Gwen completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in film production at UBC and toured internationally with her feature doc She's a Boy I Knew. She currently works as a senior leader for provincial education within the Provincial Health Services Authority overseeing initiatives that use video, new media, and other learning modalities to enhance cultural competency in care providers and health literacy in British Columbians accessing care.

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.”

Shaelyn Johnston is an award-winning writer from Vancouver, BC. She is a recipient of the Governor General’s History Award, was one of 30 filmmakers chosen for Telus Storyhive’s inaugural Indigenous Storytellers Edition, and has participated in the Netflix/BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative and Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship. Her short film, The Healing Dance, has screened at numerous festivals across Canada & the US, won Best Short Film at the Weengushk International Film Festival, and recently surpassed over 11k views on YouTube.

She coordinates and co-facilitates Gender Equity in Media’s Tricksters & Writers Screenwriters Program, of which she was previously a participant; Capilano University’s Filmmakers in Indigenous Leadership Management & Business Affairs (FILMBA) Program; and is coordinator of the UBC Scripted Media Career Accelerator in the UBC School of Creative Writing, where she is currently working through her MFA as an optional-residency student.

Carmen has twenty years of experience in film and television production in Vancouver and is a member of IATSE 891, Directors Guild of Canada, and Teamsters Union Local No. 155. Prior to joining the industry, she was a television journalist at CTV Calgary. Storytelling is a lifelong passion and has taken the form of television news, short story, and screenplay writing. She has had her short stories published in an anthology, ‘A Dozen Truths’ and most recently, Geist Magazine. A firm believer in creative collaboration, bringing all the voices to the table, and remembering to “send the elevator back down”, she is committed to supporting the work GEMS is doing to facilitate more inclusive, representative media.

Laura is a Colombian filmmaker and programmer currently based in "Vancouver". Her documentary practice explores shared memories and spaces through a process-based experimental approach. She is committed to advocating for equity and representation in the film industry through her programming work at the Vancouver International Film Festival, DOXA, GEMS, and Vancouver Short Film Festival.

Marena Dix is an award-winning film professional working out of Vancouver, BC. Her dedication, organization and communication skills have helped her excel in her eight years working in film. After working on notable short-form works, such as the Gotham-nominated web series Inconceivable, Marena moved her focus to post production. Over the last five years she has honed her skills on many popular series and independent features in post and is excited to work on many more in the future.

Alyssa Aussant is a neurodiverse screenwriter, producer, and content creator with over 250 million views across her short form comedy videos. She’s a proud alumna of: The Whistler Film Festival’s Women In Focus Mentorship, Women In Film & TV Toronto’s Scripted Digital Series Incubator, Netflix & Pacific Screenwriting Program’s Scripted Series Lab, Banff & Netflix Diversity Of Voices Initiative, and CMPA’s Screen-Based Media Production Program.

Ghazal Elhaei is an Iranian-Canadian Director, Writer, and Producer. Her immigrant experience has imbued her work with a unique perspective on transformation and the boundless possibilities it offers, regardless of one's origins. Her passion lies in inspiring personal growth and believing in its profound impact on the world. At the core of Ghazal's journey is an unwavering commitment to sharing impactful stories that empower individuals to break free from self-imposed limitations.

Ghazal brings a wealth of expertise and insight via her decade-plus work in scripted entertainment, creative direction, and branding positioning/strategy. She has worked on productions for studios such as Netflix, Disney, Apple TV, and Bell Media. Her creative direction can be seen with globally recognized brands such as Ketel One, Bombay Sapphire, Nespresso, and ETSY.

Elhaei is the founder of Capital G Media, a Vancouver-based international integrated communications and creative agency and production company. She is currently developing her first feature and directorial debut, Let That Be Enough.

A born and bred Torontonian, Hilary has 10 years of radio and television marketing/promotions experience with Bell Media, Rogers Radio and CBC. A sharp left then took her to law school in Australia followed by 8 years of practice between there and Canada. These days Hilary is an actor living in Vancouver and generally can be found in rehearsal, skiing or at the movies.