Gender Equity in Media Festival
During our in-person 19th annual international film festival we proudly showcased a rich selection of talent from established and emerging women and gender-diverse filmmakers worldwide! GEMFest is now accessible virtually for an exceptional lineup of short and feature-length films spanning narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation genres. At GEMFest, we celebrate diversity, empower voices, and challenge norms. Thank you for joining us as we shine the spotlight on gender equity in film.
Film Program
A First Farewell
Set in an Uyghur village in northwestern China, A First Farewell is an award winning film told through the eyes of a young boy. The depth and delight of his relationships to friends and family are movingly captured, as is their slow and unstoppable unravelling as the people chase ‘a better future’. An important film told by a filmmaker raised in the area.
Black Conflux
The lives of a promising, disillusioned, teen and a self-loathing outcast are intertwined in this well-crafted, haunting, film. Set in suburban Newfoundland in 1987, the story explores growing up isolated in a world of toxic masculinity. Compelling performances deliver the story. Selected as one of TIFF’s Top Ten for the year.
Shorts Program: Hatch
Shorts Program: Lift
Shorts Program: Rise
Shorts Program: Leap
Meet The Director’s Panel
March 6, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM, VIFF Centre
GEMFest Meet the Directors Panel showcases a collection of visionary filmmakers from films featured in our 2024 festival. Join Moderator Dr. Jules Koostachin, award-winning filmmaker and Directors Guild of Canada member who completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia in conversation with Janessa St. Pierre, the filmmaker and star of Hair or No Hair, Jaime Gianopoulos and Kayah George, the directing team behind Our Grandmother the Inlet, and Mariam Barry, director of Yaye.
Cinematic Visions: A Discussion on Visual Storytelling
March 6, 3:30 – 5:00 PM PST, VIFF Centre
GEMFest invites you to a panel celebrating women and gender-diverse perspectives in cinematography. Join Moderator Polly Pierce, an award-winning director and cinematographer, Kaayla Whachell, an Associate Member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, Karina Jesson whose narrative work has graced prestigious festivals, and Belen Garcia, a queer Mexican Cinematographer. This will be an insightful discussion on visual storytelling as these esteemed cinematographers share their career paths, insights, and challenges as underrepresented voices in cinema.
Making Magic in Post
March 7, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM PST, VIFF Centre
GEMFest brings together a panel of post-production filmmakers for a dynamic discussion on the unique challenges and creative opportunities in the post-production process. From colour correction to sound design, explore the cinematic craftsmanship in shaping compelling narratives.
GEMFest Screenplay Competition Panel
March 8, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST, VIFF Centre
GEMFest presents a panel of talented screenwriters whose screenplays reached the finals in our International Screenplay Competition. Join us for a captivating discussion as our panellists share insights into their storytelling journeys, illuminating the power of diverse narratives in cinema. Moderated by Joan Macbeth.
Advocacy Panel
March 8, 12:30 – 2:00 PM PST, VIFF Centre
Join us for our annual Advocacy Panel Discussion focused on advancing advocacy and fostering inclusion in the film industry. Engage in a conversation with influential funders and key players within the industry as they share insights into their efforts to promote gender equity in the Canadian film and television landscape. This panel will include an in-depth conversation with Mehernaz Lentin (Telefilm Canada), Prem Gill (Creative BC), Kadon Douglas (BIPOC TV & Film), Tanvi Bhatia (Women in View) and Sheila Peacock (CBC).
Producing in BC Panel Discussion
March 9, 2024, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST, VIFF Centre
GEMFest is pleased to present a panel of talented and experienced B.C. producers emphasizing ethical and inclusive practices. Join Moderator Liz Shorten (CMPA) in conversation with Sara Blake (Seagrass) , Lori Lozinski (Little Bird, Don’t Even, A Motorcycle Saved My Life), Angelica Stirpe (Boldly), Shelby Manton (Boldly) and Priyanka Desai, an award-winning broadcast journalist-turned-TV Producer.
Awards Ceremony
March 9, 3:00 – 5:30 PM PST, VIFF Centre
GEMFest is excited to present a range of awards to our filmmakers, including feature and short awards for:
Best Performance
Best Cinematography
Best Documentary
Best Direction
Best of BC
and more!
AMIRA ANDERSON
Amira Anderson is a Vancouver-based actress, writer, and show creator originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and International Studies before studying acting for film and television at Vancouver Film School. She was also a participant in Obsidian Theatre Company’s Mentor Apprenticeship Program. She has written, produced, casted and acted in many short films over the years, two of which are proofs of concept for TV series. She has also appeared on the CW, Netflix, Hallmark, Paramount+ and in many commercials. Her most recent work has been on Game of Deceit, which premiered on BET+ and her StoryHive Black project, Amara, which is currently streaming on OptikTV. Amira is an alum of Reelworld’s Emerging 20 program.
PRIYANKA DESAI
Priyanka Desai is an award winning broadcast journalist-turned-TV Producer, who specializes in stories that impact and entertain. Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Priyanka is known for her understanding of diverse cultures across two continents. In Canada her credits include a variety of producing roles for the likes of TELUS Originals, Storyhive, APTN, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and AMI. Currently she is directing Not Your Butter Chicken a 4 part docu series for Telus Originals slated for release in May 2024.
JENNY LEE-GILMORE
Jenny is an actor & filmmaker based in Vancouver. She completed her BFA in Film Production at the University of British Columbia in 2019. Her debut short film Breakaway played in festivals across North America and was selected in the Top 9 of 2020’s CBC Short Film Face Off. She recently directed TELUS Originals documentary Overtime about her mom’s 55+ hockey team which earned her a nomination for the “One to Watch” award by the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. She’s an alumnus of the VIFF Catalyst mentorship program, BIPOC TV & Film Showrunner Bootcamp, GEMS TV Producer Lab and the Women in The Director’s Chair Story & Leadership program.
VANESSA MEYER
Vanessa is a filmmaker, producer, and programmer based in Brooklyn, NY. She makes movies (and other art) about how it’s hard to deal with our feelings and runs development labs and markets to help other people get their movies made. She has a PhD in Communications with a specialization in personal storytelling and feminist media studies. She is currently Programming Director for GEMS’ Genre Film Lab. She has worked for the Tribeca Festival, is the former Programming Director for Frontières Int. Co-pro Market, and was Head of Development for Brooklyn based Documentary Prod-co Hard Working Movies. She just completed her first fiction short film (Foot Trouble) and is currently in development on a one woman show.
Shasha McArthur
Ą́ba wašte, my name is Shasha McArthur. I’m a Nakota and Nehiyaw filmmaker based here in Vancouver, BC on the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam people. I joined the film industry to contribute to changing the under-representation and often misrepresentation of Indigenous crew, talent and creatives within the film industry. Sharing Indigenous narratives and traditional stories whether they’re fiction, or nonfiction often requires protocols and respect for the nation from which the story came. A respectful and mindful preservation of tradition is what I want to achieve with each project I undertake. I would like to say Thank You to the amazing Indigenous creatives that came before me, their tenacity and passion is what has created the path we all walk today.
“Nothing about us, without us.”
ALEXANDRA STASESON
Alexandra Staseson (she/her) is grateful to live on the Unceded and Traditional Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. She is a writer, performer and Founder of Storied North. For 20 years Alexandra has lead social media & community-outreach for film, TV & screen-based industry events, building audiences for 750+ feature films, memorably with FWC 2004-2020, Crazy8s 2014-2019, and with Leo Awards and National Canadian Film Day. A graduate of SFU’s trailblazing Community Capacity Building program, Ali was a Moderator for Canadian Screen week, Vancouver Biennale and Burnaby Festival of Learning.
Pitch Forum
Sunday, March 9 at 12:00PM
The GEMFest Pitch Forum starts at 12PM on Sunday, March 9, which serves as a dedicated platform for filmmakers to present their projects to production companies, broadcasters, and distributors within the industry. The event is by registration – registrants will be paired with their desired pitch recipient for a one on one 10 minute pitch.
Designed to empower and propel Canadian talent, this event offers a distinctive space for project development, networking, and exposure to influential figures in the film and television industry. Filmmakers are encouraged to research and tailor their pitches to the company they are targeting.
Jen Araki Playfair – Crystal Mountain Films
Jen Araki Playfair is an award-winning filmmaker, actress and founder of production companies Media Button and Crystal Mountain Films, which she co-owns with her husband Dylan Playfair. Jen directed, produced, and starred in the award-winning short film “Whistle” which Premiered at last year’s Cannes Indie Shorts, inspired by true events, she won “Best Female Director” at the Venice Short Film Awards and was nominated for Best Direction at the Leo Awards. Jen is currently in pre-production for a feature length narrative thriller called “Breeder” and has 3 features in development.
Nikki Beesley – Independent Production Liaison at Knowledge Network
Nikki has a wide range of experience in both scripted and documentary production through various roles. Prior to joining Knowledge Network, she worked on productions by Inspired Image Picture Company Inc, Force Four Entertainment Inc, Lighthouse Pictures Inc. In the role of Independent Production Liaison at Knowledge Network, she acts as initial contact for all new proposals and pitches, and liaises with filmmakers thereafter, checking in on their progress. She works closely with programming executives and Knowledge’s Business Affairs Department while she prepares, reviews, and coordinates documentation required to issue development agreements and letter offers for commissions and pre-license programs.
Lynne Crocker – Anaid Productions
As Development Producer with Anaïd, Lynne contributes to the development slate and ongoing productions with passion and curiosity. She was instrumental in the development of Hip Hop My House (MTV/Paramount). Lynne has an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in Cinema Studies and minored in Gender and Equity Studies. She honed a keen curatorial eye in Toronto as an Associate Programmer for TIFF’s Discovery program and International Feature Documentary Programmer at Hot Docs, with a special interest in Queer cinema and stories from underrepresented communities.
Kim Guise – Telefilm
Kim Hsu Guise is the Feature Film Executive for Telefilm Canada. Kim has over 20 years of experience in the film and television industry as a lawyer, business affairs advisor and production executive. She has a full spectrum of experience including negotiating production-related deal terms, assessing project pitches for financing, setting strategic direction, and building and leading a diverse team of industry experts. Kim was the recipient of the 2018 Women in Film and Television Vancouver Bron Iris Award which is awarded to a person who has demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of women creators and their screen-based works.
Carolyn Irwin – Pink Buffalo Films
Director and Producer at Pink Buffalo Films and True Calling Media, Carolyn creates powerful documentary pieces profiling individual stories and the genuine details that make each person unique and captivating. With a decade of experience in the industry, from concept to completion Carolyn oversees all variety of productions, from documentary to commercial and scripted narratives. She was the first female director on Vogue’s on-going 73 Questions series, and has always been passionate about supporting and mentoring female and gender diverse people in this industry.
Jason James – Resonance Films
Jason James an award-winning director and producer based in Vancouver, BC. He is known for making stylish character driven comedies and dramas that have been released to acclaim both domestically and internationally. He recently directed/produced the thriller EXILE and the indie drama ENTANGLEMENT. His company RESONANCE FILMS is involved in a wide range of projects and collaborations in the film and television industry, making for a healthy development slate and exciting future.
Geoff Manton – Boldly
Geoff is a co-founder and Executive Producer of Boldly. He has worked closely with his partners to spearhead a Values-based producing model that has influenced countless commercial productions over the last decade. He has also woven this model into original projects and documentaries produced for Telus Originals and the CBC, along with multiple short films that have earned premieres at TIFF, SXSW and Slamdance. Geoff is now at the helm of Boldly’s Originals team, aimed at developing long-form projects across many formats.
Nicolle Rufino – Omnifilm Entertainment
Nicolle Rufino, of Filipino-Chinese heritage, relocated from the Philippines to Canada in pursuit of a career in the Film and Television Industry. Currently, she contributes her expertise to Omnifilm Entertainment as their Scripted Development Associate. She is a graduate of the Film Production Program at Vancouver Film School and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from British Columbia Institute of Technology. Nicolle is dedicated to empowering diverse creatives in their storytelling endeavors.
Shirley Vercruysse – NFB
Shirley Vercruysse is an Executive Producer with the National Film Board of Canada. Based in Vancouver she leads a team producing documentaries. Recent releases from the studio in include the feature-length documentaries, WaaPake (Tomorrow) directed by Jules Koostachin, Anything for Fame, directed by Tyler Funk, and Laydown Your Heart from Marie Clements. Acclaimed recent releases include Baljit Sangra’s Because We Are Girls, named Best Canadian Feature at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival; and Marie Clements’ multi-award-winning musical documentary The Road Forward, winner of the Canadian Feature Award at Dreamspeakers.
