OSM x WFG Producer Mentorship Program – Congratulations to Mentee Yakobo Yanga (aka Jacob Yanga Okot)!
We are excited to introduce Yakobo Yanga (aka Jacob Yanga Okot) as the first mentee of the OSM x WFG Producer Mentorship Program.
Yakobo Yanga (aka Jacob Yanga Okot) is a rising filmmaker and the creative force behind Digital Fingerprint Studios, a production company he co-founded to develop original intellectual property and provide freelance production services. With a solid educational foundation in filmmaking from the Toronto Film School and the University of Winnipeg, Jacob has honed his craft through years of hands-on experience in the media industry.
Jacob’s diverse career journey spans multiple departments, including LX, SPFX, and Acting, ultimately leading him to find his creative home in the camera department. This comprehensive understanding of film production informs his meticulous approach as a director and storyteller.
Driven by a profound passion for storytelling, Jacob has directed a number of short films and music videos, each reflecting his commitment to mastering the art of visual narrative. He regards storytelling as a powerful tool for interpreting the human experience, fostering cultural understanding, and inspiring social progress.
Beyond his independent projects, Jacob is a proud member of the Black Film Collective, a vibrant network of technicians, artists, and filmmakers dedicated to collaboration and creative growth. Through this collective and his own work, Jacob strives to amplify underrepresented voices and push the boundaries of cinematic expression.
Jacob continues to expand his artistic vision, crafting stories that challenge conventions, provoke thought, and resonate with audiences.
Mentorship with Rebecca Gibson
Yakobo will be mentored by Rebecca Gibson, an acclaimed filmmaker, writer, actor, and producer.
Following graduation from the New York Film Academy, a CFTPA International Internship took Rebecca Gibson to Los Angeles at the start of her film career. She discovered her passion for indie filmmaking and quickly worked her way from a volunteer production assistant/craft services gig on a Canadian Film Centre feature to production managing the feature film HEATER, which premiered at Sundance. She became one of Manitoba’s top casting directors for a short period before returning to her first love, acting. Acting credits include her ACTRA Award-winning role in THE PINKERTONS (Netflix), her Blizzard Award-winning role in the film that launched THE MURDOCH MYSTERIES, and the recent hit for Lifetime, THE WOMAN WITH THE RED LIPSTICK.
With her former production company, the woman-led collective Red Czarina Entertainment, Rebecca co-wrote and produced the award-winning feature film H&G. Through Red Czarina, Rebecca wrote, produced, and directed the documentary DAPHNE KOROL: THE DRAMA QUEEN OF WINNIPEG, a tribute to her first mentor. Mentorship has been fundamental to Rebecca’s career. She works with ACTRA, WIFT Toronto, WIDC, GEMS Vancouver, among several other organizations as a mentor. As a partner in Eagle Vision, Rebecca has furthered her devotion to mentorship, helping to give many emerging filmmakers, craftspeople, and technicians their first and ongoing opportunities.
Recent projects include the International Emmy Award-winning PBS/Crave/APTN doc BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE: CARRY IT ON (story editor, executive producer), three seasons of the factual series 7TH GEN (co-creator, executive producer, writer, director), the feature comedy DEANER ’89 (executive producer), the feature films DIASPORA (producer) and FINALITY OF DUSK, (story editor, producer), the Banff Rockie-nominated TRUE STORY PART ONE (story editor, executive producer), and TRUE STORY PART TWO (co-writer, executive producer), and Snapchat’s hit first Canadian original series, RECLAIM(ED), also nominated for a Banff Rockie (co-showrunner, executive producer, and a writer and director).
Rebecca founded Orange Daisy Project, a social action campaign in support of mental health for teen girls. The campaign provided mentorships, online resources, and a best-selling mental health workbook, which she co-wrote. Rebecca was honoured nationally as a CAMH Difference Maker and was ACTRA Manitoba’s 2018 Woman of the Year.
We look forward to seeing the incredible work that emerges from this mentorship and wish Yakobo and Rebecca a successful and inspiring journey together!