About the Panelists

Daniel Cross is a multi-disciplined award winning documentary filmmaker currently producing www.homelessarchive.org. He made his mark with the feature length films, THE STREET: A FILM WITH THE HOMELESS and S.P.I.T: SQUEEGEE PUNKS IN TRAFFIC both films received theatrical distribution, international broadcast and critical acclaim. They are reflective of his artistic philosophy that film is a medium for affecting social and political change. In addition to making films, Daniel is active in the film community, serving on the Boards of CFTPA , Observatoire du Documentaire and DOC (formerly CIFC). He also teaches film production at Concordia University and with Mila Aung-Thwin operates the production company eyesteelfilm in Montreal, QC.

Yung Chang is a Canadian filmmaker based in Montreal. He has a degree in film production from Montreal's Concordia University and has studied the Meisner technique at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse. His first documentary film, Earth To Mouth, produced by the National Film Board of Canada, won praise for its beautifully crafted meditation on food production and migrant labour. He displays a remarkable sense of cinematic storytelling in his first feature-length documentary, Up the Yangtze.

Robin Smith operates his own distribution, production and marketing consultation company called KinoSmith, which helps fill a void in consolidating Canadian distribution forces, providing marketing advice to productions, as well as acting as Executive Producer on a variety of upcoming Canadian feature film and television product. Robin brings a strong background of over 17 years of film and video, worked for Capri Releasing, Lions Gate, Blackwatch and Alliance Atlantis, among others.

Elise Swerhone was born in Canora, Saskatchewan. In the early seventies, she moved to Winnipeg to study at the University of Manitoba, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Shortly after completing her university education, Elise began shooting, directing, producing and editing films. Her first film Havakeen Lunch was the first independently produced Winnipeg Film Group production to be completed. This portrait of a small town lunch counter in the interlake region of Manitoba was shot and directed by Elise using an all female crew (a first in Manitoba). Since then she has produced and directed a number of documentaries for organizations, including the National Film Board and the CBC.

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