Staff Updates
Dylan Baillie (he/him) | Production | Production Programs Manager
Dylan is responsible for overseeing the programs in the Production Centre, including overseeing funding, equipment and facility care. He also provides senior-level support to other areas of the Production Department. Dylan was promoted to Production Programs Manager in September 2022.
Dylan Baillie is a working cinematographer and video editor based out of Winnipeg, MB. Dylan first walked into the Winnipeg Film Group as a teenager, coming to the Quantum arts after-school film program being held at the time. Over the past 10 years Dylan has done camera work for a number of short films, performance videos and documentaries.
From late 2015 to just earlier this year Dylan worked as the Equipment Manager of the Winnipeg Film Group’s Production Centre. Over this time Dylan developed a wide range of equipment knowledge as well as made connections with many local filmmakers. Moving forward Dylan is excited to grow in his new role as Productions Program Manager.
Dylan enjoys watching classic cinema, listening to music and making baked goods, and also hopes to one day shoot a feature film of his own.
Mahlet Cuff (she/they) | Distribution | Distribution Coordinator
Mahlet is responsible for supporting the artistic and operational functions of the Distribution Department including the acquisition, distribution and preservation of films in the WFG catalogue. 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. Mahlet was promoted to Distribution Coordinator in August 2022.
Mahlet Cuff is an emerging curator, writer and artist. She is based in Treaty 1 Territory in so-called Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their curatorial practices focuses on satirical humour as a tool of resistance, the reimagining of Black queer diasporic futures, and archival practices. She has curated work for Window Winnipeg, Take Home BIPOC arts house, Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Winnipeg Underground Film Festival, Winnipeg Film Group, and VTape.
Jillian Groening (they/she) | Distribution | Distribution Manager
Jillian oversees and manages the artistic, financial and operational aspects of the Distribution Department. She is 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. Jillian was hired as Distribution Manager in August 2022.
Jillian Groening is an artist, arts worker, and researcher who is drawn to questions around embodiment, documentation, and the moving image. They are the Co-Director of Young Lungs Dance Exchange, a Winnipeg-based organization which supports collaboration and process-based research across fields of dance, performance, and new media and are the Manitoba Representative for the Dancer Transition Resource Centre, through which they are able to further advocate for safer studio practices and dancer autonomy. Jillian also cohosts feminist horror podcast Bikini Drive In with their work wife Olivia Norquay. Their writing has been published through Martha Street Studio, The Journal of Curatorial Studies, and The Dance Current and their work has been exhibited at WNDX Festival of Moving Image (Winnipeg) and A Space Gallery (Toronto). Jillian holds a BA(Hons) in Dance from the School of Contemporary Dancers/University of Winnipeg and a Masters in Theatre and Performance Studies from York University (Toronto), where their SSHRC-funded research considers performer autonomy through the re-writing of choreographic inscription.
Tommy Inthirath (he/him) | Production | Production Office Coordinator
Tommy is responsible for coordinating the functions of the Production Centre and supporting the Executive Director with administration and operations. Tommy was hired in October 2022.
Tommy Inthirath is an award-winning Producer and Post-Production Editor based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After receiving his Broadcast Media Diploma, Tommy began to dedicate his time in the film industry and online content creation. He is the co-founder and Technical Coordinator of FascinAsian Film Festival. A film festival dedicated to promoting and celebrating Asian perspectives, culture and integrity in film and media.
Nic Kaneski (they/them) | Cinematheque | Box Office Manager
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. Nic was promoted to Box Office Manager in April 2022.
Nic Kaneski (they/them) is a Leo sun and moon, Capricorn rising gender studies student from Treaty 1 Territory. They’re a lover of provocative, feminist, and queer films with a soft spot for a good documentary. A few of Nic’s favourite films are Shirkers (2018), Daisies (1966), Funeral Parade of Roses (1969), The Love Witch (2016), The Watermelon Woman (1996), and The Gleaners and I (2000).
As a former box office staff member and passionate moviegoer, they are thrilled to be taking on this role! Nic is a community-oriented individual whose priority is ensuring patrons have as safe and comfortable an experience at Cinematheque as possible. Contact Nic to provide feedback on your Cinematheque experience and request venue rentals and community partnerships.
Olivia Norquay (she/her) | Cinematheque | Programming Coordinator
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.
Olivia Norquay (she/her) is a film programmer and curator from Winnipeg. She studied English at the University of Winnipeg with a focus on screen and cultural studies. She is currently the Programming Coordinator at Cinematheque, Gimme Some Truth Documentary Festival programmer, co-founder of Tiny & Mean’s Record Swap, member of the Disco Needs a Squeeze show promotion team, sometime DJ, part-time punk and host of the horror podcast and screening series Bikini Drive-In.
Luke Roach (he/him) | Production | Technical and Training Coordinator
Luke is responsible for coordinating equipment and facilities bookings, maintenance and assisting in the administration of production training programs. They work closely with the Production Programs Manager with the rentals and maintenance of production equipment and facilities, workshop set-up and payment processing. Luke was hired in August 2022.
Luke Roach is a filmmaker who worked as the Equipment Coordinator and a Filmmaking Teaching Assistant at the University of Winnipeg from 2015-2022. He was responsible for monitoring and maintaining all film gear that students there used.
He has experience in many facets of filmmaking, including: directing, lighting, grip, freelance video editing, photography and videography.
Mandy Szwaluk (she/they) | Production | Technical and Training Coordinator
Mandy is responsible for coordinating equipment and facilities bookings, maintenance and assisting in the administration of production training programs. They work closely with the Production Programs Manager with the rentals and maintenance of production equipment and facilities, workshop set-up and payment processing. Mandy was hired in August 2022.
Mandy is an animator and artist, and is a graduate from Vancouver Film School studying Classical Animation. She started her creative career in 11th grade in the Sisler Create program, where she was first introduced to the principles of animation, various software, and the creative industry in general. During her time at Sisler Create she worked on several teams, creating animated shorts and pitches, continuing to build skills all the way to Post High. She has always been fascinated with the combination of arts and technology. She played video games from a young age, and was always building/creating however possible while playing. Besides animation and film, her hobbies include watching gaming livestreams/videos, playing piano, tap dance, hanging out with family, and cuddling her cat.