2025 INDUSTRY GUESTS

Li Yeh is Director of Strategic Planning for English-language original programming for Bell Media. Li leads the business and content rights strategies for development and independent productions working closely with the senior leadership team. With a focus on Bell Media’s strategic priorities, Li also manages relationships with external stakeholders.

With over 25 years of experience in the television and broadcasting industry, Li joined Bell Media in 2005 as Senior Specialist in Business and Legal Affairs, and most recently was Senior Business Affairs Lead, heading up the business affairs department at Bell Media Studios.

Michael Robson is the Senior Director, Theatrical Sales at Elevation Pictures. In this role he oversees the planning and launch strategy for all feature films, working alongside Canadian producers and key international distribution partners such as Neon and IFC to bring incredible films to Canadian audiences in theatres across the country. A veteran in the Canadian film industry with experience across a variety of roles including content creation and acquisition,
marketing and distribution, international sales and business development, Robson has a passion for working with creators and distributors focused on telling and selling stories to a global audience.

Zach Marcovici is currently Executive in Charge of Development for CBC Drama, where he is responsible for developing high quality original drama series. Prior to joining CBC, he was Director of Development & Production at BentFrame Film & TV, overseeing a slate of female-driven TV projects for the Canadian and international market, with a focus on spotlighting LGBTQ+ and diverse stories and voices. Zach also previously worked in development and production at Back Alley Films, serving as Associate Producer on CORONER (CBC/The CW), and began his career at Vanguarde Artists Management.

Chris Kelley oversees development as the Director of Scripted Television at Counterfeit Pictures, presently working on the second season of The Office Movers. In his previous role as production executive for Bell Media, Chris was involved in the development and production of original comedies including Children Ruin Everything, Letterkenny, Shoresy, Late Bloomer, New Eden, Acting Good, Corner Gas Animated, The Indian Detective, Bria Mack Gets a Life, Shelved, Roast Battle Canada, Jann, Don’t Even and Super Team Canada. He also oversaw comedy specials by Mark Forward, Aisha Brown, Robby Hoffman, Tom Henry, DJ Demers, Chris Locke, Sophie Buddle, Graham Kay, Chris Robinson, DeAnne Smith, Paul Rabliauskas, Kyle Brownrigg and Dave Merheje. He created 'The Sopranos.’

Jon Taylor is a media executive, producer and entrepreneur based in Toronto, Canada. As CEO
of the Independent Production Fund, Jon helps to provide financial investments for the development and production of TV series in Canada. Prior to joining the IPF Jon was Executive Director of the Global Online Video Association, the first industry-wide association for companies building businesses on social video platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat. A former Bell executive, Jon led Bell Media’s digital business transformation including the launch of Canada’s premiere streaming service, Crave, in partnership with HBO and Showtime. Prior to executive leadership roles, Jon had an extensive career as a television producer, including working with Discovery, ESPN, MTV, the United Nations, the Academy Awards and the Olympic Games. Jon is frequently invited to speak at industry events regarding career growth, film and tv financing, entrepreneurial mindset, and digital transformation.

Meaghan Brander is a cultural programmer and media executive with over 15 years of experience working in the Canadian entertainment industry. She currently works in film sector development with the Government of Prince Edward Island, where she oversees the PEI Film Production Fund and works to promote the Island as a destination for film and television production. 

Meaghan's storied background includes roles with the Toronto International Film Festival and Cineplex Entertainment, where she specialized in theatrical distribution, marketing and audience development. Meaghan has collaborated with arts organizations, film festivals and media companies globally and helped connect communities across Canada with exceptional programming and entertainment.

Tim Doiron is an award winning writer, producer, and CEO of Wango Films, with nearly two decades of experience in independent cinema across Canada and the U.S. A highly regarded creative producer, Doiron is known for championing bold, character driven storytelling and guiding projects from concept to release with a collaborative, filmmaker first approach. His mastery of diverse financing models and deep industry relationships, particularly in casting, have made him a trusted partner to both artists and financiers.

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Doiron’s credits span genre and scale, including Dead Before Dawn 3D (2013), 88 (2015), and the conspiracy thriller WANDER (2020), starring Tommy Lee Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Katheryn Winnick, and Heather Graham. Recent releases include SIMULANT (2023), featuring Sam Worthington, Simu Liu, and Jordana Brewster, and the time travel comedy RELAX, I’M FROM THE FUTURE (2023), starring Rhys Darby.

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This September, his Atlantic set crime thriller LITTLE LORRAINE, starring Stephen Amell, Sean Astin, Matt Walsh, and international music icon J Balvin, will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Doiron is currently in production on the romantic comedy Grace Period, directed by Peter Facinelli and starring Ashley Greene, Seth Green, Beverly D’Angelo and Natasha Leggero.

Richelle Charkot has worked in various facets of the film industry; including production, programming, journalism and public relations. They were the Programming Director of The Royal Cinema, where their experience with film exhibition led to an interest in distribution. They completed their Canadian Media Producers Association mentorship with the producers of the Canadian Screen Award winning film Wildhood, and studied screenwriting at the Toronto Film School where they graduated with distinction.

Sandy Hunter (he/ him) is a film & TV producer and executive with 26 years of experience in the industry. After attending Carleton University School of Journalism he worked as a film journalist before moving to producing and content positions with Alliance Atlantis, Res Media Group, co-founding Toronto production company Soft Citizen and producing the 2009 documentary Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands. He then joined Apple and rose to head of Apple TV Canada during his 12-year tenure. Since returning to producing in 2021 and launching Cazador Inc. and Cultivation Pictures, he has produced Drop the Needle (Prime Video), Wabanaki Modern (CBC), O’Don’s (Bell), Backyard History (Bell), Car Wash Wars (Bell) and the 2025 dramatic feature film, What We Dreamed of Then (Crave). Sandy has also produced four New Brunswick set proof of concept demos for Dislodged, Crustaceous, Justus and Discount Wrestling., as well as directing and producing the short documentary Retrograde. Sandy is currently developing a slate of new film and television projects and producing the documentary feature Facing the Future: The Art and Life of Antony Clavet and two new series for Bell, the documentary series Brickin and the PEI set comedy series A Lick and a Prayer.

Melani is an award-winning filmmaker and producer who works across narrative film, documentaries, and commercial projects. Originally from British Columbia, she now calls Nova Scotia home and has been making films on Canada’s beautiful East Coast since 2012.

She produced the Bell FibeTV series Everybody’s Meg, which was nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards in 2025, and recently wrapped filming on Season 2. She’s also worked as the Production Manager on The Curse of Oak Island (History Channel) and the feature film Murmur (Heather Young), which took home the FIPRESCI Discovery Prize at TIFF. Melani produced the feature drama Bone Cage (Taylor Olson), which earned two Canadian Screen Award nominations. Her short documentary Twenty Eight Feet: life on a little wooden boat was featured by National Geographic, picked as a Vimeo Staff Pick, and screened at top festivals like Hot Docs and Doc NYC.

Most recently, she produced The Snake, the debut feature film from Jenna MacMillan, alongside Sharlene Kelly and Bill Lundy, with a script by and starring Susan Kent.

Melani is an alum of the Hot Docs Documentary Accelerator Program and currently serves on the boards of the Directors Guild of Canada – Maritimes and Screen Nova Scotia.

Jenna MacMillan is an award-winning filmmaker and owner of Club Red Productions, the leading independent film and television company on Prince Edward Island. Previously, she was the Director of Production and Development for Northwood Entertainment (ANNE WITH AN E, THE GRIZZLIES). Jenna produced the PEI feature thriller, A SMALL FORTUNE, and the comedy feature film, WHO’S YER FATHER?.
 

Jenna received Telefilm’s 2023 Talent To Watch Funding for her feature directorial debut, THE SNAKE – the only narrative project to be selected in Atlantic Canada, which is currently in post-production. She recently produced 0-60 Driving Academy on Bell Fibe TV 1, and the AMI TV show PRETTY BLIND. She is also a Producer on the holiday thriller, BACK FOR THE
HOLIDAYS, currently in post-production.

Her projects have been nominated for multiple Canadian Screen Awards and have won two Canadian Comedy Awards, and two Nova Scotia Screen Awards for best scripted series.

Clara Altimas is a writer, director, and producer based between Toronto and LA. She is currently serving as showrunner, executive producer, and director on the half hour comedy The Office Movers (Crave) and was previously a writer, co-executive producer, and director on half hour comedies, Strays (CBC) and Kim’s Convenience (CBC). Clara is in development on her first feature and has written and directed a number of short films that have not gotten into Sundance.

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Clara completed a Writer's residency at the Canadian Film Centre (2017) and took part in Reykjavik Film Festival’s Talent Lab (2023), and prior to that, she was an actor who never booked anything. She does, however, attribute her love of story and character to her training as a performer; studying Meisner with the late Jacqueline McClintock, scene study and script analysis with Larry Moss, and improvisation at UCB LA and Toronto’s Second City.

As Chief Content Officer at Club Red Productions, Bill Lundy is focused on bold, original Canadian storytelling with a distinctly East Coast lens. His current projects include The Snake, a dark comedy feature starring Susan Kent, and half-hour comedy series Pretty Blind, the first-ever scripted commission from AMI.

Prior to joining Club Red, Bill served as SVP of Comedy at New Metric Media, where he helped expand the company’s slate of comedy brands, including Shoresy, Children Ruin Everything, and Bria Mack Gets a Life. Previously, he was SVP of Development at Pier 21 Films, where he served as Executive Producer on Run the Burbs and developed Late Bloomer, Don’t Even, and Wild Cards.

Earlier in his career, Bill was Production Executive, Comedy at Bell Media, where he developed and
produced Letterkenny, The Beaverton, and Just For Laughs: All Access.

In 2014, Bill was named one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Canada: 15 Hottest Talents Under 35.

Caroline is a TV and Film professional based in Montreal, with over 20 years of experience in development, acquisitions, sales & distribution.

She’s the newly appointed Content Producer with Encore Télévision (Bête Noire, Fugueuse, Les Beaux Malaises) and was previously a Development Producer with Sphere Media (Sort Of, How to Fail as a Popstar). Prior to that, Caroline served as the VP of Development with New Metric Media after having spent a decade as a film distributor with Mongrel Media, doing acquisitions,  broadcast and international feature film sales. 

As Vice President, Scripted Development for Lionsgate Canada, Andrew runs the studio’s scripted development slate with an eye towards selling into the domestic Canadian marketplace and securing global co-production opportunities. With series sold to ABC, Amazon, CBC, CTV, CityTV, Disney+, Global, Netflix, Starz, SyFy, Hallmark, and The CW, Andrew brings both his passion for storytelling and his knowledge of the ever-evolving marketplace into every pitch.

A creative-first exec, he loves rolling up his sleeves with writers and shepherding bold voices to deliver entertaining, commercial series with distinct points-of-view. Ever on the lookout for both original creative and noisy IP, Andrew takes pride in the strong relationships he’s built with emerging and experienced talent founded on creative collaboration.

Andrew has spoken on panels and participated in juries at All Access Manitoba, Banff World Media Festival, Nova Scotia Content Market, Prime Time Ottawa, the Canadian Film Centre, Content Canada, Content London, MediaCon Dublin, Scripted NYC, WattCon, Queen’s Media Conference, Humber College, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

Natalie Dobbin is Senior Producer of Creative Content for CBC Atlantic. She works with independent producers and creators in a variety of ways, including through Absolutely Canadian Atlantic, Atlantic Voice, Creator Network, Land and Sea Maritimes and East Coast Music Hour.

Katie Jackson is a Community Engagement Producer at CBC. Originally from St. John’s, Katie is based in Halifax but is now focusing on communities in PEI and New Brunswick. She loves Atlantic Canada and connecting with people from all walks of life and producing community-driven stories. Get in touch with her at katie.jackson@cbc.ca.

Edge Entertainment Co-Founder and Producer Jennifer Pun has over two decades of industry experience driving bold and award-winning projects including hit series How to Be Indie and Connor Undercover, cult horror THE VOID and Canadian Screen Award nominated feature FALL. Most recently, Jennifer executive produced features WARRIOR STRONG, BALLISTIC, and THE POND and her thriller CASCADE became a Netflix Canada’s top ten movie upon its release.

Jennifer has acted as Business Affairs and Production consultant on over twenty projects including Wango’s SIMULANT & WANDER, Spinmaster’s Paw Patrol and
most recently Aiken Heart and Folktale’s THE WELL.

She held leadership roles at Heroic Films and Capri Films, and was the recipient of an executive internship at Shaftesbury’s LA office through the Bell Media Executive Producer Accelerator Lab. She is an alumna of programs including NSI-Access BIPOC Producers, Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices and was selected as one of five BANFF Spark All Stars in 2023.

Sarah Fowlie leads the Production of Original Programming across Bell Media's English Language platforms including CTV, CTV Speciality and Crave. Fowlie began her career at Bell Media in 1997 at The Comedy Network and has developed strong relationships with the Canadian and International content industry. She has held a range of positions in Acquisitions, Original Development, and In-House Production. Recent Bell Media Original Productions include SHORESY, LITTLE BIRD, THE TRAITORS CANADA, SULLIVAN’S CROSSING, LATE BLOOMER, THE TRADES, THE OFFICE MOVERS and CANADA’S DRAG RACE.

Logan Fulford is a writer, director, and producer working out of Atlantic Canada and Montreal, Quebec. He specialises in genre filmmaking, with examples of sci-fi, western, period pieces, and supernatural fantasy in his body of work. He also serves as an art director and production designer with a heavy emphasis on world-building and character creation. Logan is currently in preproduction for an IPF-funded supernatural drama series, set to go to camera in 2026.

Chris Locke is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actor, most noted as the winner of the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-Up at the 15th Canadian Comedy Awards in 2014. 

Founder of AlphaPR, Amy has been in entertainment PR and marketing for more than a decade, working with top studios and networks such as Warner Bros., PBS, CBC, AMC and more; and Canadian production companies White Pine Pictures, Clumsy Ophelia, Club Red Productions, Raven Banner, Auguste Content, and more. She has presented films at festivals all over the world including TIFF, SXSW, Sundance, Jihlava, and more. Her client list includes international award-winning filmmakers, cutting-edge Atlantic Canadian film festivals, European industries, and D2C film studios. She is also an award-winning writer and essayist.

With more a than twenty-five year career in film and television, Shelley is known for her passion
and dedication to screen-based media. Prior to joining Telefilm in 2025, she worked at APTN as
a production executive, where she was responsible for multiple formats including documentary,
scripted, children’s, and Indigenous language programming. Previously, Shelley worked in the
Vancouver audiovisual industry in production, development, and business affairs. She is now
based out of Halifax and leads Indigenous content at Telefilm. Shelley is a member of the
Manitoba Métis Federation.

Charlotte Engel has over 30 years of experience in film and television as a producer, writer and broadcaster. She recently wrote and produced a mockumentary series entitled “Happy Trails Photography” and directed an episode of CBC’s “Land and Sea” about cinnamon rolls.

While at CBC, she oversaw CBC’s cutting edge documentary strands Firsthand and CBC Docs POV. She specialized in bringing unique voices and unforgettable stories to CBC. Many of these documentaries won multiple awards ( “Indictment: The Crimes of Shelley Chartier”, “Nipawistamasowin: We Will Stand Up” and “The Skin We’re In”).

As a producer of documentaries for Rock Yenta Productions, she brought docs to CBC, TVO and the Documentary Channel. She won a Canadian Screen Award for “My Millennial Life” and a Golden Sheaf award for “Mugshot”. Engel currently is on the board of Film PEI and Charlottetown Film Society and is also on the Yorkton Film Festival programming committee. She has previously sat on the boards of Hot Docs, DOC Ontario and imagineNATIVE.

Building on his background as a musician, Patrick's role at CYMBA involves both creative and organizational tasks. His responsibilities include organizing songwriting camps, facilitating co-writes, communicating with CYMBA’s global partners & sub-publishers, and supporting artist/songwriter development. Patrick also oversees back-office operations, including project coordination, song registrations, and asset management for artists and songwriters. CYMBA is proud to represent a diverse roster of artists including Logan Richard, Absolute Losers, Kelsie Watts, Rachel Cousins, Joce Reyome, and Chad Price.

Griffin O'Toole is an award-winning music video director, creative director, and photographer based in Halifax. Griffin has collaborated with a wide range of artists and musicians in a variety of roles. Their music videos have won multiple East Coast Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia Awards for “Music Video of the Year”, and their music video for “Unhappy” by Braden Lam won “Best Narrative” at The Toronto International Music Video Festival.

Lucie Marion is an account Manager at National Bank of Canada since 2014. She was previously in charge of financing for various Canadian production companies, as well as Senior Analyst at Canadian Heritage. She has vast knowledge of various financing sources and regulations of domestic Productions as well as International Co-productions.

Rob has practiced film, television, video game and media law for more than 25 years. Rob is based in Halifax but works on many Atlantic Canadian and national matters, including in relation to errors and omissions clearance, acquisition of rights, intellectual property protection, agreements with personnel, financing (including interim), licensing and distribution. Rob also works on other intellectual property matters relating to copyright, trademarks and information technology, in addition to advertising, marketing, and privacy.

​Justine Williamson is a comedian, actor, and writer from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. She’s best known as the co-creator of the Cape Breton comedy duo Tracy and Martina. Justine first captured audiences by sharing sketch videos that hilariously parodied the culture and characters of her hometown. Since then, she has toured across Canada performing live as Tracy and Martina, co-starred in two seasons of Starmaker Academy (Bell Fibe), hosted the 2021 East Coast Music Awards, and co-authored It’s Tracy and Martina, Hun: A Guide to Cape Breton Livin’ (Nimbus Publishing). Her on-screen credits include Little Loraine, Pretty Blind, Trailer Park Boys, Tracy and Martina’s Dirty Deeds (Trailer Park Boys +) She has also written and starred in original comedy content for CBC Comedy and contributed as a writer to This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Justine is currently co-hosting the podcast Shootin’ the Sh!t alongside comedic partner Greg Vardy.

As Head of Development, Rachel Goldstein-Couto oversees the scripted and unscripted program development for CTV, Crave and the Entertainment Specialty channels of Bell Media. Rachel and her team work closely with independent production partners, writers and creatives to develop a slate of factual and scripted projects that are diverse, culturally relevant to Canadians and specific to the programming needs of the individual platforms and services. In the past four years Bell Media has commissioned a slew of originals developed by Rachel and her team, including Sight Unseen, Sullivan’s Crossing, The Trades, The Billionaire Murders and many more.

Louise Lalonde is a writer/director/producer of both French and English screen-based content. She is a graduate of the Film and Television Production Program at Trebas Institute and prior to working in the film and television industry, she was an educator and professional chef—all skills that still serve her well.  

Her work to date includes several short films and documentary projects as well as production of several audio books by Atlantic Canadian writers. In 2006, she initiated and coordinated the popular annual series of workshops: the PEI Screenwriters’ Bootcamp in partnership with Telefilm Canada and FilmPEI until 2021.  In 2017 she initiated The Writer's Edge, an annual screenwriting retreat for women that ran until 2022. 

Her recent productions include a lifestyle series: Here Fishy, Fishy . . a French one-hour documentary, Le Frisson de la fripe on the popularity of thrifting and combating the fast fashion trend as well as a French documentary with the National Film Board of Canada on the popular musical group, Garolou.   

Projects in varying stages of development include three TV series, The Starfish Bay Social Club, That’s Life (an Ireland-Canada co-production), and My Life as a Vet as well as three features: I <3 Hockey, Caroline & Maria, and Forever and Ever.   

Hélène Lebon is a Franco-Canadian filmmaker and producer based in Prince Edward Island, where she founded Productions LTDU Inc., a company dedicated to creating poetic, socially engaged documentaries. Trained in journalism and with experience in documentary research in Montreal, she brings a nuanced understanding of francophone realities across Canada. A board member of the Fédération culturelle de l’Î.-P.-É. and WIFT-Atlantic, and a member of RACCORD, the network of francophone filmmakers working outside Quebec, she explores identity, belonging, and community through a bilingual and regional lens, highlighting the diversity and vitality of French-language storytelling throughout the country.

Greg Vardy is a comedian, lawyer, actor, and writer from New Waterford, Nova Scotia. He is the co-creator of the Cape Breton comedy duo, Tracy and Martina, and is best known for his character, Martina. Greg is a proud member of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community, and the Law Society of New Brunswick. Greg has been making people laugh both on and off screen since 2014 through character acting, stand-up, and podcasting. Over the years Greg has had the pleasure of creating content with CBC Comedy, writing for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, co-authoring It’s Tracy and Martina, Hun: A Guide to Cape Breton Livin with Nimbus Publishing, co-hosting the Shootin The Shit with Tracy and Martina podcast, and writing and starring in Tracy and Martina’s Dirty Deeds (Swearnet). In 2023, Greg won Screen Nova Scotia’s Groundbreaking Performing Award for his portrayal of multiple characters in season two of Tracy and Martina’s Dirty Deeds.

​Brendan Langelle Lyle is a Canadian filmmaker who began creating music videos at the age of 15 in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. With a passion for storytelling and a clear vision, he has been able to share his love for art through various creative projects. Working with the likes of Nelly Furtado, Neon Dreams, Goldie Boutilier, Customer Service, and Classified (to name a few notable artists), he has solidified his calling as a video director. With numerous ongoing projects, he consistently demonstrates his genuine love for film.

Greg Alsop is a versatile composer, drummer, and producer best known as a founding member of the acclaimed indie rock band Tokyo Police Club. 

Over the past two decades, Greg has built a dynamic career in music - touring internationally, performing mainstage at major festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza, and earning three Juno Award nominations. 

Now based in Charlottetown, Greg works out of his home studio where he focuses on songwriting and music production for television and artists. His recent credits include composing the main theme and several original songs for Pinecone & Pony (DreamWorks/First Generation Films), contributing tracks like “Cool as Ice Cub” and “Everyday Hero” for PJ Masks Power Heroes (Disney+), and writing “Checks and Balances” for Nickelodeon’s Emmy-winning series Well Versed.

After studying Visual Art at York University, Shelley began her film industry career as a
Props Person in Toronto in 1987, later working as an Art Director for film and television
before relocating to Nova Scotia in 1998.

She currently serves as the Business Agent for IATSE Local 849, representing motion
picture technicians across the Maritime Provinces. Shelley has also been a member of
the Screen Nova Scotia Board of Directors since 2017, sits on several of its committees,
and currently serves as Treasurer on its Executive.

Following the death of a family member by suicide in 2019, Shelley became an active
advocate for Mental Health First Aid training. She is a founding participant of the Behind
the Scenes Foundation’s Mental Health Steering Committee, which develops tools and
resources to support entertainment industry workers and their families.

Shelley has been provincially recognized for her extensive community volunteerism and
served as an elected