Burt Gidaro – Entertainment Lawyer
Edwards Creative Law
Burt is a passionate Canadian entertainment lawyer with extensive music industry, film, television, OTT, and agency marketing experience. His career began in the business affairs at Breakthrough Films & Television, then onto EMI Music Canada to serve as the Head of Business Affairs. He subsequently served at Universal Music (Canada) and later at PolyGram Entertainment’s Canadian affiliate as well as at New Metric Media. He is focused on the cultivation of relationships and building partnerships.
Michael Duboff – Entertainment Lawyer
Edwards Creative Law
Michael Duboff is a seasoned Canadian entertainment attorney, deeply embedded in the music, film, and TV spheres. Hailing from Winnipeg, his expertise extends throughout Manitoba and Ontario, bridging artistic and corporate entertainment worlds. With roots as a musician and film industry professional in major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, he’s not just a lawyer but a passionate advocate for artists. His diverse background and dedication make him an invaluable ally for the dynamic arts community.
Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy – Vice President, Scripted and Executive Producer
marblemedia
Carrie Paupst Shaughnessy oversees scripted slate across primetime, family co-viewing and YA projects and also executive produces marblemedia’s scripted projects across all genres and demographics. She is an experienced creative executive who has worked in development, distribution, funding, broadcast and production. She has led scripted divisions for production companies and has overseen the creative development and production of television projects for Bell Media and feature films for Telefilm Canada.
Mark Bishop – Co-CEO and Executive Producer
marblemedia
Mark Bishop leads the international award-winning production company, marblemedia which over the last 23 years has diversified into becoming one of Canada’s leading and most respected independent production, distribution, and digital media companies. His specialty lies in their scripted and unscripted shows for primetime, family and kids’ audiences. Mark is a trusted advisor and respected industry leader, serving current mandates as a member of many industry related organizations’ board of directors.
Kate Sanagan – Head of Sales and Distribution
Sinking Ship Entertainment
In 2004, Kate Sanagan joined Sinking Ship Entertainment, a multiple Emmy® Award winning production, distribution and interactive company specializing in kids’ and family content, which rapidly earned a reputation for high quality, ground-breaking original series. She oversees the international sales strategy of all brands, including internal IP and 3rd party titles. With her 25 years’ experience in international content sales, her expertise lies in the financing, presales, and sales of brands.
Tanya Mason – Manager of Consumer and Ancillary Products
Sinking Ship Entertainment
Tanya is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and management of the company’s efforts in merchandising and licensing at Sinking Ship Entertainment. She focuses on strategically nurturing and expanding the company’s highly successful brands, such as Odd Squad and the Dino Franchise, to drive their continued growth and market success. Tanya has extensive sales and marketing experience, having started her career in the film industry working for Paramount & Sony Entertainment.
Anthony Leo
Aircraft Pictures
Academy Award® and Emmy Award® Nominee Anthony Leo has been producing scripted content for kids, families and young adults with Aircraft Pictures. He has earned credits with animated theatrical feature films; live action sci-fi series, live action comedy series, 2D animated series, Best Children’s Series and television movies for Netflix/YTV, AppleTV+; BBC Studios; and Hulu. Awards. Upcoming productions include a co-production with the UK and others with Nelvana for Netflix and YTV; and CBC and BBC.
Andrew Rosen
Aircraft Pictures
Andrew Rosen is a producer who graduated in Anatomy and in education, degrees he has put to good use during his past 25 years in the film industry. After graduating from the Producer’s Lab at the Canadian Film Centre, he worked with Universal Studios to produce feature films. Since then, Aircraft Pictures has financed, produced and delivered scripted content for a variety of platforms ranging from independent feature films to high-end television series including teen series on Hulu, Apple TV, BBC and YTV.
Sue Jung – Head of Talent Acquisition
Guru Studio
Sue leads Guru Studio’s recruitment process for all studio positions, while attracting and nurturing top talents for productions like the global smash hit PAW Patrol, the Sesame Street animated spinoff Mecha Builders, the widely popular YouTube hit My Magic Pet Morphle with Moonbug Entertainment, and Sesame Workshop’s new miniseries Charlotte’s Web. Sue has over fifteen years of experience leading talent management for many companies such as Soho VFX, Snowball Studios, and Toonbox Entertainment.
Rick Glankler
Goatfish Agency
Over the past 25+ years, Rich has led IP development and exploitation of kids’ content from beginning to end across traditional and new medias, and has also worked for two leading global toy companies. He brings deep understanding of how to maximize content performance from all angles. Rick is a leader known for finding opportunities to create and build global brands as well as turning around challenged businesses. His success includes CPG Brands and all facets of entertainment – especially kids.
Ken Faier – President and CEO
Epic Story Media
Ken Faier is involved with Epic Story Media and Epic Story Interactive, which puts creators at the centre of compelling and engaging franchises for kids. He built the company into a world-renowned studio with original properties sold to over 150+ territories. Ken has executive produced hundreds of episodes of original properties. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Production and Distribution for the children’s division at Alliance Atlantis. Ken brings his deep experience to market in product launching.
Jiro Okada
Tokimeki Studio
Jiro C. Okada is a story editor, writer and producer with production credits spanning hundreds of episodes aired worldwide. Jiro forged his diversified career path during an eight-year tenure with award winning Guru Animation Studio working on Justin Time, Paw Patrol, Dinopaws, and True and The Rainbow Kingdom. Prior to that, Jiro worked to produce the English adaptation of popular Japanese anime titles including Death Note, Ghost in The Shell, Black Lagoon, Kurozuka and Galaxy Express 999.
Anthony Q. Farrell
Anthony Q. Farrell is a BAFTA-winning, Emmy-nominated writer/producer who has worked in Canada, USA, and UK for over 15 years. He is currently the creator, showrunner and executive producer on CTV’s Shelved. He was executive producer and showrunner of CBC’s Run the Burbs and other shows. His writing credits also include NBC’s The Office, Nickelodeon’s The Thundermans, and Little Mosque on the Prairie. He was named Showrunner of the Year at the Writers Guild of Canada Awards in 2022, and received the same title from Playback in 2021.
JP Larocque
JP Larocque is an award-winning screenwriter and producer with experience in comedy, procedural drama, youth, and genre programming. In 2022, JP was a participant in the inaugural WarnerMedia x Canadian Academy Global Access Program, the Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative, the CFC/Netflix Project Development Accelerator, and the CBC-BIPOC TV & Film Showrunner Catalyst. A proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, JP is committed to diversity and inclusion in all their work.
Andrea Griffith – VP of Content and Development Kids and Family
Sphere Media
Andrea leads the development strategy and is responsible for the execution of Sphere Media’s original scripted, unscripted, and animation slate for the global marketplace. Her progressive leadership style and fierce commitment to story have earned her a unique place as an executive who creates and produces across multiple genres. Prior to joining Sphere, Andrea was a production executive for HGTV Canada and Food Network Canada where she developed and oversaw top-rated lifestyle series and brands.
Skye R. Regan
Skye is an Indigenous-Irish, Toronto-based screenwriter, performer, and producer with an intersectional background who holds degrees from both Harvard and Quantic. She’s written for Peacock, Prime, Nelvana, Knowledge Network, and CBC; recent writing credits include: Caillou, Luna, Chip & Inkie, and Secrets of the Forest. Her work focuses on themes of empathy, diversity, and comedy with heart, inspired by her experience as a sketch and improv comedian. When she’s not stringing words together, you can find her hanging out in nature, tinkering with music, or collecting fun facts, all while writing the next untold story.
Marcia Douglas – Vice President, Growth & Inclusion
Canadian Media Fund
A proud biracial Filipina Canadian, Marcia has more than 20 years of experience in the development and production of Canadian screen-based content for traditional and digital platforms and audiences. Prior to joining the CMF, she held roles at CMPA, Bell Fund, Cogeco Fund, and the Independent Production Fund, where she worked to establish policies and opportunities to foster and promote the Canadian media production sector and led files related to advancing sustainability, equity, and inclusion.
Marianne Lambert –Director of Acquisitions and Co-Productions
TFO
With many years of experience in television production and content creation, Marianne is an expert at creating content for kids that is fun and inviting. Fully bilingual, she has worked in many areas in kids tv: first as a host, then writer, director, producer, executive producer and broadcaster. At TVO, she managed the TVOKids YouTube channels and was executive producer for many TVOKids co-productions. She is responsible for overseeing development and production for Canadian co-productions as well as acquiring content for TFO’s programming schedule.
.
Marie McCann- Senior Director
CBC Kids
Marie McCann oversees development, production, acquisition as well as in-house production of award-winning content for CBC Kids. Over 25 years, Marie has been a performer, writer, director producer and programmer in kids’ television. She leads the strategy and teams delivering offerings for children aged two to early teen and Gen Zs on television, streaming, web and social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, featuring championed animated and live action originals and bespoke acquisitions.
Kirsten Hurd Commissioning Editor
TVOkids
Kirsten is responsible for programming on the Kids broadcast block on TVO, and a suite of TVOkids branded digital channels. TVOkids commissions and acquires a wide range of educational kids programming worldwide, and ensures it complements learning pathways for all children. Kirsten has over 20 years of television experience including five years as the buyer for TVOkids, and 15 years in international sales and acquisitions of finished programming, most recently at Distribution360 (marblemedia).
Candida Zelaya – Director of Programming
CORUS
Candida Zelaya is overseeing the 8-network portfolio of Corus Kids, including flagship networks, YTV and Treehouse as the Director of Programming at Corus Entertainment. In addition to overseeing content and scheduling strategy, she manages acquisition needs across the portfolio. She also works closely and collaborates with international partners including Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and Disney, to fuel their respective Canadian channels. Candida excels and enjoys working with kids-in-mind.
Joan Jenkinson – Executive Director
Black Screen Office
Joan Jenkinson is an accomplished television executive and an outspoken advocate for Black Canadians working in the screen industries. Under her leadership, the BSO has been named the 2022 Changemaker Organization of the Year by Playback. Also in 2022 Joan received the Media Award at the Afroglobal Excellence Awards. She is a founding Partner/Producer at Artemis Pictures, focused on developing and producing scripted content for television. For VisionTV, as Vice-President of Independent Production, she commissioned hundreds of hours of content.
.svg){kind=logo}
.svg)
