Board Members

The WFG’s Board of Directors is a governance board. It maintains the WFG’s Bylaws and ensures that sufficient infrastructure is available to support the mandate of the organization, including directly supporting private-sector fundraising. As the Winnipeg Film Group is an artist-run organization, our Board must be principally comprised of practicing filmmakers, academics, educators, artists and cinephiles.

Ryan Simmons – President: (he/him)

Email: board@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Ryan Simmons is a filmmaker with deep ties to The Winnipeg Film Group. After taking the Basic Filmmaking Workshop in 2007 he’s maintained a deep connection to the organisation as a projectionist, workshop instructor, board member and volunteer. Through first hand experience he has a true appreciation of how invaluable the Film Group is as a venue to bring people of all backgrounds together through the creation and appreciation of the art of film. He holds a BA (Adv.) in Film Studies from the University of Manitoba, is a member of the Winnipeg Underground Film Festival and serves on the boards of Send+Receive and WNDX.
Fernando Dalayoan – Vice President: (he/him)

Fernando Dalayoan is a Filipino-Canadian filmmaker, writer and performer and educator living in Winnipeg. Several of his short films touch on the theme on Asian diaspora, particularly the Filipino-Canadian experience. Dalayoan’s short films have been screened in Canada and internationally. Young Ligaw, which is Dalayoan`s second film to be awarded the National Film Board of Canada Financial Assistance Program, was officially selected at the 12th DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, 8th Chicago Filipino American Film Festival and International Festival of Films on Art (FIFA) in Montreal. Dalayoan’s most current short film projects include: Ma-Buhay!Musical Broadway Dream (2022) documentary and Regalo (Gift), which received an ACTRA Manitoba MIP Diversity grant award. Both shorts are running in several selected film festivals nationally and internationally.
Oliver King – Treasurer: ODMK (or Oliver Darrius Merrick King) is a Cree 2spirit filmmaker from James Smith Cree Nation currently residing in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg, MB). Born Kenneth Charles Burns, ODMK is a writer, editor, director, producer, actor and animator. He/they go by Olly to family, friends and acquaintances.
Marc Greene – Secretary: (he/him)
Marc Greene is an Indigenous filmmaker and freelance industry professional with over 10 years of experience. Currently residing on Treaty One Territory, Marc’, formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film from the University of Winnipeg, and he is a recent graduate of the Adam Beach Film Institute. Some recent projects Marc has completed include; his personal short film Heart of the Melt. Which was screened at both the Gimli Film Festival and the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival in 2021. His documentary style series Tilt Pinball has just completed its second season, all episodes of which are currently available to watch on YouTube. In addition to his most recent and ongoing work Marc was nominated for the Indigenous Film Award at the 2019 ManitoAhbee Festival for his short Don’t Waste a Precious Minute.
Brenda Austin-Smith – Board Member: (she/her)

Brenda Austin-Smith is a professor at the University of Manitoba where she teaches and researches melodrama, cult film, performance, and documentary film, among other topics. Brenda brings to the WFG years of experience on a variety of boards, both institutional and community. Brenda has also been a long-time supporter of various arts groups during her time in Winnipeg.
Caelum Vatnsdal – Board Member: (he/him)

Caelum Vatnsdal was born and raised in Winnipeg, and has always loved watching, writing about, and making films. He has directed shorts, commercials, music videos, documentaries, and features; has worked on movies in various capacities and acted in them; and is the author of three books and innumerable articles on the subject of, you guessed it, film.
Dominique Wightman – Board Member: (he/him)

Dominique joined the Board of Directors as a film enthusiast, collector and long-time supporter of the Winnipeg Film Group. He has founded and organized various university film clubs, reviewed films for his university newspapers, and run a freelance film review blog. Dominique also serves as the Vice President of the Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library.
Aikaterini Zegeye-Gebrahiwot – Board Member: (she/her)

Aikaterini Zegeye-Gebrahiwot is an emerging actor born in Harrar, Ethiopia and based in Winnipeg, Treaty 1 Territory by way of Athens, Greece. Zegeye-Gebrahiwot completed an honours degree in fine arts at the University of Manitoba and studies Midwifery at the College of Midwives in Athens, Greece. At the school of Art, she specialized in painting and ceramics while pursuing her passion in theatre as an immigrant woman artist. She has completed extensive training at the Actors Training Centre in Winnipeg and has been developed into an interest in filmmaking leading Zegeye-Gebrahiwot to directing a short film, “the bus stop” after taking film training courses at the Winnipeg Film Group. Currently, she is pursuing a mentorship through MAWA with filmmaker Rhayne Vermette. She is also developing a contemporary one woman show of the monologue “Craps Last Tape” by Samuel Becket.
Maryam Decter – Board Member: Maryam Decter is a Canadian film industry professional based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, known for her work in workforce development and set decoration.
Farrah Murdock – Board Community Appointee: Farrah Murdock is an Anishinaabe and Nêhiyaw writer and director from Peguis First Nation and Fisher River Cree Nation.
Leonard Yakir – Board Community Appointee: Leonard Yakir was born in Germany and grew up in Winnipeg’s North End. He attended the Universities of Manitoba, Winnipeg, and Ryerson. Yakir produced and directed first Winnipeg-based feature film, The Mourning Suit; screened at Locarno and Chicago International festivals, and has had national television and theatrical releases. He has been the creative force behind socially-motivated films such as Mainstreet Soldier (Etrog nominee), Out Of The Blue (Cannes Film Festival); and The Ring of 1000 Souls and Sound. His film 1200+ premiered on UN 62 SESSION, at the North Dakota Human Rights Film Festival, and was released nationally on CTV and PBS.
Michael Drabot – Board Community Appointee: Michael has over 30 years of experience in screen-based media, with a diverse background in roles such as lighting designer, business owner/operator, producer, technical expert, and executive manager. This unique journey has given him a deep understanding of the industry’s creative and business aspects. Transitioning from an artist to an entrepreneur and then to a business designer has provided a distinct perspective on problem-solving and mentorship. He firmly believes in using innovative solutions to improve every project. As a business executive, he consistently demonstrate strategic, solid leadership skills. Extensive experience includes developing partnerships, expanding programs, managing finances, marketing, and engaging stakeholders. Fostering innovation and nurturing team leadership are his top priorities. Throughout his career, he has successfully navigated organizational transformations and achieved significant programmatic and operational successes. Leveraging leadership, coaching, digital strategy development, and business design expertise, he is eager to contribute to client-centric organizations.