Amelia is a true crime podcaster who is struggling to build a sustainable following and is convinced the algorithm is working against her as a creator of color. After investigating the production of a mysterious juice that makes influencers go viral, Amelia makes a horrifying discovery.
Kat’s love for storytelling began on stage. Her path to becoming an emerging filmmaker has been supported by friends and mentors in the Vancouver indie film community and programs such as the GEMS Emerging TV Producers 2023 Cohort, The IPF development Fund and The VIFF Catalyst 2024 cohort and the 2025 Women In The Director’s Chair CAM cohort. Her film called ‘A Day In The (After) Life of Diane Staples’ has gone on to win Best Igniter Film at The Canadian Film Festival, Best International Film at its US premiere at the Broad Humour Film Festival in LA and the Warner Brothers Discovery Access Filmmaker award at YIFF.
VIFF Catalyst and Gems ETVP alum Felicia Simone is a writer, actor and filmmaker based in Vancouver BC. Her work explores difficult subjects through comedy and thriller. Felicia created the romantic comedy webseries Dating App Chronicles, later producing its TV pilot with Canada Council support. A 2025 Black Screen Office Access Canada Summit delegate, she was mentored by Anthony Q. Farrell and co-stars in the romance series Providence Falls.
Mariam is the producer of the Talent to watch film, “Hair or no Hair,” and a Crazy 8’s alum. She is a recipient of the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative and is an alumni of the VIFF Catalyst Program. Other credits include: “Cypher” (Short doc, Telus Storyhive) and “Yaye” (short film, Uhuru Productions/Studio 104 Entertainment, Harold Greenberg: BC Shorts Program & Creative BC).
Jessica is drawn to BIPOC and female stories about the human condition, where characters, connections, and relationships drive the story. Her producing credits include DGC Greenlight finalist short film “Operation: Stuplloyd”, and upcoming independent feature “Lake George”, where she served as an Associate Producer. Her production credits include “Antlers”, “The Watchful Eye”, “Mixtape”, “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” and the popular “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” film franchise.
Adrian Neblett is the Co-writer and creator of the IPF funded series “One Baby, Please!” A Vancouver based actor and producer, he has produced several independent shorts: “Revenge body, Unfrayed, Wytch Craft, Ketchup with me, Legacy, Vancity, and the feature film Blood Pressure. Training Programs NSI Series Incubator (2021-2022).
Mimi is a versatile filmmaker with over a decade of experience in the film and television industry. Her exploration of different roles, from development to post-production, shaped her distinct skills as a storyteller. Growing up in Canada as a child of Ethiopian immigrants, Mimi brings a unique lens to her work, crafting narratives that explore identity, heritage, and the complexity of being human.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, Maritama has been producing hit features & series for more than a decade. Founder of Pink Light Productions, recent productions include feature AMOROSA., currently on Paramount+. Amazon Prime, Vinnie Jones-starring action feature BULLET PROOF (Lionsgate), Crime Thriller CRIMSON POINT (Fox) and Festival hit TORN-DARK BULLETS.
With a passion and life long love for film and storytelling, Jenny has fully immersed herself in the industry. Her background is in Public Relations and Marketing which has been extremely beneficial in her journey as a producer when it comes to understanding the markets, audiences, and trends.
Renata Calderon is a Vancouver-based producer and filmmaker originally from Mexico. With experience at Boldly, Hadron Films, and Filmable, she collaborates with filmmakers to develop and produce narrative film projects.
Ian David Nsenga is a Vancouver-based BIPOC producer, writer, and creative director behind Visionary Productions and Visionary Vertical Productions. His slate includes the drama series The Four Fathers (with showrunners Floyd Kane and Ron Scott and producer Renuka Singh attached, with Lionsgate interest), the international limited series An Epilogue to Hegemon, and the feature Small Fires in partnership with Screen Siren Pictures and Mongrel Media. Through his vertical-content initiatives, Ian continues to champion diverse creators and expand the reach of Canadian BIPOC storytelling to global audiences.
