SpringBoard Industry Event:

Kim Ball | Chief Content & Communications Officer SuperChanne

Kim joined Super Channel in 2012 and currently serves as the company’s Chief Content & Communications Officer. In this role, Kim leads the programming strategy for the company’s suite of four channels (Fuse, Heart & Home, Vault, Quest) including pre-licensing of Canadian productions and acquisition of foreign content. Her portfolio also includes oversight of media relations, programming publicity, corporate communications and industry outreach. 

Prior to joining Super Channel, Kim was Director of Marketing, Publicity & Promotion at 20th Century Fox / Incendo Television Distribution for over a decade. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from McMaster University and a post-grad certificate in PR from Humber College. She is also a graduate of the WIFT-T Media Leadership Program and Vice-Chair of the Foundation for WIFT-T Board. 

Lauren MacKinlay | Development Executive, Scripted, Original Programming Bell Media

As a Development Executive for Bell Media, Lauren works with independent production partners, writers, and creatives on the development of new scripted projects for Bell Media’s Original Programming slate. Prior to joining Bell Media, Lauren’s career as an award-winning producer included tenures at Neshama Entertainment and Sphere Media, with producing credits on THE WAY HOME (Hallmark), TRANSPLANT (CTV/NBC), BAD BLOOD (Netflix), 19-2 (CTV/Acorn) and more. She was a co-founder of the non-profit organization, Women On Screen, and in September 2022, she was named one of ten women on the Canadian Power List of Women in Film.

Mathew Parry | Manager, Creative Industry Programs Creative BC

Mathew’s primary responsibilities lie within the Development Team where he oversees a number of programs including the Project Development Fund, and other partnership programs with external organizations supporting film and TV development. Mathew has a Master’s degree in history, and is also a graduate of the Documentary Film Production program at Langara College.

Adam Garnet Jones | Director of TV Content and Special Events APTN

Adam Garnet Jones is Cree-Métis from Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB.) For 14 years, Adam worked as a writer/director/producer of feature films and TV. In 2018, he shifted toward content development and advocacy for Indigenous creators founding the role of Indigenous Initiatives Lead at Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund (CMF.) In that role, Adam helped Telefilm and the CMF implement Indigenous Pathways and Protocols into their funding systems, and guided the creation and implementation of a historic new fund for Indigenous feature filmmakers. 

Now, Adam is delighted to lead his team as Director of TV Content and Special Events at APTN. In his role, Adam is responsible for setting the direction of the network’s programming, and helping to nurture Indigenous TV series and feature films. Recently, he has been particularly proud of his work on Little Bird, Bones of Crows and the live National broadcast commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Adam is also a novelist and beadworker.

Kevin Eastwood – Producer, Optic Nerve Films

Kevin is an award-winning writer, director and producer. Most recently he wrote, directed and produced The Society Page, for which he won a 2024 Leo Award for Best Direction. Other credits include being the series director on two critically-acclaimed, award-winning documentary series, British Columbia: An Untold History and Emergency Room: Life + Death At VGH, as well as writing and directing the CBC documentaries, Humboldt: The New Season and After The Sirens (both nominated for Best Documentary Program at the Canadian Screen Awards). His credits as a producer include the documentaries Part of the Pack (VFF 2022), Haida Modern (VFF 2020), and Eco-Pirate: The Story of Paul Watson, the feature films Preggoland, Fido, and The Delicate Art of Parking (VFF 2005), and the CBC series The Romeo Section. Kevin is currently the showrunner on Wildfire, a documentary series for Knowledge Network, and serves on the board for DOC Northwest and the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Ken Tsui - Production Executive, Telus Originals

Ken Tsui is a Production Executive for TELUS originals, a Western Canadian documentary and docuseries funding program that focuses on impactful health, environmental, community and connectivity stories. Our films reach audiences on TELUS Optik TV, Paramount+, CBC, TVO and at film festivals including Hot Docs, VIFF, IMAGINEnative, Doc NYC, BFI Flare, Big Sky and Tribeca Film Festival. Recent TELUS originals titles include House Special, Curl Power, Ari’s Theme, Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun and Handle with Care. Learn more at telus.com/en/localcontent/telusoriginals 

Beyond his role at TELUS originals, he remains an active member of Vancouver’s film community with his work as a Curator for the Vancouver International Film Festival, a Board Member of The Cinematheque and was the former Board Chair of The Documentary Media Society (DOXA Film Festival). 

Dan Emery - English Program Business Affairs, Telefilm

Originally from Montreal, Dan has been working in the Canadian film and television industry since 2002 as a PM/Producer on the frontlines of independent feature films and documentaries, and in capacities of Project Management, Program Administration and Business Affairs with independent film and television production studios, National Film Board of Canada, Telus STORYHIVE, and most recently with Telefilm Canada as part of their English Program Business Affairs team.  

Dan has a long-standing passion for storytelling, and for supporting filmmakers in navigating the successful course of their projects as they endeavor to bring great stories to life, and on to the screen. 

Brad Danks - CEO of OUTtv

Brad Danks, J.D. is the CEO of OUTtv Network Inc. and OUTtv Media Global Inc. (collectively OUTtv), the world’s leading streamer and commissioner of LGBTQ2S+ content. A former entertainment lawyer with a distinguished practice representing U.S. and international studios, broadcasters, distributors, and financiers, Brad joined OUTtv as COO in 2006 and became CEO in 2016 with a mandate to globalize the business. 

[Text Wrapping Break]Since then, he has led OUTtv’s international expansion, securing strategic partnerships across AVOD, SVOD, and FAST platforms in more than 14 countries. These include Amazon, Apple, Roku, YouTube Prime Channels, Comcast (Xumo), Samsung, PlutoTV, Google TV, Freevee, Vizio, Tivo+, Plex, Netgem, the UK’s Freeview, South Africa’s eMedia, Allente in Scandinavia, and Chung Wa in Taiwan. 

 OUTtv is home to a compelling mix of inclusive, queer-focused content from comedy to drama, documentaries, reality, and award-winning movies. OUTtv Originals include  Slayers: Wheel of Fate, For the Love of DILFS, Sew Fierce, X-Rated: NYC, Drag House Rules, Settle Down, Call Me Mother, Sugar Highs, Trixie Mattel: Skinny Legend, and the documentary strand OutSpoken. 

[Text Wrapping Break]Brad is also a frequent writer and speaker on the evolving media landscape. He represents OUTtv’s interests as a member of the industry groups Streaming for Australia and the Thematic Streaming Coalition. He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Victoria, sits on the Board of Numeris, and is a faculty advisor at the Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver. 

Jessica La Grassa - Director of Sales & Distribution, Vortex Media

Jessica La Grassa is a seasoned film distribution executive with years of experience across domestic and international markets. She has held key roles at leading companies including eOne, Mongrel Media, and Vortex Media, where she currently serves as Director of Sales & Distribution. With a PMP certification and a strong foundation in marketing, sales, and acquisitions, Jessica combines strategic insight with a passion for championing independent film. 

Robin Smith - CEO of Blue Ice Docs Inc - Director of Programming for the Whistler Film Festival

Robin Smith is currently the Director of Programming for the Whistler Film Festival and the CEO of Blue Ice Docs Inc. – a distribution and equity funding company dedicated to funding, acquiring and distributing the best non-fiction work from around the world.  

Robin brings a strong background of over 30 years of film, video and arts-related work to the marketplace having worked at a variety of distribution companies including The National Film Board of Canada, Alliance Films, Lions Gate Film Entertainment, Seville Pictures, Capri Releasing and levelFILM. Robin has recently also been brought aboard to advise a variety of companies such as the Vancouver International Film Festival and Vortex Media. Robin also programmed the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema for its first 10 years of operation.  

Notable releases managed and navigated by Robin include such hits as CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, AWAY FROM HER, CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, BLACKFISH, UP THE YANGTZE and KEDI.  

Robin has also acted as Executive Producer on a variety of award-winning documentaries including the Oscar-nominated ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL (dir: Steve James), the Emmy-Award winning SOLITARY (dir: Kristi Jacobson), the Emmy-Award winning ADVOCATE (dir: Rachel Leah Jones, Philippe Bellaiche), the commercial hit A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX (dir: Rodney Asher), the 2024 SXSW documentary THE HOBBY (dir: Simon Ennis) and the TIFF select documentary YOUR TOMORROW (dir: Ali Weinstein). 

Sarah Jane Flynn - Director of Independent Production & Business Affairs, Knowledge Network

Sarah Jane is a leading media executive with two decades of experience in developing, producing and programming hit content for television and digital platforms.  Sarah Jane has held senior roles in large production companies and at Canada’s leading broadcasting entities. She is currently leading commissioning for BC’s Knowledge Network as Director of Independent Production & Business Affairs. 

Tanya Mason - Head of Sales and Digital Strategy Photon Films

Tanya Mason is the Head of Sales and Digital Strategy at Photon Films Media but previously worked at Sinking Ship Entertainment starting as a Distribution Coordinator in 2021, before also taking on Consumer Product Manager role in 2022. Prior to that she served as Manager of Content Programming at Landmark Cinemas Canada,  Business Development manager at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sales Director at Paramount Vantage. 

Michele Wilson  - International Sales & Festivals Coordinator, EPIC PICTURES GROUP 

Originally from the Canadian prairies, Michele moved to Montreal to study Costume Design for Film and Television. Her love of film drew her to North America’s largest genre festival, Fantasia International Film Festival where she worked for five years. As the Director of Hospitality, she had the opportunity to meet many film industry professionals which is where she was first introduced to the Epic Pictures team. After moving across Canada to Vancouver and she joined Epic Pictures Group as an International Sales Agent. Michele focused on sales in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe and traveled to film markets around the world. Since the pandemic, she has settled into Victoria with her family and her primary focus has shifted from sales and travel to festival submissions and acquisitions. Michele has an eye for original, stirring content, and enjoys being a part of a team who shares her love of cinema, and the challenges of the ever-changing market.  

Epic Pictures is an independent producer, financer and distributor of genre films, including EXTRA ORDINARY, SEA FEVER, DARK NATURE, BEEZEL and LUCKY.  

Jennifer Chen is the head of Channel Zero Studios, managing international scripted series and feature-length content. She was formerly the VP of Programming for the suite of Channel Zero’s broadcast networks managing acquisitions, scheduling and original programming (Wynonna Earp S1, Tiny Talent Time S1-3, The Pinkertons) for CHCH, Silver Screen Classics and Rewind. She began her film and television career in international sales at the CFC and then at Ouat Media, specializing in the acquisition and sale of short films including festival and Oscar-winning titles.  

Her most recent productions are The Puzzle Lady series (UK title: Murder Most Puzzling) and feature film: Boot Camp. 

 Jennifer currently sits on the board of Women in Film and Television+ Toronto (WIFT+). She’s an avid Francophile since her cinema studies at the Sorbonne, and she holds an international MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern. 

Daria Ellerman - Storyteller / Editor

Daria (she/her) is a storyteller with decades of experience editing television series,
MOWs, documentaries and feature films. Her credits include the Netflix Christmas
movie My Secret Santa, feature films Meditation Park and The Birdwatcher and
hundreds hours of episodic television including Virgin River, Wild Cards, My Life
With the Walter Boys, Alert and most recently the critically acclaimed Allegiance.
Daria’s versatility comes from the variety of projects she has been involved in
across genres and platforms including 140 episodes of sitcom that included a live
audience. Daria has been nominated for 10 Leo Awards, A DGC Award, a
Southhampton International Film Festival Award, a Gemini Award and a CCE Award
as picture editor and won 5 Leo Awards for her work on the television series Virgin
River, Malibu Rescue, Take Two and The Collector

Erin Shaw - Production Manager TELUS STORYHIVE

Erin Shaw is a Production Manager at TELUS STORYHIVE, where she champions emerging filmmakers and content creators through STORYHIVE programs. Erin provides hands-on mentorship and production support to first-time creators as they bring their stories to the screen. 
Erin honed her craft in broadcast journalism at CBC and Global BC, where she developed a keen eye for compelling visual narratives. Her work spans documentary, corporate storytelling, and audio production, giving her a versatile understanding of the medium. Prior to STORYHIVE, she worked as a content and communication strategist at the University of British Columbia, where she helped shape how stories are told in educational spaces.