2018 Speakers
Jamie Brown / Chief executive officer & executive producer, Frantic Films
As CEO & executive producer of Frantic Films, Jamie has been proud to see the company become one of Canada’s leading film and television producers, gaining recognition for its creative work and business success.
Jamie has produced award winning film and television projects that have sold to over 100 countries around the world. From feature films (Into Invisible Light, Faces In The Crowd, Lucid and more) to scripted dramas (Keep Your Head Up Kid: The Don Cherry Story, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, Men With Brooms, etc.) to scripted comedies (Still Standing, Baroness Von Sketch and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival), quality is always the focus. Jamie has also created or co-created over a dozen series in various genres and won numerous Gemini, Canadian Screen Awards and Banff Rockie Awards, to name a few.
He began his career as a lawyer with the prominent Toronto law firm McMillan, where he focused on corporate finance and entertainment law. After turns at Sullivan Entertainment and Nelvana in business and legal affairs, he moved into a role as an executive producer in 1998 at Winnipeg’s Credo Entertainment.
Jamie was the first recipient of the Lions Gate Innovative Producer Award, named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, received the I.H. Asper Broadcast Entrepreneur of the Future Award, was nominated as the New Media Visionary at the Canadian New Media Awards and was the CMPA’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008. Currently, Jamie is the Past-Chair of the Board of Canada’s national producers association the CMPA and was Chair of Canada’s National Screen Institute. Jamie also sits on the Manitoba Business Council, was an emeritus member of Manitoba Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.
As CEO & executive producer of Frantic Films, Jamie has been proud to see the company become one of Canada’s leading film and television producers, gaining recognition for its creative work and business success.
Jamie has produced award winning film and television projects that have sold to over 100 countries around the world. From feature films (Into Invisible Light, Faces In The Crowd, Lucid and more) to scripted dramas (Keep Your Head Up Kid: The Don Cherry Story, Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, Men With Brooms, etc.) to scripted comedies (Still Standing, Baroness Von Sketch and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival), quality is always the focus. Jamie has also created or co-created over a dozen series in various genres and won numerous Gemini, Canadian Screen Awards and Banff Rockie Awards, to name a few.
He began his career as a lawyer with the prominent Toronto law firm McMillan, where he focused on corporate finance and entertainment law. After turns at Sullivan Entertainment and Nelvana in business and legal affairs, he moved into a role as an executive producer in 1998 at Winnipeg’s Credo Entertainment.
Jamie was the first recipient of the Lions Gate Innovative Producer Award, named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, received the I.H. Asper Broadcast Entrepreneur of the Future Award, was nominated as the New Media Visionary at the Canadian New Media Awards and was the CMPA’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008. Currently, Jamie is the Past-Chair of the Board of Canada’s national producers association the CMPA and was Chair of Canada’s National Screen Institute. Jamie also sits on the Manitoba Business Council, was an emeritus member of Manitoba Premier’s Economic Advisory Council.
Tassie Cameron / Co-showrunner and executive producer, Mary Kills People
Tassie Cameron is a Gemini and Canadian Screen Award-winning screenwriter who has written for television series, MOWs, mini-series, and feature films.
Tassie is currently co-showrunner and executive producer on the critically acclaimed Mary Kills People, greenlit for a third season and produced under her production company Cameron Pictures in partnership with Entertainment One. She is also an executive producer on Cameron Pictures’ comedy series Little Dog, renewed by CBC for a second season. She is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of ABC’s 2017 series Ten Days in the Valley (starring Kyra Sedgwick, with Skydance Media.)
Previously, Tassie was the co-creator, executive producer and showrunner on the hit series, Rookie Blue, which ran for six seasons on Global and ABC, and which has aired around the world. She is an executive producer on Private Eyes, Jason Priestley’s hit P.I. series for Global.
Co-Executive Producer on the first season of CTV’s hit series, Flashpoint, Tassie’s other credits include Would Be Kings, The Eleventh Hour, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Tom Stone, Wild Roses, Fast Food High, Raising the Bar, Cake, and Working Title’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Robber Bride.
Tassie was the recipient of a Gemini Award for The Eleventh Hour, WIFT-T’s 2009 Creative Excellence Award, the WGC’s 2011 Showrunner Award, and the CSA’s 2015 Margaret Collier Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Tassie has an Honours BA in English from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Film from NYU, and is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre.
Tassie Cameron is a Gemini and Canadian Screen Award-winning screenwriter who has written for television series, MOWs, mini-series, and feature films.
Tassie is currently co-showrunner and executive producer on the critically acclaimed Mary Kills People, greenlit for a third season and produced under her production company Cameron Pictures in partnership with Entertainment One. She is also an executive producer on Cameron Pictures’ comedy series Little Dog, renewed by CBC for a second season. She is the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of ABC’s 2017 series Ten Days in the Valley (starring Kyra Sedgwick, with Skydance Media.)
Previously, Tassie was the co-creator, executive producer and showrunner on the hit series, Rookie Blue, which ran for six seasons on Global and ABC, and which has aired around the world. She is an executive producer on Private Eyes, Jason Priestley’s hit P.I. series for Global.
Co-Executive Producer on the first season of CTV’s hit series, Flashpoint, Tassie’s other credits include Would Be Kings, The Eleventh Hour, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Tom Stone, Wild Roses, Fast Food High, Raising the Bar, Cake, and Working Title’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s The Robber Bride.
Tassie was the recipient of a Gemini Award for The Eleventh Hour, WIFT-T’s 2009 Creative Excellence Award, the WGC’s 2011 Showrunner Award, and the CSA’s 2015 Margaret Collier Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Tassie has an Honours BA in English from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Film from NYU, and is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre.
Sally Catto / General manager, programming CBC English Television
Sally Catto is the general manager, programming for CBC English Television. She oversees the strategic direction and programming of original & acquired scripted, digital original and unscripted programming for the network such as Schitt’s Creek, Workin’ Moms, Kim’s Convenience, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Anne, Alias Grace and The Great Canadian Baking Show.
In her role she has also overseen the re-branding of the documentary strategy and the revitalization of Arts programming.
Sally has a long history at the CBC from her earliest days in 2001 as an Executive in Charge of Production, Drama to her subsequent positions including Creative Head, Drama and Executive Director, Commissioned & Scripted Programming. During her tenure she has overseen such programming as Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Book of Negroes, Being Erica and Mr. D.
Sally has been recognized for her outstanding contribution to Canadian Programming, being named Playback’s 2015 Programmer of the Year, WIFT-T’s 2014 Crystal Award Winner for Creative Excellence and recently CBC was named Playback’s 2016 Media Company of the Year.
Sally started her career as a lawyer at Stikeman Elliott and Goodmans. She has also worked as a literary agent for film & television and at production companies including Accent Entertainment. She spent a year overseas at Australian broadcaster SBS working in scripted & business affairs.
Sally Catto is the general manager, programming for CBC English Television. She oversees the strategic direction and programming of original & acquired scripted, digital original and unscripted programming for the network such as Schitt’s Creek, Workin’ Moms, Kim’s Convenience, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Anne, Alias Grace and The Great Canadian Baking Show.
In her role she has also overseen the re-branding of the documentary strategy and the revitalization of Arts programming.
Sally has a long history at the CBC from her earliest days in 2001 as an Executive in Charge of Production, Drama to her subsequent positions including Creative Head, Drama and Executive Director, Commissioned & Scripted Programming. During her tenure she has overseen such programming as Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Book of Negroes, Being Erica and Mr. D.
Sally has been recognized for her outstanding contribution to Canadian Programming, being named Playback’s 2015 Programmer of the Year, WIFT-T’s 2014 Crystal Award Winner for Creative Excellence and recently CBC was named Playback’s 2016 Media Company of the Year.
Sally started her career as a lawyer at Stikeman Elliott and Goodmans. She has also worked as a literary agent for film & television and at production companies including Accent Entertainment. She spent a year overseas at Australian broadcaster SBS working in scripted & business affairs.
Carlo Dusi / EVP commercial strategy, scripted, Red Arrow Studios International
Carlo leads all commercial strategy for Red Arrow Studios International’s scripted production and co-production projects, working with the company’s creative, acquisitions, finance and legal teams, and building relationships with third party production companies to package, co-finance and co-produce for the international market.
His previous roles include Head of Business and Commercial Affairs for Ridley Scott’s production banner Scott Free Films in the UK, responsible for the company’s business strategy and deal negotiations across its feature film and television slates, including executive producing Bafta-winning TV hit Taboo starring Tom Hardy, with primary responsibility over its financing and international exploitation. Dusi was also an executive producer on Rowan Joffe’s thriller Before I Go To Sleep, Chris Smith’s comedy Get Santa, Sean Foley-directed comedy Mindhorn and James Kent’s drama The Aftermath for Fox Searchlight. Carlo also ran his own outfit, Aria Films, an integrated film production, financing and consultancy company; and worked as Director of Business Development and Business Affairs for Pinewood-based production and financing company Random Harvest Pictures.
Carlo leads all commercial strategy for Red Arrow Studios International’s scripted production and co-production projects, working with the company’s creative, acquisitions, finance and legal teams, and building relationships with third party production companies to package, co-finance and co-produce for the international market.
His previous roles include Head of Business and Commercial Affairs for Ridley Scott’s production banner Scott Free Films in the UK, responsible for the company’s business strategy and deal negotiations across its feature film and television slates, including executive producing Bafta-winning TV hit Taboo starring Tom Hardy, with primary responsibility over its financing and international exploitation. Dusi was also an executive producer on Rowan Joffe’s thriller Before I Go To Sleep, Chris Smith’s comedy Get Santa, Sean Foley-directed comedy Mindhorn and James Kent’s drama The Aftermath for Fox Searchlight. Carlo also ran his own outfit, Aria Films, an integrated film production, financing and consultancy company; and worked as Director of Business Development and Business Affairs for Pinewood-based production and financing company Random Harvest Pictures.
Ilana Frank / Executive producer, ICF Films
Ilana Frank is the award-winning executive producer behind ICF Films, (and previously Thump) a production company focused on creating entertaining and powerful long-form drama.
When Frank launched into television as the co-creator (with Emmy Award winning writer Semi Chellas) and executive producer of THE ELEVENTH HOUR, her creative achievements really came to the fore. Over the course of its run, the series was nominated for more than 30 Gemini Awards, chalking up wins in all major categories including Best Writer, Director and Actor.
In 2007, Frank re-teamed with writers Tassie Cameron and Esta Spalding, and director David Wellington for the mini-series WOULD BE KINGS, which won Natasha Henstridge a Gemini Award for Best Actress. Her husband and colourful business partner Peter Simpson passed away in 2007. Frank determinedly moved forward and made the and MOW, OF MEMORY AND MURDER (CTV/Lifetime), written by Semi Chellas and inspired by the memoir WHO NAMED THE KNIFE by Linda Spalding.- shortly followed by the pilot CLEAN.
In late 2008, Frank secured a 13-episode order for the hit series ROOKIE BLUE, which went on to have 6 successful seasons and is seen all over the world.
CTV’s medical drama, SAVING HOPE was the most-watched Canadian drama of the 2013-14 broadcast year and in summer 2017, finished airing its 5th and final season.
Following up on her hit series, Frank executive produced the detective series THE DETAIL recently broadcast on CTV in Canada and Ion in the US and the legal drama BURDEN OF TRUTH starring Kristin Kreuk and created by Brad Simpson, in production for its second season for CBC and the CW in the US.
Ilana Frank is the award-winning executive producer behind ICF Films, (and previously Thump) a production company focused on creating entertaining and powerful long-form drama.
When Frank launched into television as the co-creator (with Emmy Award winning writer Semi Chellas) and executive producer of THE ELEVENTH HOUR, her creative achievements really came to the fore. Over the course of its run, the series was nominated for more than 30 Gemini Awards, chalking up wins in all major categories including Best Writer, Director and Actor.
In 2007, Frank re-teamed with writers Tassie Cameron and Esta Spalding, and director David Wellington for the mini-series WOULD BE KINGS, which won Natasha Henstridge a Gemini Award for Best Actress. Her husband and colourful business partner Peter Simpson passed away in 2007. Frank determinedly moved forward and made the and MOW, OF MEMORY AND MURDER (CTV/Lifetime), written by Semi Chellas and inspired by the memoir WHO NAMED THE KNIFE by Linda Spalding.- shortly followed by the pilot CLEAN.
In late 2008, Frank secured a 13-episode order for the hit series ROOKIE BLUE, which went on to have 6 successful seasons and is seen all over the world.
CTV’s medical drama, SAVING HOPE was the most-watched Canadian drama of the 2013-14 broadcast year and in summer 2017, finished airing its 5th and final season.
Following up on her hit series, Frank executive produced the detective series THE DETAIL recently broadcast on CTV in Canada and Ion in the US and the legal drama BURDEN OF TRUTH starring Kristin Kreuk and created by Brad Simpson, in production for its second season for CBC and the CW in the US.
Sheila Hockin / Co-executive producer, The Handmaid’s Tale
Co-Executive Producer on The Handmaid’s Tale, winner of the 2017 Emmy, Golden Globe and Producers’ Guild Awards for Best Series, Hockin is also an Executive Producer on Vikings for MGM and History (6th season in production), and Producer on Into the Badlands for AMC.
Previously Hockin served as Co-Executive Producer on John Logan’s Penny Dreadful, and Executive Producer on Neil Jordan’s The Borgias and writer/showrunner Michael Hirst’s series The Tudors, all for Showtime. Hockin also produced five seasons of the ground-breaking Showtime series Queer as Folk, based on the original UK series of the same name.
Hockin has been honoured with an Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award, Producers’ Guild Award, many CSA’s and the WIFT (Women in Film and Television) Award of Distinction. In 2018 Hockin was awarded with the Canadian Award of Distinction at the Banff World Media Festival
Co-Executive Producer on The Handmaid’s Tale, winner of the 2017 Emmy, Golden Globe and Producers’ Guild Awards for Best Series, Hockin is also an Executive Producer on Vikings for MGM and History (6th season in production), and Producer on Into the Badlands for AMC.
Previously Hockin served as Co-Executive Producer on John Logan’s Penny Dreadful, and Executive Producer on Neil Jordan’s The Borgias and writer/showrunner Michael Hirst’s series The Tudors, all for Showtime. Hockin also produced five seasons of the ground-breaking Showtime series Queer as Folk, based on the original UK series of the same name.
Hockin has been honoured with an Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award, Producers’ Guild Award, many CSA’s and the WIFT (Women in Film and Television) Award of Distinction. In 2018 Hockin was awarded with the Canadian Award of Distinction at the Banff World Media Festival
Christine Lubrano / Senior vice president, original programming IFC
As IFC’s Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Christine Lubrano is responsible for the development and production of IFC’s growing slate of scripted comedy series.
She has been integral to the success of the Emmy® Award-winning Portlandia, created by and starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, and produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. She was also the lead creative force behind the critically acclaimed and Emmy® nominated Documentary Now!, created by Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Fred Armisen, also produced by Broadway Video. Most recently, she oversaw new series Brockmire starring Hank Azaria and Stan Against Evil created by Dana Gould, both breakout hits which premiered to strong first seasons. In addition, she has brought the Baroness Von Sketch Show, an all-female satirical sketch comedy series, to IFC. The series was recently awarded with five Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Sketch Comedy and best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy.
Lubrano oversaw Comedy Bang! Bang!, hosted by Scott Aukerman, and she was responsible for the Funny or Die production of The Spoils Before Dying, the second entry into the popular The Spoils of Babylon miniseries franchise, starring and executive produced by Will Ferrell. She also brought back the cult hit Todd Margaret, created, written by and starring David Cross. She continues to serve as the executive producer of the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which has aired on IFC for more than two decades and celebrates the achievements of independent filmmakers.
Throughout her IFC career, Lubrano acted as executive producer on the bitingly satiric news parody Onion News Network; the sketch comedy series The Birthday Boys, and Garfunkel and Oates, starring comedy-folk duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Miccuci; The Henry Rollins Show, where the former punk rocker turned spoken-word guru took on the talk show world in his own offbeat uncensored way;The IFC Media Project, a social minded investigative look at today’s media landscape; the sketch comedy series The Whitest Kids U’ Know; and the reality show about professional bearding, Whisker Wars. In 2012, she headed up the much-heralded return of R. Kelly to television in his hip hopera Trapped in the Closet—Part 3.
Previously, Lubrano managed the development and production of 13 of the network’s feature documentaries, including the Emmy® nominated documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth (the Lawyer’s Cut) which was nominated for Outstanding Non-fiction Series and also earned Lubrano an Emmy® nomination for production; the Directors Guild Award-winning film At The Death House Door; and the South By Southwest Film Festival Audience Award winner Darkon. Ms. Lubrano also developed and led the production of IFC’s Indie Sex Trilogy.
Lubrano has maintained a longstanding commitment to revenue growth and ad supported initiatives, spearheading branded integrations for dozens of Fortune 500 companies including Kelloggs, Volkswagen, Pernod, T-Mobile, Lincoln Ford, Piaget, Capitol One, Acura, Geico and Subaru.
An IFC veteran, Lubrano has been with the company for two decades, previously serving as vice president, current productions and prior to that as vice president, development & production for non-fiction programming. She began her career at IFC as a production manager, responsible for all short form content and program packaging for network series, events and specials.
Before joining IFC, Lubrano was a production manager at Bravo TV.
A passionate television executive, she is active in a variety of industry organizations, including Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
Lubrano has a B.A. in Communications from Hofstra University.
As IFC’s Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Christine Lubrano is responsible for the development and production of IFC’s growing slate of scripted comedy series.
She has been integral to the success of the Emmy® Award-winning Portlandia, created by and starring Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, and produced by Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video. She was also the lead creative force behind the critically acclaimed and Emmy® nominated Documentary Now!, created by Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Fred Armisen, also produced by Broadway Video. Most recently, she oversaw new series Brockmire starring Hank Azaria and Stan Against Evil created by Dana Gould, both breakout hits which premiered to strong first seasons. In addition, she has brought the Baroness Von Sketch Show, an all-female satirical sketch comedy series, to IFC. The series was recently awarded with five Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Sketch Comedy and best Writing in a Variety or Sketch Comedy.
Lubrano oversaw Comedy Bang! Bang!, hosted by Scott Aukerman, and she was responsible for the Funny or Die production of The Spoils Before Dying, the second entry into the popular The Spoils of Babylon miniseries franchise, starring and executive produced by Will Ferrell. She also brought back the cult hit Todd Margaret, created, written by and starring David Cross. She continues to serve as the executive producer of the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which has aired on IFC for more than two decades and celebrates the achievements of independent filmmakers.
Throughout her IFC career, Lubrano acted as executive producer on the bitingly satiric news parody Onion News Network; the sketch comedy series The Birthday Boys, and Garfunkel and Oates, starring comedy-folk duo Riki Lindhome and Kate Miccuci; The Henry Rollins Show, where the former punk rocker turned spoken-word guru took on the talk show world in his own offbeat uncensored way;The IFC Media Project, a social minded investigative look at today’s media landscape; the sketch comedy series The Whitest Kids U’ Know; and the reality show about professional bearding, Whisker Wars. In 2012, she headed up the much-heralded return of R. Kelly to television in his hip hopera Trapped in the Closet—Part 3.
Previously, Lubrano managed the development and production of 13 of the network’s feature documentaries, including the Emmy® nominated documentary Monty Python: Almost the Truth (the Lawyer’s Cut) which was nominated for Outstanding Non-fiction Series and also earned Lubrano an Emmy® nomination for production; the Directors Guild Award-winning film At The Death House Door; and the South By Southwest Film Festival Audience Award winner Darkon. Ms. Lubrano also developed and led the production of IFC’s Indie Sex Trilogy.
Lubrano has maintained a longstanding commitment to revenue growth and ad supported initiatives, spearheading branded integrations for dozens of Fortune 500 companies including Kelloggs, Volkswagen, Pernod, T-Mobile, Lincoln Ford, Piaget, Capitol One, Acura, Geico and Subaru.
An IFC veteran, Lubrano has been with the company for two decades, previously serving as vice president, current productions and prior to that as vice president, development & production for non-fiction programming. She began her career at IFC as a production manager, responsible for all short form content and program packaging for network series, events and specials.
Before joining IFC, Lubrano was a production manager at Bravo TV.
A passionate television executive, she is active in a variety of industry organizations, including Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS).
Lubrano has a B.A. in Communications from Hofstra University.
Naveen Prasad / President, VICE Media Canada
Naveen Prasad is President, Canada of VICE Media, a leading youth media company. In his role, Naveen oversees all aspects of the Canadian business including its Studio, Digital Media division and Virtue, VICE’s creative agency. Prasad joined VICE as a consultant in March of 2018. He was appointed President in July, and in August, announced a multi-year, multi-faceted partnership with Bell Media.
Prior to VICE, Prasad served as Executive Vice President & GM of Elevation Pictures Corp., the Toronto based media company he helped build since its launch in 2013. At Elevation, Naveen oversaw the release of many critically acclaimed and award winning films including MOONLIGHT, THE IMITATION GAME, ROOM, LADY BIRD, THE DISASTER ARTIST, THE WITCH, THE FLORIDA PROJECT, and NIGHTCRAWLER as well as wide release pictures including DEEPWATER HORIZON, MOTHER’S DAY, SNOWDEN, OCULUS, THE CIRCLE and THE BIG SICK.
Prior to Elevation Pictures, Naveen was Senior Vice President, Television at eOne, overseeing the company’s TV and Digital division. He served in the same role at Alliance Films prior to its acquisition by eOne where he also led the re-launch of Alliance’s production business, which included the highly successful series UNDERCOVER BOSS CANADA.
Naveen is also the Co-Founder of Impossible Objects, a film and television production company he started with filmmaker Jamie M. Dagg which has a multi-year feature film output deal with Elevation Pictures.
Some of Naveen’s production credits include Executive Producer of the first Canadian Netflix Original Series BETWEEN, as well as RIVER, which won Best First Feature Film at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards. He is also Executive Producer of the feature documentary LONG TIME RUNNING, which had it’s world premiere as a Gala Presentation at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
Naveen also currently serves as a board member of The Bell Fund, which finances and supports Canadian content producers and also sits on the OMDC’s Screen Advisory Committee.
Naveen Prasad is President, Canada of VICE Media, a leading youth media company. In his role, Naveen oversees all aspects of the Canadian business including its Studio, Digital Media division and Virtue, VICE’s creative agency. Prasad joined VICE as a consultant in March of 2018. He was appointed President in July, and in August, announced a multi-year, multi-faceted partnership with Bell Media.
Prior to VICE, Prasad served as Executive Vice President & GM of Elevation Pictures Corp., the Toronto based media company he helped build since its launch in 2013. At Elevation, Naveen oversaw the release of many critically acclaimed and award winning films including MOONLIGHT, THE IMITATION GAME, ROOM, LADY BIRD, THE DISASTER ARTIST, THE WITCH, THE FLORIDA PROJECT, and NIGHTCRAWLER as well as wide release pictures including DEEPWATER HORIZON, MOTHER’S DAY, SNOWDEN, OCULUS, THE CIRCLE and THE BIG SICK.
Prior to Elevation Pictures, Naveen was Senior Vice President, Television at eOne, overseeing the company’s TV and Digital division. He served in the same role at Alliance Films prior to its acquisition by eOne where he also led the re-launch of Alliance’s production business, which included the highly successful series UNDERCOVER BOSS CANADA.
Naveen is also the Co-Founder of Impossible Objects, a film and television production company he started with filmmaker Jamie M. Dagg which has a multi-year feature film output deal with Elevation Pictures.
Some of Naveen’s production credits include Executive Producer of the first Canadian Netflix Original Series BETWEEN, as well as RIVER, which won Best First Feature Film at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards. He is also Executive Producer of the feature documentary LONG TIME RUNNING, which had it’s world premiere as a Gala Presentation at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.
Naveen also currently serves as a board member of The Bell Fund, which finances and supports Canadian content producers and also sits on the OMDC’s Screen Advisory Committee.
Julia Sereny / Founder/Executive Producer, Sienna Films
Under the Sienna Films banner with Jennifer Kawaja, Julia Sereny is Executive Producer of Ransom, a Canada/Hungary co-production with eONE, currently in pre-production on Season 3 in Budapest. The episodic procedural, based on the work of renowned non-violent hostage negotiators Laurent Combalbert and Marwan Mery, stars Luke Roberts, Nazneen Contractor, Brandon Jay McLaren and Karen LeBlanc. Ransom airs on Global in Canada, CBS in the US and is the #1 drama in its timeslot, Universal TV in the UK, where it is the #1 Monday night drama in the country. Ransom has been sold in over 100 territories worldwide.
Julia also currently executive produces Cardinal, a serialized 6 X 1 hour detective series for Bell Media currently slated for production of Season 4 in 2019. Starring Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse, Cardinal is produced for Bell Media in Canada and also airs on networks including BBC, Canal+, Hulu, CMORE (Scandinavia) and SBS (Australia). In Canada, Cardinal was the highest rated new Canadian production of the 2016/2017 season, and #1 in its time slot. It was also Canal+’s highest rated North American Premiere for almost 4 years, and reached the top five on BBC’s iPlayer VOD service.
Julia’s EP credits include Combat Hospital (13 X 1 hours) starring Elias Koteas, Michelle Borth and Luke Mably for Shaw, ABC and Sony International; Julian Fellowes-penned mini-series Titanic, a UK-Canada-Hungary co-production starring Toby Jones, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jenna Coleman for ITV, Shaw Media and ABC; Canada-UK-South Africa co-produced mini-series Diamonds, starring Judy Davis, Derek Jacobi and James Purfoy, for CBC, ABC and Antennae; and CTV MOW One Dead Indian, winner of three Gemini awards including Best Writing and Best Direction.
Julia has produced feature films including Irish-Canadian co-production Unless, starring Catherine Keener, based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Carol Shields (TIFF Special Presentation 2016); thriller The Cry of the Owl (Alliance), starring Paddy Considine and Julia Stiles, dance drama How She Move (Paramount Vantage/MTV Films, nominated Sundance Grand Jury Prize) starring Rutina Wesley; romantic comedy Touch of Pink (Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Official Selection) starring Kyle MacLachlan; coming of age comedy New Waterford Girl (Alliance Atlantis, Official Selection Sundance, Rotterdam, winner TIFF Best Canadian First Feature) and comedy/drama I, Claudia (Mongrel Media, TIFF Official Selection).
Before founding Sienna Films, Julia began her career at The National Film Board and went on to work with Rhombus Media and did project development for Atlantis Films. As an independent producer, Julia consulted on co-productions such as Hand of Stalin for the BBC and produced Hidden Children, a UK/Canada co-production doc series with Channel 4 and TVO.
Under the Sienna Films banner with Jennifer Kawaja, Julia Sereny is Executive Producer of Ransom, a Canada/Hungary co-production with eONE, currently in pre-production on Season 3 in Budapest. The episodic procedural, based on the work of renowned non-violent hostage negotiators Laurent Combalbert and Marwan Mery, stars Luke Roberts, Nazneen Contractor, Brandon Jay McLaren and Karen LeBlanc. Ransom airs on Global in Canada, CBS in the US and is the #1 drama in its timeslot, Universal TV in the UK, where it is the #1 Monday night drama in the country. Ransom has been sold in over 100 territories worldwide.
Julia also currently executive produces Cardinal, a serialized 6 X 1 hour detective series for Bell Media currently slated for production of Season 4 in 2019. Starring Billy Campbell and Karine Vanasse, Cardinal is produced for Bell Media in Canada and also airs on networks including BBC, Canal+, Hulu, CMORE (Scandinavia) and SBS (Australia). In Canada, Cardinal was the highest rated new Canadian production of the 2016/2017 season, and #1 in its time slot. It was also Canal+’s highest rated North American Premiere for almost 4 years, and reached the top five on BBC’s iPlayer VOD service.
Julia’s EP credits include Combat Hospital (13 X 1 hours) starring Elias Koteas, Michelle Borth and Luke Mably for Shaw, ABC and Sony International; Julian Fellowes-penned mini-series Titanic, a UK-Canada-Hungary co-production starring Toby Jones, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Jenna Coleman for ITV, Shaw Media and ABC; Canada-UK-South Africa co-produced mini-series Diamonds, starring Judy Davis, Derek Jacobi and James Purfoy, for CBC, ABC and Antennae; and CTV MOW One Dead Indian, winner of three Gemini awards including Best Writing and Best Direction.
Julia has produced feature films including Irish-Canadian co-production Unless, starring Catherine Keener, based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Carol Shields (TIFF Special Presentation 2016); thriller The Cry of the Owl (Alliance), starring Paddy Considine and Julia Stiles, dance drama How She Move (Paramount Vantage/MTV Films, nominated Sundance Grand Jury Prize) starring Rutina Wesley; romantic comedy Touch of Pink (Sony Pictures Classics, Sundance Official Selection) starring Kyle MacLachlan; coming of age comedy New Waterford Girl (Alliance Atlantis, Official Selection Sundance, Rotterdam, winner TIFF Best Canadian First Feature) and comedy/drama I, Claudia (Mongrel Media, TIFF Official Selection).
Before founding Sienna Films, Julia began her career at The National Film Board and went on to work with Rhombus Media and did project development for Atlantis Films. As an independent producer, Julia consulted on co-productions such as Hand of Stalin for the BBC and produced Hidden Children, a UK/Canada co-production doc series with Channel 4 and TVO.
Divya Shahani / Entertainment Lawyer, Hall Webber LLP
Divya Shahani is an associate at Hall Webber LLP entering her fifth year of practice in entertainment law. Her practice focuses on entertainment, intellectual property, transactional and corporate matters. Ms. Shahani represents clients ranging from film and television producers and investors, branded content and digital media producers, distributors, screenwriters, performers, new media and technology start-ups, authors and visual artists. In particular, Divya supports the contract, intellectual property and corporate needs of productions from rights acquisition and development through until licensing and distribution. Having cut her teeth on the business side of the entertainment industry as a head hunter and an executive producer, Divya’s legal advice to her entertainment clients is informed by business strategy and practical realities.
Divya is particularly passionate about supporting the legal needs of emerging artists. As such, she is legal advisor on the board of directors of the Canadian Film Fest (CFF), a non-profit organization devoted to the celebration, promotion and advancement of Canadian filmmaking talent, as well as the Breakthroughs Film Festival, the only festival in Canada devoted to short films directed by emerging female directors. Divya has also recently been appointed legal advisor on the board of POV 3rd Street, an organization that helps marginalized youth break into the media industry through training, mentorship, job placement and professional development opportunities.
Divya’s commitment to filmmakers has also taken the form of various guest speaking engagements at the DOC Institute Toronto, Centennial College and Durham College. Divya’s executive producer credits include Companionship (short, 2017), Barn Wedding (feature, 2015) and Fare Trade (web series, 2017).
Divya is fluent in French as she spent over a decade in Montréal. During her limited spare time, Divya can be found doing yoga, learning languages, reading philosophy or French novels, playing tennis or walking her dog. And, of course, Divya is an avid cinephile.
Divya Shahani is an associate at Hall Webber LLP entering her fifth year of practice in entertainment law. Her practice focuses on entertainment, intellectual property, transactional and corporate matters. Ms. Shahani represents clients ranging from film and television producers and investors, branded content and digital media producers, distributors, screenwriters, performers, new media and technology start-ups, authors and visual artists. In particular, Divya supports the contract, intellectual property and corporate needs of productions from rights acquisition and development through until licensing and distribution. Having cut her teeth on the business side of the entertainment industry as a head hunter and an executive producer, Divya’s legal advice to her entertainment clients is informed by business strategy and practical realities.
Divya is particularly passionate about supporting the legal needs of emerging artists. As such, she is legal advisor on the board of directors of the Canadian Film Fest (CFF), a non-profit organization devoted to the celebration, promotion and advancement of Canadian filmmaking talent, as well as the Breakthroughs Film Festival, the only festival in Canada devoted to short films directed by emerging female directors. Divya has also recently been appointed legal advisor on the board of POV 3rd Street, an organization that helps marginalized youth break into the media industry through training, mentorship, job placement and professional development opportunities.
Divya’s commitment to filmmakers has also taken the form of various guest speaking engagements at the DOC Institute Toronto, Centennial College and Durham College. Divya’s executive producer credits include Companionship (short, 2017), Barn Wedding (feature, 2015) and Fare Trade (web series, 2017).
Divya is fluent in French as she spent over a decade in Montréal. During her limited spare time, Divya can be found doing yoga, learning languages, reading philosophy or French novels, playing tennis or walking her dog. And, of course, Divya is an avid cinephile.
Alexandra Zarowny / Writer/Executive Producer
Alexandra has dabbled in murder as Supervising Producer of The Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) which she also co-developed for television, dipped into the world of mystical characters in the genre hit Lost Girl, and rose to Co-Executive Producer of the ass-kicking, gun-slinging, revenant-killing Wynonna Earp (for which she won a 2017 WGC Award). Alex was a story editor on Bellevue, starring Anna Paquin, and was one of the original writers of The Listener. She is currently an Executive Producer on Private Eyes (Global, ION Television) and has just been chosen by the Canadian Film Centre to be the Executive Producer in Residence as part of their Bell Media Prime Time TV Program.
Originally from Alberta, Alexandra can proudly race ATVs, jump a barb-wire fence in under five seconds, and talk truck-stop trash.
Alexandra has dabbled in murder as Supervising Producer of The Murdoch Mysteries (CBC) which she also co-developed for television, dipped into the world of mystical characters in the genre hit Lost Girl, and rose to Co-Executive Producer of the ass-kicking, gun-slinging, revenant-killing Wynonna Earp (for which she won a 2017 WGC Award). Alex was a story editor on Bellevue, starring Anna Paquin, and was one of the original writers of The Listener. She is currently an Executive Producer on Private Eyes (Global, ION Television) and has just been chosen by the Canadian Film Centre to be the Executive Producer in Residence as part of their Bell Media Prime Time TV Program.
Originally from Alberta, Alexandra can proudly race ATVs, jump a barb-wire fence in under five seconds, and talk truck-stop trash.
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