Deborah Cox is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, and international talent spanning music, Broadway, television, film, and fashion.

An established songstress, Cox has scaled the R&B and Pop charts with six top 20 Billboard R&B singles and an impressive thirteen No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart. Her sophomore album spawned 2 No. 1 R&B songs, including the record-breaking “Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here,” which spent 14 weeks at the top (the longest in history at the time), and “We Can’t Be Friends.”

In addition to her illustrious musical catalog, the Canadian-born star has been recognized for her undying commitment to various social justice initiatives. In 2020, Deborah was honored with the Black Music Honors’ Entertainer Icon Award for her 25 ground-breaking years in the music industry. A seasoned entertainer, both on-screen and off, Deborah is currently winning rave reviews for her roles on First Wives Club on Netflix’s Top 10 and Emmy-nominated HBO MAX’s series, Station Eleven.

In May 2022, Deborah reached a career milestone when she made history as the first Black woman inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The same year, Deborah was given the Key to the City of Toronto, and September 23rd declared Deborah Cox Day. She also received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, rounding off an incredible year.

Always giving back, in 2023, Deborah partnered with the youth-led movement Revolutionnaire to launch the “Beautiful U R” initiative to support women experiencing housing insecurity. Deborah is currently on Broadway starring as ‘Glinda’ and co-producing the revival of ‘The Wiz’ and just launched her new wine company, Kazaisu (kah-zy-sue).

Lanette Ware-Bushfield is a seasoned actor, writer, and producer known for her work in both television and film. As CEO of A WWB Production, Inc., she champions stories that empower non-monolithic voices and promote positive, nuanced storytelling. Lanette’s acting career includes notable roles such as DA Claire Wilson in Accused and Carrie Everett in Five Days at Memorial. She will also appear as Coach Carter in MGM’s 2024 biographical film The Fire Inside, opposite Brian Tyree Henry. A member of various industry organizations, including SAG, AFTRA, and ACTRA, Lanette is a Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from London Academy. She is also an accomplished writer, with works published in The Globe and Mail, Urban Mediamakers, and more.

John Gibson is a leading advocate for inclusion and social impact in the entertainment industry. As Vice President of External and Multicultural Affairs at the Motion Picture Association (MPA), he founded the Inclusion, Community & Belonging (ICB) program in 2012. He oversees the MPA’s partnerships with studios—including Netflix, Paramount, Disney, Warner Bros., and others—while collaborating with civil rights groups, nonprofits, and multicultural organizations. John has built partnerships with over 60 organizations across the U.S. and Canada, including the American Black Film Festival, Toronto’s Black Screen Office, and the National Urban League. He serves on advisory boards for initiatives supporting Black, Latino, Indigenous, and women creators. Recognized for his work, John has been featured in Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, LA Times, and Black Enterprise and has received awards from AAFCA, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and STARZ’s #TakeTheLead Initiative.

Amanda Parris is an award-winning writer, producer and tv host. Prior to creating, hosting and executive producing FOR THE CULTURE, she was the host of the CBC and CBC Gem series CBC Arts: Exhibitionists, and created the popular R&B radio show Marvin’s Room on CBC Music. She has also hosted numerous shows about film and pop culture. Parris is known for her compelling long-form conversations with some of the most innovative cultural leaders of our time including Spike Lee, Issa Rae, Roxane Gay and Samantha Bee. She is the creator, executive producer and showrunner of the Canadian Screen Award (CSA)-winning comedy series Revenge of the Black Best Friend and her play Other Side of the Game was awarded the Governor General Literary Award for Drama. In 2022, Parris received the inaugural Changemaker Award from the CSAs for her efforts to call out systemic racism and discrimination in the Canadian media community. Before her life in television, Parris worked in her community creating alternative education curriculum and advocating for young people.

Jason Harvey is the EVP and General Manager of BET+, the leading streaming video on demand service (SVOD) for lovers of Black content. Harvey leads the vision, programming strategy, business operations and revenue growth for the platform. Under his leadership, BET+ has achieved rapid market penetration, double-digit revenue growth, and is positioned for long-term success in the rapidly evolving streaming media landscape. At BET+, Harvey has built a best-in-class technology and operational foundation for innovation by leveraging AI and machine learning to augment user experience, video curation, and personalized content discovery. With multi-national business leadership experience, Harvey has created go-to-market strategies that rapidly scale revenue and implemented data-driven marketing tactics that have led to exponential market growth for companies like Google, Microsoft, eBay, Ford Motor Company, and AT&T. He has led multiple P&Ls in the US and Latin America, successfully navigating the complexities of international transactions, financial regulations, and exchange rate fluctuation to realize meaningful growth for Fortune 100 companies looking to expand internationally. Outside of his professional accomplishments, Harvey is passionate about mentoring young professionals in the media industry and creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in technology. Harvey’s recent children’s book, “Sammy Startup,” teaches kids about entrepreneurship and is currently in series development. Harvey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently, and is the proud father of four. He holds his MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA, and Bachelor of Science from USC, where he also competed in track and field.

Elon D. Johnson is the Vice President of Development at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, she spearheads the discovery, development, and production of compelling content across TV series, feature films, TV movies, and OTT platforms. Her creative leadership is instrumental in shaping the studio’s diverse and dynamic slate.

Megan Reid began her career as an editor at Simon and Schuster’s Touchstone and Atria imprints and an international book scout for Greenburger Associates. She joined Media Res’ scripted department in late 2023 after nearly seven years at FX Networks as Vice President of Development. Her projects at FX included multiple award-winners across drama, comedy, and limited series, including The Patient, Pistol, Fleishman is in Trouble, Kindred and the 2023 Oscars-nominated animated short film My Year of Dicks, and she is currently developing shows for Hulu, Netflix UK, and the BBC. She was featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen 2022 list of the 35 Rising Executives Under 35 and lives in Los Angeles.

Cameron Bailey is the CEO of TIFF, overseeing the world’s largest public film festival and year-round cultural programming at TIFF Lightbox. A voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a Chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters, he has been named one of Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential People for 13 consecutive years. Born in London and raised in England, Barbados, and Canada, Bailey began his career as a film critic before joining TIFF in 1990. He led the Festival’s Perspective Canada program and founded the groundbreaking Planet Africa section in 1995. Over two decades, he worked as both a programmer and critic, contributing to NOW Magazine, CBC, TVO, and CTV. He has curated film series worldwide and hosted filmmaker conversations at major industry events, including Cannes, Goa, Dubai, and Doha. Bailey has served on juries at festivals in Busan, Tokyo, Zanzibar, and beyond. He has taught film curation at the University of Toronto and sits on Western University’s Board of Governors. A past co-chair of Toronto’s CivicAction Arts & Culture Working Group, he has advised global cultural initiatives, including the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and the Chanel Culture Fund Leadership Forum.

LEA MARIN, Director of Development, Drama, Scripted Content, CBC. Lea Marin is the Director of Development, Drama for the CBC and is responsible for driving and overseeing the quality and diversity of the drama development slate, including the recently launched productions Wild Cards and Allegiance.  A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Producers’ Lab, before joining the CBC, Lea was a Senior Producer with the National Film Board of Canada, where she developed and produced several documentaries and interactive projects. Some of her credits include Ever Deadly, co-created by Tanya Tagaq & Chelsea McMullan, Charles Officer’s Unarmed Verses, Astra Taylor’s What Is Democracy?

Michael Maponga, Founder, AfroLandTV & CEO, Maponga Studios, Comcast NBCUniversal & OTTera backed. Michael Maponga is a media entrepreneur, actor, and executive producer with over 15 years in the global Film/TV industry. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and raised in Dallas, Texas, he saw a gap in the global distribution of African stories and founded AfroLandTV in 2015 to amplify Black voices. Backed by Comcast NBCUniversal & OTTera, AfroLandTV reaches millions through platforms like Peacock, Roku, and Vizio, with advertising partnerships including Amazon, Nissan, and GM. In 2023, he launched Maponga Studios to develop a premier studio complex in Zimbabwe. His work was spotlighted in Comcast’s Founding in Color documentary in 2021.

Kenneth Gifford is a film industry professional, entrepreneur, and advocate for independent cinema. As the founder of Vault Access, he created a groundbreaking streaming platform that empowers diverse filmmakers to showcase and monetize their work. With decades of experience in film and television, Gifford has worked on major productions like Cadillac Records, The Dark Knight Rises, and Hancock. He also founded the Newark International Film Festival (NIFF), a global platform for emerging filmmakers that positions New Jersey as a growing hub for film and TV production. A passionate advocate for industry expansion in New Jersey, Gifford collaborates with government and industry leaders to create opportunities for filmmakers. Through Vault Access and NIFF, he is reshaping how independent stories are created, distributed, and experienced worldwide.

James DuBose,  Founder & CEO-In The Black Network. James DuBose is an innovative, visionary, and thought leader known for producing culture-shaping content and sharing the voice and lived experiences of Black people around the globe. DuBose built his entire career with his focus on four fundamental pillars, which are to inspire, educate, uplift, and entertain Black audiences. DuBose has built an impressive catalogue of assets known for garnering record-breaking television network numbers. He executive-produced and syndicated the entertainment show Dish Nation, E! Networks’s WAGS Atlanta, as well as the hit projects under his DuBose Entertainment banner, such as Kevin Hart’s One Mic Stand, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, Monica’s Still Standing, Tiny and Toya, Toya: A Family Affair, Trey Songz: My Moment, The Michael Vick Project, Hell Date, and Comic View, among others. DuBose was also the General Manager of Fox Soul-Fox’s first OTT Platform. DuBose is most proud of owning that his roles as a Black executive in entertainment means lifting as he climbs and supporting the economic empowerment of Black communities.

Kaylon Hunt is a multidisciplinary creative producer, actor, writer, and executive passionate about crafting innovative stories that blend art, technology, and humanity. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Kaylon’s work spans award-winning films and interactive media, including Sony’s The Woman King and TIME Magazine’s The March, among others. His projects have premiered at Sundance, Tribeca, and Comic-Con, and his contributions to the industry earned him recognition in Variety’s Hollywood New Leaders issue as “One to Watch.” As Vice President of JuVee Productions for nearly a decade, Kaylon has helped shape the company’s creative vision and team, expand its brand, and develop a diverse slate of projects across film, television, immersive, and digital media. A former math major and once voted “Mr. Quiet” in high school, Kaylon now channels his energy into crafting narratives that inspire connection and explore the complexities of the human experience. His storytelling journey began early, winning a national essay contest in 4th grade—a moment that sparked his lifelong passion for sharing stories that resonate.

Kathleen Newman-Bremang is a Toronto-based editor, writer, producer, and the co-recipient of the inaugural Changemaker Canadian Screen Award. As the Deputy Editor – Global of Refinery29 Unbothered, Kathleen oversees the brand’s UK and US editions, writes about pop culture, race, feminism and the intersection of all three, and champions other Black women writers to do the same. She writes an award-winning column What’s Good about Black film and TV and has covered renowned red carpets and industry events like The Golden Globes, The NAACP Image Awards, and The Oscars. Kathleen has produced many high-profile productions, including The Social, eTalk: Live at the Oscars, the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards and Crave original series Cravings: The Aftershow. Her writing has appeared in The Toronto Star, Cosmo, Elle, Corduroy Magazine, and The Kit. She is also a frequent culture commentator for various CBC and CTV programs.

Award-winning 2023 Dora Award recipient for Art Accessibility and 2021 CBC Gem 21 Black Futures actress, Natasha “Courage” Bacchus, takes the stage to explore the transformative power of authentic collaboration with Deaf performers, writers, directors, and producers. Inclusion isn’t just about access—it’s about embracing diverse creative perspectives that enrich storytelling and elevate the Canadian screen industry.

Joy Loewen, Vice President, Growth and Inclusion, Canada Media Fund (CMF): Before joining the CMF, Joy was CEO of the National Screen Institute (NSI), where she completed a three-year strategic plan before stepping down in April 2024. She joined the NSI in 2005 as a Program Manager, then left in 2010 to pursue other opportunities. She returned to the nonprofit in 2016 as Manager of Programs and Development and was named its Acting Executive Director in May 2019 before becoming CEO in January 2020. In addition, Joy has worked as a broadcast and festival programmer at WTN (now W Network), CBC, and Gimli Film Festival. Based in Winnipeg, Joy holds a bachelor’s degree in radio and television arts from Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan University). She is an active volunteer and a member of several community and nonprofit boards and councils, including The Winnipeg Foundation, Canada’s National Ballet School, the Order of Manitoba Advisory, and Manitoba King’s Counsel Advisory. In 2023, Joy was named Playback Changemaker of the Year.

Keziah Myers believes in the skills and uniqueness of this country and knows that there is so much talent yet to be discovered. Currently as the Executive Director of ADVANCE – Canada’s Black Music Business Collective, Keziah’s main role is to advocate for the betterment, upliftment, and retention of Black Talent within the music industry. Leading this organization, Keziah focuses on changing processes, creating opportunities, and providing resources to ADVANCE members, and music industry organizations. Prior to ADVANCE, Keziah led music licensing initiatives at Entandem, and the A&R Operations at SOCAN, where she was instrumental in ensuring diverse hiring, updating internal systems, improving operations, and enabling all offices to better serve 150 000 members. Beyond this, Keziah has held positions in Label Operations Management and Publicity. She has also sat on Entertainment & Music Organization Boards, adjudicated as part of FACTOR and JUNO juries, and is a regular guest presenter for Art-Focused programs, colleges, universities and high schools. As a part of a major music movement in Canada, Keziah has taken opportunities to stay involved, advise, volunteer, educate, and advocate. Her passion for people has afforded her the opportunity to be able to live on 3 continents, and travel to over 30 countries. Keziah has worked with countless artists and music creators. Along the way she has worked with Drake, Maroon 5, Kim Davis, DSVN, Boi 1da, and many more. Keziah currently works on advisory committees, and juries for MusiCounts, FACTOR, The JUNO Awards, Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and SOCAN Foundation.

Richard Jean-Baptiste holds the position of VP of Business Innovation and Executive Producer at Attraction, an industry-leading content production, creation, and distribution company established in 2002. This key player in North America’s entertainment sector has numerous awards and distinctions to its name.

Richard’s background in advertising saw him serving as the lead production partner at the globally recognized advertising agency Sid Lee. Operating out of Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, Paris, and Amsterdam, Sid Lee provided Richard with ample opportunities to produce over fifty scripted and non-scripted projects, developing his expertise in creating captivating content in partnership with international brands.

Richard’s productions have graced theaters across Canada and have been broadcast on major networks such as CBC, Radio-Canada, TVA, Télé-Québec, TV5, and HBO Canada. They have also been featured in various film festivals. Richard’s accolades include nominations and awards from prestigious institutions like Numix, Gémeaux, Cannes Cyber Lions, Boomerang, Digital Marketing Awards, and FWA. His innovative approach led him to co-found the first French-Canadian mobile content channel in Canada, LibTv.

In his current role, Richard actively explores new business and financial models, including forging partnerships between brands, networks, and agencies. His endeavors extend into the FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels ecosystem, where he seeks innovative ways to drive industry growth and success. Richard is a dedicated advocate for diversity in the media and entertainment sectors, serving as a Board Member of the Black Screen Office of Canada. This commitment to diversity forms an essential aspect of his personal and professional values.

Tamara Thermitus, award-winning lawyer emeritus, dedicated to issues of social justice and human rights Currently a Senior Boulton Fellow at McGill Law, she negotiated for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and led the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission. She is a speaker and opinion columnist, often focusing on social and racial justice in society and within governing systems. Called to the Quebec Bar in 1988, Tamara Thermitus holds a Master of Laws from McGill University (2013). Ms.Thermitus holds a significant role as a Distinguished Boulton Senior Fellow of McGill University's Faculty of Law (2023-2025). She was the Chief Negotiator for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's mandate and led the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission. Ms Thermitus is a national and international speaker. She also regularly publishes articles in various media outlets to inform and raise awareness among Canadians and Quebecers on her research subjects, such as racism, intersectionality, reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples, and violence against women. She has also given many keynote speeches on these subjects.

I love Directing. It’s the best gig ever (aside from the Mom gig). I have been in front of and behind the camera for over 25 years and have settled behind the camera where I am able to unleash and utilize my talents as a storyteller across all the required artistic practices to bring you a visual story; motion, music/sound, performance and design. We don’t do this work for the honors, but it sure feels good. I have received a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction of a Factual Series, multiple nominations for Best Director for my feature and documentary film work, eight Canadian Screen Awards nominations as a Showrunner and Director, and I can be seen in the Emmy and NAACP nominated documentary How It Feels to Be Free. I honed my directing skills at the prestigious University of California Los Angeles and then went on to direct my award-winning feature film debut Brown Girl Begins. My episodic TV, feature docs, and indie film have been well received on HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, FX and every Canadian broadcaster platform. I am well known in the screen industry for my directing flair, distinct cinematic voice, respect with crew, and my ability to inspire award- winning performances from my actors. I am developing several projects which put a spotlight on the stories and talents of black women, black queer women, and the BIPOC community through my production company urbansoul inc.

Joan Jenkinson is a Co-Founder and the CEO of the Black Screen Office. She is an accomplished television executive and an outspoken advocate for Black Canadians working in the screen industries. Under her leadership, the BSO has been named the 2022 Changemaker Organization of the Year by Playback, Canada’s leading screen industry magazine. Also in 2022, Joan received the Media Award at the Afroglobal Excellence Awards. Joan is a founding Partner/Producer at Artemis Pictures, which is focused on developing and producing scripted content for television. She was Vice-President of Independent Production for VisionTV, where she commissioned hundreds of hours of content. Joan began her career in the screen industry as the Executive Director of Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T).

Damon D’Oliveira is a veteran producer responsible for bringing to screen some of Canada’s most critically and commercially successful films and television (BROTHER, RUDE, THE GRIZZLIES, THE BOOK OF NEGROES and WILDHOOD). His most recent film, BROTHER, world premiered at TIFF 2022 to strong critical acclaim, sold to Netflix in the US and won a record- breaking 12 Canadian Screen Awards. The film won 2 NAACP Image Awards for Best Independent and Best International Feature. Damon’s miniseries adaptation of THE BOOK OF NEGROES, the best-selling novel by Lawrence Hill, won 12 Canadian Screen Awards, earned two nominations for U.S. Critic’s Choice Television Awards, won an NAACP Image Award and was a finalist for the prestigious 2016 Peabody Award. His most recent film STEAL AWAY, starring Angourie Rice is in post-production. A recent member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and one of the founders of Canada’s Black Screen Office, Damon is also the current Chair of the Canadian Media Producers Association.

Lucius Dechausay stepped into the role of Executive in Charge of Production with CBC Docs, overseeing the Short Docs program and other special projects. He joined the documentary team in November 2024, moving from his position as Senior Producer, Unscripted Video Team, where he oversaw video production for Q, Commotion, CBC Arts and CBC Life, including some of CBC Arts’s most ambitious video projects, such as the acclaimed dance series, The Move, and the boundary-pushing film-theatre hybrid 21 Black Futures. The powerful short doc, Kettle, that he independently produced and directed, premiered at the Hot Docs festival in 2016.

Allya Davidson is a multiple Emmy, RTDNA and Canadian Screen Award-winning investigative journalist. She is the executive producer of CBC News’ flagship investigative documentary program, The Fifth Estate, now in its 50th season. Allya has produced documentaries for VICE and CTV’s W5, and internationally for Channel 4 (UK), ZDF (Germany), Four Corners (Australia) and PBS Frontline. She is passionate about mentoring BIPOC journalists and advancing equity in the field. Allya gave the inaugural Al Hamilton Lecture at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Spring of 2024; her lecture’s contents are now part of several first-year syllabi at TMU.

Loretha Jones is a highly respected television and film producer with a long-standing career in the entertainment industry. She is currently overseeing development and production at Flavor Unit Entertainment, the production company founded by Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere. In this role, Jones is responsible for shepherding a wide range of projects across film, television, and digital platforms, continuing her legacy of championing diverse voices and creating impactful, culturally relevant content. She also serves as an Executive Producer on the hit CBS series, The Equalizer.

I’m a second generation Canadian of Jamaican descent, who has been working in television for more than 20 years contributing to factual documentaries, science news, magazine programs and live sports shows for the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball. I’m currently a Producer at Bell Media Studios, where I work on in-house specials and shows in many genres. One of my biggest achievements is winning a 2022 Canadian Screen Award for the show, “Canada’s Drag Race Anniversary Extravaganza”. I was also a Production Executive of the 2023 Canadian Screen Award winning series “Underground Railroad: The Secret History”. As a Showrunner/Series Producer of “The Mightiest”, I was nominated for a 2023 Canadian Screen Award in the “Rob Stewart Award for Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series” category. While at EPI, the former in-house production company for Discovery Channel Canada, I developed and produced high-end award-winning blue chip factual entertainment documentaries. Award winning productions that I worked on include, Mighty Trains, Mighty Planes, Mighty Ships,and Mighty Cruise Ships, featuring incredible journeys across the globe. My work can be seen on the Discovery Channel (Canada, UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Asia), Smithsonian (USA, Singapore, and Latin America), N24 (Germany, Switzerland, and Austria), Seven Network (Australia), and AB Group (France, Turkey, and Africa). Outside of production, I’ve spoken to BIPOC students about opportunities in the industry at universities in the USA. This is part of an outreach program funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Anthony Q. Farrel is a BAFTA-winning, Emmy-nominated writer/producer who has worked internationally for over 20 years. Anthony created the comedies Hate the Player, These Triggas, Shelved, Overlord and the Underwoods, and Secret Life of Boys. Anthony was the executive producer/showrunner on Run the Burbs, The Parker Andersons, and Amelia Parker. Additional writing credits include: The Office, The Thundermans, Little Mosque. Directing credits include: Son of a Critch, Overlord and the Underwoods, The Parker Andersons, Amelia Parker. Anthony prides himself as a mentor for numerous programs designed to uplift marginalized voices.

At the service of every story, award-winning filmmaker Karen Chapman has a distinctive voice and compelling approach to storytelling that spans across VR experiences, museum installations, television and over 50 short films.

Chapman holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr University and is an alumnus of the CaribbeanTales Incubator, the Norman Jewison’s Canadian Film Centre’s – Director’s Lab, the Banff Centre for the Arts, Women in the Director’s Chair and the TIFF Filmmakers and Every Story Lab. 

Her Measure, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2019 where it won the International Hollywood Foreign Press and Residency Award at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. And her debut feature, Village Keeper premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 and she’s been nominated for The Canadian Media Producers Associations, Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award and Best Directorial achievement from the Directors Guild of Canada.

Visionary, award winning filmmaker R.T. Thorne has emerged as one of Canada’s most eclectic visual storytellers since debuting on the music video scene over a decade ago. A versatile triple threat, he is a director, screenwriter, and producer focused on telling stories that break new ground representing the unrepresented. 

In the fall of 2024 Thorne’s feature film debut 40 ACRES starring Danielle Deadwyler, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was named one of TIFF’s top Ten films of the festival, before having its international premiere at the RED SEA Film Festival, and its U.S. premiere at SXSW. 40 ACRES is slated for release summer of 2025.

In 2022 he directed and Executive Produced THE PORTER, the critically acclaimed, multi award winning, Emmy nominated historical drama for CBC & BET. Previously he created the award winning HULU original UTOPIA FALLS, which he also directed and Executive Produced.

Known for his bold photographic eye, and character first approach, R.T. has directed episodic work for Netflix, Amazon, NBC Universal, Warner Television, Disney, HULU, The CW, and BET. His directing work has taken him to three continents, earned him multiple Canadian Screen Awards, Director’s Guild of Canada nominations, and Playback Magazine’s Director of the year in 2023.

As Chair of the Director’s Guild of Canada BIPOC members committee, R.T. is committed to fighting against racism and discrimination, while advocating for equality in the Film and TV industry. R.T. continues to follow his passion for stay telling creating and developing commercially viable filmmaking properties from diverse cultural perspectives.

Tamar Bird is an award-winning producer, writer and visionary filmmaker who is reshaping the Canadian film industry. Through her work, she uses art and cinema to drive social change, push boundaries, and amplify underrepresented voices. Tamar’s diverse portfolio includes the short film Haven (2018), which premiered at SXSW, and the critically acclaimed Black Bodies (2020), which premiered at both TIFF and Sundance. Black Bodies earned the inaugural TIFF Changemaker Award and went on to win the 2021 Canadian Screen Award for Best Short Film. Tamar’s debut feature, When Morning Comes, premiered at TIFF 2022, and her debut series, Bria Mack Gets A Life, premiered at TIFF 2023, where it garnered the 2024 Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series. Beyond storytelling, Tamar is committed to creating systemic change in the industry, advocating for diversity, inclusion, and mentorship both in front of and behind the camera. She believes that each project should leave a lasting impact, not only on the audience but also on the cast and crew involved. Her sets are spaces of community, where real diversity is prioritized, and where mentorship and collaboration are central to the process. Tamar is actively working to ensure that these values are deeply embedded in the Canadian entertainment ecosystem. Tamar has long collaborated with her creative partner, Kelly Fyffe-Marshall. Together, they are in pre-production on their sophomore feature Summer of the Gun and the series He’s One of Us, while also championing sustainable filmmaking practices across the industry.

Kofi Hope is a Rhodes Scholar and has a Doctorate in Politics from Oxford University.   He is the co-founder of Monumental, a Toronto based strategic advisory firm.  In 2021 Monumental supported BSO in developing their first Strategic Plan. Kofi is an Urbanist in Residence at the University of Toronto School of Cities, an emeritus Bousfield Scholar with the Geography and Planning department and a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Kofi has written and spoken extensively across the Canadian media, including work as a freelance columnist with the Toronto Star. He serves as a board member for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and has volunteered widely across Toronto. In 2017 he was winner of the Jane Jacobs Prize and in 2018 a Rising Star in Toronto Life’s Power List.  Kofi was the co-founder and former Executive Director of Toronto based charity the CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals, Canada’s largest charity serving Black youth.