Staff List

(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.

(she/her)

Kier-La Janisse is a film writer, programmer, producer and founder of The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies. She is the author of House of Psychotic Women: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films (2012), A Violent Professional: The Films of Luciano Rossi (2007), and has been an editor on numerous books including Warped & Faded: Weird Wednesday and the Birth of the American Genre Film Archive (2021) and Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror on Film and Television (2017). She wrote, directed and produced the award-winning documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021) for Severin Films, where she is a producer and editor of supplemental features. She is currently at work on several books including a monograph about Monte Hellman’s Cockfighter. For more see kierlajanisse.com

(she/her)

Based in Winnipeg and Los Angeles, Fritzi Adelman spent over a decade living in Montreal and Toronto where she studied art and cinema (BFA Art History / MA Film Studies) and worked professionally at leading fashion companies and film at festivals (Fantasia International Film Festival, Pop Montreal and TIFF). Making her way westward, she landed in the Bay Area, where she joined director Joe Talbot’s production company Longshot Features – the Sundance Award winning team that created A24 / Plan B’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco – and continues to work as one of Talbot’s closest collaborators.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(he/him)

Cameron Macgowan is a Canadian filmmaker whose eccentric films have explored subjects ranging from Murderous Suburbanites to Erotic Trolls. His work has won awards and garnered critical acclaim at international film festivals across the world including SXSW, Fantasia, and the Toronto International Film Festival. His debut feature film Red Letter Day was distributed by Epic Pictures after a highly successful film festival run and his short film Liebe (Love) screened at 25 film festivals and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick. Cameron is also a Lead Programmer with the Calgary Underground Film Festival and the Executive Director of the New University Television Society.

(he/him)

Jean-Jaques Javier is a filmmaking professional successful at writing, directing and editing productions. An analytical and decisive leader with strong multitasking, planning and problem-solving abilities, Javier is a gifted communicator and diplomatic conflict manager. Experienced professional passionate about creating compelling content and driving engagement. Talented at crafting dynamic stories, informative articles and persuasive copy that resonate and inspires readers.

(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.

(he/him)

In 1992 I had my first start in the Manitoba film industry as an accounting assistant on the Gemini Award winning television production "The Diviners" by Manitoban novelist Margaret Laurence. Thirty years later, I now assist film and television producers maximize the provincial and federal film tax credits. I am semi - retired and I still have a great passion and pride for promoting the Manitoba Film Industry.

(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.

(she/her)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 103

Email: leslie@winnipegfilmgroup.com

As Executive Director, Leslie is responsible for managing the overall operations and staff of the Winnipeg Film Group. Leslie serves as the main spokesperson and represents the organization in all professional business capacities.

(he/him)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 110

Email: dylan@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Dylan is responsible for overseeing the programs in the Production Centre. He also provides senior-level support to other areas of the Production Department.

(he/him)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 101

Email: luke@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Luke is responsible for coordinating equipment and facilities bookings, maintenance and assisting in the administration of production training programs. He works closely with the Production Programs Manager with the rentals and maintenance of production equipment and facilities, workshop set-up and payment processing.

(she/they)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 111

Email: mandy@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Mandy is responsible for coordinating workshops, training programs, outreach & social media communications. They work closely with the Technical and Rentals Coordinator with equipment & facilities bookings, workshop set-up, and payment processing. Mandy is also a 2D digital animator who loves video games, and their cat.

(they/she)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 105

Email: jillian@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Jillian oversees and manages the artistic and operational aspects of the Distribution Department. They are involved in a variety of special Distribution projects and initiatives involving the work in our collection including the Archive / Counter Archive Case Study for the WFG.

(she/they)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 106

Email: mahlet@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Mahlet is responsible for supporting the creative and administration of the acquisition, distribution and preservation of films in the Distribution Department. They are involved in a variety of special Distribution projects and initiatives involving the work in our collection including the Archive / Counter Archive Case Study for the WFG.

(she/her)

Email: skye@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Skye Callow is an emerging artist and collections worker who is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Skye received her BFA (hons.) from the University of Manitoba in May of 2022. She works within a spectrum of mediums, with a focus on installation, lens-based media, sound, and performance. Her work is concerned with future and past ecologies. Skye is currently pursuing work in the collection and care of vulnerable archival materials, with a focus on audiovisual and film materials. Through this work, each discipline informs the other by providing insights and contextual understandings of the past, present, and possible futures.

(she/her)

Email: diana@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Hi Everyone! I’m Diana, a graduate student in the Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management program at Toronto Metropolitan University. This summer I have the privilege of interning at WFG as part of the Archive/Counter-Archive Project. As a film preservationist and collection manager in training, I’m able to support the film collection by providing knowledge and expertise on how to handle and care for these films at an archival standard. I have a bachelor's degree in media production where I concentrated on video, television and digital media. Since starting my graduate degree I’ve been introduced to analog film, its processes and I love it! I only want to learn more, especially about the technological aspects. It’s been one month since my arrival, and everything is going great! In the upcoming months I’ll be taking a more extensive look into the collection to help improve the cataloging and management system and further establish best practices for film handling.

(he/they)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 102

Email: jaimz@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Jaimz is responsible for the artistic and business development of the Cinematheque, as well as managing its staff. Additionally, Jaimz oversees the expansion and development of special programming streams for the Cinematheque and is the Producer for the Gimme Some Truth Documentary Festival.

(she/her)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 104

Email: olivia@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Olivia works collaboratively with the Programming Director and is responsible for providing Cinematheque programming. She is involved in a variety of special programming events and film series, including Trash Cult Tuesdays and the Bikini Drive-In screening series. Olivia was initially hired as a part-time Programming Coordinator in April 2021 and promoted to full time in April 2022.

(they/them)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 108

Email: nic@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Nic manages the Cinematheque box office, including the daily operation, customer relations, venue rentals and sponsorships. Contact Nic to provide feedback on your Cinematheque experience, as well as request for venue rentals and community partnerships.

(he/him)

Phone: 204-925-3456 ext 112

Email: projectionist@winnipegfilmgroup.com

Eric manages all technical aspects of the Cinematheque’s operations, including film format testing and conversion, and maintenance of projection equipment. He also produces original content for the Cinematheque, such as: in-house trailers and ad slides, and helps to create Cinematheque’s original commercials, as well as acting as Head Projectionist. Eric should be contacted with any questions regarding the technical specs and capabilities of the Cinematheque.

(she/her)

Email: bookkeeper@winnipegfilmgroup.com (email is recommended)

Contact our Bookkeeper for general Accounts Payable or Accounts Receivable inquiries.