Kathy-Ann Thomas is a talented Grenadian-Canadian producer based in Montreal, Quebec, with over two decades of experience in the film and television industry. Renowned for creating impactful, socially relevant content, she leads the feature anthology Moving Day, supported by Telefilm. This project delves into Montreal’s unique tradition of Moving Day through six compelling, female-driven stories. Kathy-Ann has produced five acclaimed short films, receiving notable recognition for works like Snow and The Cradle. She remains committed to pushing the boundaries of cinema and championing underrepresented perspectives in the industry.

“Kathryn Fasegha is an award-winning filmmaker with a passion for storytelling rooted in faith and Afro-centric narratives. Kathryn’s debut feature film, “”Treacherous Heart,”” captivated audiences upon its premiere at Cineplex Chinook Centre, Calgary, in 2012. and has graced screens at various cinemas and venues across Canada. Notably, the film received nominations in multiple categories at the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (NAFCA) in 2012, ultimately clinching the esteemed “Best Drama in Diaspora”” accolade. Building upon her early success, Kathryn’s second feature film, “”2 Weeks in Lagos,”” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2019. The film continued to garner acclaim, with a West African release in February 2021, followed by its debut on Netflix in July of the same year.

Born and raised in Toronto, Hilda Ohemaa Afrakoma is a Canadian-Ghanaian filmmaker and aesthete who has worked with top commercial and film production companies, including the prestigious film and digital media producer’s National Film Board of Canada (NFB). Afrakoma has written, directed, and produced three short films “1st KINGS” winning Audience Choice at the Canadian Screen Awards qualifying festival Emerging Lens. To date, she has had two television series in development and continues to fuse her cultures and love of art to create thought-provoking female-centered content.

“Kamika Bianca Guerra – Walker of Jamaican and Chilean heritage is a Calgarian, multidisciplinary visionary. Her films have garnered global recognition for their ability to evoke empathy and change in treatment towards those experiencing mental illnesses, addictions, and houselessness. She has directed short films, documentaries, docu-series, commercial advertisements and music videos. She is an alumna of programs hosted by The Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television, Netflix, Arts Commons, Telus/Storyhive, The Marriott Residence Inn,Telefilm, Story Money Impact, Alberta Printmakers and M:ST Performative Art. Kamika attended this year’s Banff World Media Festival as one of 100 Canadian creators selected for the 2024 Netflix Diversity of Voices (DOV) Initiative. Kamika is currently in development for her directorial debut, feature documentary “Finding My Way Back to You” which follows her journey of reuniting with her father in Jamaica after being separated at the hands of the Canadian government due to his diagnosis of Schizophrenia.

Tope Babalola is a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker with a passion for storytelling, visual effects and comedy, having amassed over 2.8 million followers across YouTube and TikTok. Tope graduated from Sheridan’s Advanced Television and Film Program and has written and directed a handful of narrative short films. His latest, The Delivery (2023) was named an Official Selection at both the Toronto Short Film Festival and Miami Film Festival in 2024. Tope was named one of Playback Magazine’s 10 Filmmakers to Watch in 2022, and is in active development on a coming-of-age young teen mystery series he created called Benjamin Ojo.

Adrian Wallace is a Jamaican-Canadian writer, director, and actor from Toronto, Canada – whose work has broadcasted on CBC, MTV, Prime Video, Paramount+, Revolt TV and Tubi. Recognized in Playback’s Top 10 to Watch in 2022 and as a 2021 Canadian Screen Award-winner for ‘Best Directing’, Adrian’s projects examine love, survival, and culture through comedic and dramatic lenses. He is an alumnus of development programs such as Being Black in Canada presented by Netflix, OYA’s Filmmaker Program, Reelworld’s Director LevelUP Program with Rogers Media & Shaftesbury Films, and TIFF’s Filmmaker Lab. Adrian is developing an original comedy series and his directorial debut feature.

Yemie Sonuga is a versatile talent whose background is Nigeria, Canada, and American. She holds a Master’s from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire and studied screenwriting at Juilliard. Last: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Her theatrical legacy includes Broadway/West End credits: The Lion King, Porgy & Bess, and The Book of Mormon, the original cast of Ghost the Musical & Broadway Album. Beyond the stage: Law & Order (NBC), Jann (CTV/Hulu), The Boys (Amazon), and Next Stop (IndieWire mention). Her short film Dear Carefree Black Girl played at seven international festivals. Yemie is also a Lead Talent for Headstrong Meditation by Equinox.

Shana McCalla is an esteemed Canadian producer, writer, and director, renowned for her expertise in navigating the complex landscape of film financing and distribution. Founder of Salemscript Productions Inc. since 2012, Shana has produced a range of significant projects, from the CBC documentary “Walk Good”, to contributing on business affairs for the acclaimed feature film “Maudie.” A prolific creator, Shana began writing novels at age four and has since developed thirteen diverse projects. Her latest venture includes directing the immersive VR experience “Audio Odyssey,” showcasing her innovative storytelling abilities.

David “Click” Cox is a seasoned entertainment professional with over 25 years of experience in the music industry, spanning roles as an artist, promoter, and manager. He is currently producing a documentary about King Reign, reflecting his dedication to preserving musical legacies. Leading an entertainment company, David focuses on artist development and offers consulting services to help clients achieve their goals. His influence is seen in projects like the TV series “Ultimate MC” and the film “The Onyx Experience,” celebrating black artists in rock music.

Graysen is Canadian born filmmaker heavily influenced by her Jamaican, Bajan and Scottish heritage currently residing in Calgary, Canada. She completed post-secondary with degrees in Engineering and Architecture. Graysen entered the industry a decade ago with the desire to become a Production Designer but was quickly tapped into for her logistics training and began working in the locations department. Graysen was the first black female assistant location manager and location manager in western Canada. While working in locations she found her true desire was create content and to advocate for increased representation below and above the line in the industry. She was the co-chair of the DGC BC EDI committee and currently sit on the National DGC BIPOC Committee. Apart from her commitment to encourage diversity on the screen, Graysen enjoys spending her time as a creative producer, co-writer and editor. Graysen’s credits include working on Hollywood budget projects below the line; producing and creating indie short films, music videos and currently developing a docuseries called “Reggae Roots”. She has 3 short films currently in editing to be ready for the festival circuit in early 2025 and has just come off a successful festival run as a co-producer on the short film “Hair or No Hair”.

Priyanka Shailendra has been an integral part of Bollywood for over 15 years, excelling in production, direction, and writing. Coming from a family of renowned writers and lyricists, she has always aspired to create magic through visuals. Her short film, ‘The Unnamed Crime’, was nominated for the Mumbai International Women’s Film Festival in 2013, and her project, ‘Frozen’, was acclaimed at the Canadian Film Fest 2023 at the pitch platform. She also served as an assistant showrunner on ‘Potluck Ladies’ under the CMPA Mentorship program 2022-2023, and produced, directed, and wrote the short film ‘Dark Memories’, which premiered at the Filmi Festival in 2023 currently being circulated in the festival circuit. Recently selected for the highly reputed Canadian Film Centre’s producer lab 2024, and Creators of Color incubator 2024, Priyanka is also on the board of the South Asian Canadian Film Federation. Her move to Canada reflects her ambition to produce high-concept content and tell impactful stories.

Zehra Nawab is a GEMS Genre Film Lab fellow developing her debut feature film as director, which she pitched at the Frontieres Market at Fantasia Festival 2024. She is currently directing the documentary ‘Niswan Nama,’ which is a grant recipient from Academy-Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (SOC) Films. Notable for her women-centered storytelling, Zehra co-directed the Canada Council Grant-funded short film ‘Farzana.’ Her direction work earned her the National AGAHI Award for Journalism in Culture. She is currently part of the 2024 Creators of Colour incubator. As an actor she plays the protagonist in the upcoming series “Second Chance Hina.”

An Indo-Arab filmmaker from the UAE, she finds beauty in cultural-hybrids & their unique perspectives. Current resident at the prestigious Canadian Film Centre’s2024 Producer Lab, she independently produced several shorts in Toronto that screened in festivals across Canada, USA, UK & Japan. Her 10 years of international experience in unscripted productions include ‘Sabah-Al-Dar’, ‘Andama-Yatil-Massa'(ADTV),The Doctors & The Doctor Phil Show(CBS),to name a few before shifting her focus on narrative storytelling. She has assisted leading showrunners of ‘Tokyo Vice’(HBO Max),‘Brilliant Minds’(NBC) & Witch Mountain pilot’(Disney+) & is currently in-post of a short & early-development of a series & a co-production feature.

Amreen Ghouse, creator of Boys in the Basement (finalist of the WIFT Incubator), is an emerging director and producer with a successful background in advertising and film. At Think Brown Media Inc., she has written and directed commercials for top brands like Coca-Cola, Canada Dry, and Nestlé. Her short film Who’s Next? won Best Short Film at the CineFAM Film Festival. Amreen has produced Slam, Dunk, Sehaj! (CBC Gem) through the CFC/Netflix Calling Card Accelerator, created content for Zee TV Canada, and directed a music video with 1.5 million views. Her upcoming short documentary series, Everyday Muslim Heroes, highlights unsung individuals who selflessly improve others’ lives.

Shane LaTouche is a Master of Arts graduate from the Toronto Metropolitan University and the Founder & Executive Director of the Toronto Black Media Association. He has worked on several live TV shows with talent in the music industry, and continues to create and oversee various media-related projects. His most recent ventures include working with ADVANCE (Canada’s Black Music Business Collective) as a Producer & Project Manager on AMPLIFY Season 3, The 2024 Legacy Awards as Production Manager, and The 2024 JUNO Awards as Associate Producer. He continues to focus on projects & stories that reflect the Black and Caribbean communities in Toronto.

Choltu is a director, cultural worker and writer. Choltu’s passion for culture, community and media infused with her love for history, Afro and Afro-Diasporic heritage and storytelling is what informs her chosen art form and expression of film-making with a focus on the stories of the Black experience both in Toronto and throughout the African- Diaspora. Choltu is also the founder of the online platform Toronto Black Archives.

Oksana is a Toronto-based Indo-Caribbean actor and writer with over seven years of experience in the Canadian theatre, film, and TV industry. Her acting career began at the Stratford Festival and she has since performed in film/TV projects for CBC, Lifetime, CBS, and AMC. Oksana has a B.F.A. in acting from York University and is a graduate of Humber College’s TV Writing and Producing program. She is currently a participant of the Reelworld Emerging 20 developing her half-hour comedy series Rich People.