2024

Darren Borrowman is a multi-faceted independent filmmaker who began his career in VFX on Vancouver-shot staples like Smallville and X-Files. His short films and digital series have been screened around the world, garnishing nominations and awards for the work of his fellow cast and crew members. With a particular emphasis on micro-budget filmmaking, he strongly believes that there has never been a better time for emerging filmmakers to showcase their talents. His focus on film education has taken him around the world for classes and workshops, teaching directing, producing, assistant directing and conflict resolution.

Heather Hawthorn Doyle has had a deep career path, starting as a director on live multi-camera variety and talk shows, then transitioning to lifestyle and documentary television where she won the award for best youth series in the world for “Make Some Noise.” And now she’s a full-time working director in the narrative space receiving two Canadian Screen Award nominations this year for Best TV Movie Director for “Make Me a Match” which makes Hallmarks first South Asian led cross cultural love story and family drama “The More Love Grows”

Kathleen is an award-winning actor and director, working in film, television, theatre, voice-over and script development throughout the country. She created and produced ReelFast: The 48 Hour Movie Making Festival and The Cold Reading Series which endeavoured to connect writers and actors of the film and theatre communities. A long and varied acting career finds her presently shooting the series Happy Face (CBS/Paramount) in Vancouver, and recently wrapping Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney).

She is a respected teacher and mentor, presently an adjunct professor of acting and directing at the University of British Columbia, senior acting instructor at Vancouver Film School, associate instructor at Douglas Collage and leads film acting classes and workshops. She works internationally bringing her masterclasses in screen performance and acting pedagogy to India, the U.S., Ireland and Mexico.

With a career spanning over two decades, Zeeshan Parwez, a Pakistani Canadian Director / music producer / VFX Artist has directed a wide range of music videos, commercials, and television shows, earning a reputation for
his innovative and visually captivating style. His clients include Pepsi, Coke, Nescafe, Red Bull and many more. He has directed many videos for Coke Studio, a popular music show from Pakistan with a mass global following. He is currently immersed in the development of his debut feature film from Pakistan, an electronic music album and an animated short film.