Mary Yohannes Getaneh is a storyteller and former journalist from Calgary, Alberta, with a love for film and community building. A Mount Royal University graduate with a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism, she is deeply moved by people and the powerful ways our stories connect us.

Chanice Lorde is a Barbadian-born actress and filmmaker based in Halifax. She began by creating comedic content before training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Abeson Studio. Her work spans film, theatre, and commercials, with a focus on amplifying Black and Caribbean stories.

Damini Awoyiga is a poet and former Youth Poet Laureate for the Halifax Regional Municipality (2023–2024). She is a freelance journalist with CBC Mainstreet and a member of the HRM Youth Advisory Committee. In 2025, she delivered her first TEDx Talk and is pursuing journalism at King’s College.

Sydney is a Montréal based writer and director who created films in both the fiction
and non-fiction space. She graduated with her BFA in Film Production from Concordia
University in 2025.

Ra’anaa Yaminah Ekundayo is an emerging multimedia visual activist scholar whose work explores the intersection of art and activism, particularly the entanglement of Black identity, community, and futurity. Co-founder and Chair of Black Lives Matter Sudbury, they are a cultural curator with a master’s in architecture, currently pursuing their PhD.

Ugo Nwachuku is a Nigerian actor and filmmaker based in Montreal. He has over 5 years of experience in the film industry, where he has worked in Philadelphia, Vancouver, Nigeria and Montreal.

Joeneel Abraham Benjamin is a 20 years old Haitian born in Quebec. After ten years of studies in classical piano, he turned to film studies, which confirmed his desire to make this passion his career.

Of Congolese origin, Kalthoum combines cultural research with artistic practice. After studying communication at UQAM in Montreal and working in event production, went on to pursue a career in the film industry. She is currently developing projects that explore generational transmission with a marked interest in genre cinema.

Shadlyne Dominique is a screenwriter based in Montreal who is also exploring documentary directing. She is interested in how personal experiences are translated on screen.

Holder of a bachelor’s degree in communication and in audiovisual studies from the Université de Montréal, Soazik draws on her life and personal & professional experiences as a person of colour to explore decolonial narratives. The film aims to question, expose, and document the realities of visible minorities.

Loic Ky is a writer and filmmaker with a background in economics, drawn to stories where inner conflict, creativity, and silence collide. My work explores the fragile space between ambition and doubt, blending intimate character studies with a thoughtful, understated visual style.

Precious Iziomon is in her final year of a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Carleton University. A stand-up comedian, public speaker, and influential young leader, she blends art, advocacy, and social justice to drive meaningful, pragmatic change. Follow Precious on Instagram to keep up with her work. @precious__iz

Director Tejiri Obaze is a Southern Nigeria–born multidisciplinary creative inspired by fantasy and dramatic cinema. Working across photography, writing, and filmmaking, they use visual storytelling to explore identity, memory, and imagination. Their work centers Black voices and culture, driven by a commitment to representation, creative freedom, and narrative reclamation.

Ediri Obor is a dynamic Toronto-based filmmaker and creative storyteller with a passion for crafting engaging narratives across diverse mediums. A recipient of the prestigious 2024 Peter Dickinson Award and founder of EDIRIO Creative House, She is recognized for her introspective and poetic approach to storytelling.

Glo Romy is a director uplifting culture and community. She is best known for “BOSSY: An Ode to Women in Street Dance”, which united an all-women cast and crew to honor Toronto’s street dance scene. Glo remains committed to fostering connection and giving back to communities that inspire her.

Mars is a Toronto-based producer, director, and editor working across documentary and mixed media. Their practice centers on creating space for stories that are often silenced or denied platforms.

Adesola is a Canadian cinematographer of Nigerian Origin, a director, and a video editor with over eight years of experience across film, television, and branded content.
His work includes Netflix originals and award-winning films, with a strong focus on visual storytelling, character, and emotionally grounded narratives.

Temitope Akinterinwa is a Toronto-based filmmaker working as a director, writer, and assistant director. Member of the Directors Guild of Canada (Ontario District), her credits include Canadian and international productions. She is the director of the award-winning short film Ego and the short documentary Straight Out of Africa.

Yemie Sonuga is an award-winning Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker and an international performer. A rising force in Canada’s screen industry she holds a Master’s Degree from the prestigious Royal Scottish Conservatoire and studied screenwriting at The Juilliard School. Her work bridges Broadway and television, reflecting a dynamic career across stage and screen.

Born in Nigeria and raised primarily in Vancouver, Mobolaji Tunde-Oladepo currently works in public health administration and is finishing a master’s degree in public policy. Her other interests include storytelling and visual arts. In her spare time, she is usually reading or writing fiction, watching movies, or doing improv.

From Swiss and Cameroonian origins, Ophelia grew up drawing. When she moved to Canada during her teenage-hood she was happy to see that Vancouver was a city in which her love for drawing and cinematography could grow. After studying criminology, she pursued animation and has never left this industry since then.

Zelee Ilima is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist that is drawn to the messy awkward bits of connection, society, and culture. She is curious about how humans show up in the world; or don’t. Her work is less about answers and more about asking questions – with a side of humour.