she expanded her directing portfolio with short films Refuge (2026) and White Hat (2026), while producing the feature film X-Communicado (2026), which is set to make its North American premiere at the Calgary International Film Festival. As a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, Aleisha is known for her collaborative approach to filmmaking, commitment to mentorship, and ability to guide ambitious independent productions from concept to screen. Through her work, she continues to champion distinctive stories that resonate with audiences in Canada and around the world.

Aleisha Anderson

Louise Morel holds a master's degree in cinema and a bachelor's degree in communications. She has worked extensively across Quebec’s vibrant festival ecosystem, including the FNC, RIDM, and RVQC, taking on roles in programming, coordination, and cultural mediation. Driven by a passion for discovering and supporting emerging filmmakers, she has also served as a juror for several student film competitions. In 2024, Louise joined Travelling Distribution, where she contributes to the discovery and circulation of new talent by working on film acquisitions, festival submissions, and sales strategies.

Louise Morel

Max Collister is an award-winning film marketer, producer, and distribution specialist currently serving as the Theatrical Marketing Manager for MUBI in Canada. In this role, he leads theatrical campaigns across the country while collaborating on global title positioning. A graduate of Western University’s Media and Technology program, Max began his career in advertising at Cineplex Media before co-managing the licensing department at Juice Worldwide. There, he negotiated VOD distribution agreements with top-tier content providers to land titles on major global streaming platforms and Canadian networks. He later spent three years as the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at SK Films, overseeing global IMAX and giant-screen documentary releases. Beyond marketing and business affairs, Max is an active producer—most recently co-producing 12 episodes of The Community Players for Bell Fibe TV—and brings extensive global film festival and pitching experience to every project.

Max Collister

Christie Bosch is the largest documentary film influencer in the world, with a combined following of over one million passionate film enthusiasts. Known for her deep knowledge and love for documentary cinema, Christie has built a global platform dedicated to celebrating the art of storytelling through real-world narratives.From a young age, Christie was captivated by the power of documentary films to inspire, inform, and spark change. This passion led her to pursue formal studies in film at the Toronto Film School, where she honed her craft and deepened her understanding of the medium.Today, Christie uses her platform to share her love for documentary films, introducing her audience to a wide range offilms that highlight social issues, historical moments, true crime and untold stories from around the globe. Her insightful commentary has earned her a dedicated following of over a million people who trust her recommendations and insights. Christie is not just an influencer; she's a champion for the power of documentaries to educate, entertain, and transform perspectives. Through her work, she aims to make the world of documentary filmmaking more accessible, while sparking conversations that can lead to real-world change. Her mission is clear: to continue sharing the importance of documentary films and their ability to shape our understanding of the world.

Christie Boschman

Sarah Taylor, CCE is an award-winning editor and filmmaker drawn to stories about what lights people up. Her work has screened at festivals including Tribeca, TIFF, and Sundance, and aired on CBC, BBC, PBS, APTN, and AMI. She recently completed her debut feature documentary, INVISIBLE IMAGINATION, currently screening at festivals and airing on CBC in early 2027.

Sarah Taylor

Award-winning Cree filmmaker Jonelle Belcourt is a writer, director, and producer whose internationally screened films celebrate Indigenous voices, joy, and shared human experiences.

Jonelle Belcourt

Mia Lee Vicino is a film journalist based in Los Angeles. After working as a columnist and critic for Willamette Week in her hometown of Portland, Oregon, she moved to LA, where she was the West Coast Editor of Letterboxd for four years. Here, she conducted print and video interviews with filmmakers and actors, edited their online magazine Journal, hosted their podcasts, and helped pioneer their Four Faves series. Currently, she continues to contribute to Letterboxd in a freelance capacity, moderates Q&As for Film Independent and others, writes Blu-ray booklet essays, and serves on festival juries such as Palm Springs International ShortFest. Her four favorite films are Opening Night (1977), Mikey and Nicky (1976), eXistenZ (1999), and Down with Love (2003).

Mia Lee Vicino

Max Geschwind works in the Media Finance department, which focuses on packaging, sourcing financing for, and/or selling the distribution rights to independently financed films, at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Geschwind, who joined the agency in 2021, is a member of CAA Elevate, a state-of-the-art program for agents and executives in training. He graduated from the University of Southern California with degrees in Cinema and Media Studies and Political Science. Geschwind is based in Los Angeles.

Max Geschwind

Ciermae (pronounced sher-may) is a Filipino-Canadian creative and event planner based in Calgary. Since April 2025, she has participated as a Film Engagement Specialist in the Canadian Independent Screen Fund's Connect Program, intended to build audiences and local capacity for community screenings of Canadian films. She is also a Partner at Humainologie, a non-profit focused on storytelling and support for underrepresented identities. Ciermae co-founded Humainologie’s short film series, SHADES: Amplify Her, and has worked her casting and organizational magic behind the scenes as Casting Manager and Associate Producer across three seasons and 51 microshorts.

Ciermae Allen

Mide Kadiri is a multidisciplinary storyteller who uses art to tell complex and visual stories. The mediums he practices with are ink on paper, digital arts, animation, film and video, acrylic painting, murals, and exhibitions. He has been into creating art since he was a child and he taught himself how to draw and color. He is a U of C and SAIT graduate with a Bachelor in film studies and a diploma in film and video production. He has worked on mural projects with YYC BUMP and the City of Calgary as well as exhibiting his work at Art Commons Emerging Visual Arts Program and Spanic Arts Gallery. His short, animated film Breakthrough was produced with Quickdraw Animation Society and premiered at the Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival in November 2024. Since its premiere, the film has been selected at six different festivals, Including Calgary Underground Film Festival, Animation Festival of Halifax, Chilliwack International Film Festival. Lethbridge International Film Festival and Calgary International Film Festival. He taught an intro to 2D animation class at the National Access Arts Centre from September 2025 to December 2025.

Mide Kadiri