This mentorship event is focused on new and emerging creatives who have been traditionally marginalized in Canada’s film and television industry, including BIPOC, Women, People living with a Disability, LGBTQ2SIA+, and Francophone creatives. Providing them with an opportunity to meet Decision Makers in Ottawa’s film and television industry, we encourage the creatives to ask questions, get career advice and to put their best foot forward as they network with Decision Makers from some of Ottawa’s best film and television companies. This event is free.

*Limited spots! No pitches allowed, but some Decision Makers are accepting resumes! Food will be provided!

Cet événement de mentorat est ciblé pour les créateurs émergents et pour les gens venant de communautés qui ont historiquement été marginalisés dans l'industrie du film et de la télévision au Canada. Ceci inclut, les créateurs BIPOC, les femmes, les personnes vivant avec un handicap, les personnes LGBTQ2SIA+ et les créateurs francophones. Ce sera  l'occasion de rencontrer les dirigeants de l'industrie du film et de la télévision à Ottawa. On vous encourage  à poser des questions, à obtenir des conseils sur votre carrière et à vous mettre en valeur durant cet événement de mentorat et de réseautage. 

*Veuillez prendre note que le nombre de places est limité. Les pitchs sont interdits, mais certains décideurs acceptent les CV. Il y aura de la nourriture!

Hoda Elatawi - Executive Producer, President / CEO - GAPC Entertainment

Hoda has created award-winning content in Canada and internationally for almost 3 decades. Her passion for education, science, history, social issues, and children’s programming, has united her with producers & writers from around the world, allowing her to work on a diverse range of projects.

Her current film, , So You Want to Be a Muslim? explores identity, religion and intersectionality in a  feature length doc for the CBC.  She is currently developing a number of projects including Hardwired for God (science/social/history), & The Arranged Marriage (scripted comedy, CBC).

Darius Buddington - Junior Agent - The Mensour Agency

Darius Buddington is a Junior Agent at the Mensour Agency, representing film and television actors in Ontario. Originally from Toronto, he began his acting career at the age of 5 and over the years has been featured in national commercials, television series, and on stage as well. Having formerly been an actor, he approaches his work with a heavy focus on ensuring that the roster’s needs are met, and their expectations exceeded. He has a strong passion for artist development and tries to find ways to ensure that those he works with can maximize their potential. He looks forward to continuing to build relationships with people in the industry and seeing more Canadian entertainers take their places on the world’s stage.

Gayle Nakamoto-Jancewicz - Broadcast Television & Digital Media Business Affairs Consultant

Gayle has worked in broadcast television for over 15 years and more recently moved into digital content business affairs. Her expertise covers budgeting, finance plans, reviewing license agreements, Canada Media Fund applications, film and television tax credits and digital media tax credits. She has teaching credits in production and business management for Algonquin College’s Broadcast Television program and the new Film and Media Production program. Gayle has line producing credits for over 275 Broadcast shows that have aired on HGTV Canada, W Network, OWN, APTN, and Cottage Life, digital media credits for CBC Comedy and the children’s website Totally Random.

Hannah Yohannes - Director / Producer - Big Brother Canada

Hannah Yohannes is a film director and screenwriter who is well known for her critically-acclaimed short film, Home Away, which has been featured on Issa Rae’s Short Film Sunday Series and won the Shaw Media Fearless Female Directors Award. Her work has been showcased in numerous film festivals worldwide such as the San Diego Black Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival and Reelworld Film Festival. Hannah has studied scriptwriting at Michigan State University and has been nominated as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women by the Hon. Jean Augustine for her experience in developing film work, advocacy and arts programming. 

She recently worked on Big Brother Canada’s historic 9th season and currently oversees festival and year-round programming for the Reelworld Film Festival and Reelworld Screen Institute.

Kristel Viduka - Productrice exécutive - ATO Media Inc.

Spécialisée en gestion des affaires et finances, Kristel évolue depuis plus de 17 ans dans l’industrie de la télévision et du cinéma. Elle est l’une des productrices d’un long métrage franco-ontarien avec Unis TV, Noël en boîte. Une vraie passionnée du contenu éducatif pour la jeunesse, elle est la productrice sur la websérie #écouteça pour Idéllo/TFO et une mini-série animée Jaxon and Song’s Maple Mystery/ Oh Canada avec Nadie et Félix pour CBC/TFO. En 2019 et 2020, elle a produit deux saisons de série hybride documentaire/animation sur la culture métisse nommée Les Métis: notre culture, nos histoires pour TFO. Cette année, elle a produit trois séries jeunesses pour TFO: une série culinaire dans laquelle on part à la découverte des différentes gastronomies du monde, une série dramatique jeunesse avec Attraction Images comme co-producteurs nommée Love & Lajoie dont on parle de dualité linguistique ainsi qu’une série dramatique pour les ados sur le hockey féminin.

Caitlin Delaney - VP of Production & Producer - 1Department Entertainment Services

Formally educated in television broadcasting, Caitlin gained her early experience in a number of different production offices before gaining traction in the production office. As a coordinator, Caitlin handled the needs and wants of every single department, managed vendor relationships, coordinated international travel and local accommodation, all while keeping a weather eye on the budget and the producer’s vision.

Caitlin made the jump to producer with 1 Department in 2016. She shines brightest when leveraging limited resources against vendor/contractor expectations. She is an expert relationship manager: from unions, to rental houses, agents, talent, vendors, and even the hottest restaurants, Caitlin has the contacts , and a flair for getting what she needs at a price production can afford.

Caitlin is an established principal in the local production community, she’s renowned for her brass tacks, and efficient problem solving. Caitlin is raising twins with her husband, and can often be found marching around the office, on the phone, getting her steps in.

Bruce Harvey - Film Commissioner - Ottawa Film Office

Bruce joined the Ottawa Film Office as Film Commissioner in 2014 after relocating to his hometown of Ottawa from Calgary, Alberta. A former producer, he started his own production company in 1990 and spent the following two decades producing film and TV projects, working with partners in Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. Bruce also enjoyed a successful career as an entertainment lawyer, working with corporate and commercial clients on a variety of cases.