Co-President

Ana de Lara

(2020-2021)

Filmmaker

Elected on 2021-01-25

ANA DE LARA is a Filipina-Canadian film director, producer, and screenwriter. She directed, produced and wrote a number of award-winning short films, most notably: GOOD GIRLS DON’T, NEAR SILENCE, IN CONTROL and FIRST WINTER LAST. De Lara produced the award-winning feature mockumentary and 2020 Best Picture Leo Award nominee OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS, and the Telefilm Talent to Watch feature drama ALL-IN MADONNA.

Co-President

Peggy Thompson

(2020-2021)

Screenwriter/Producer

Re-elected on 2019-09-24

Peggy Thompson is the screenwriter and co-producer of the award-winning feature films The Lotus Eaters(winner of 3 Genie Awards including Best Screenplay) and also Better than Chocolate which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival (and was recently listed as one of the 70 top LGBTQ films of all time). She has also written for television – including Da Vinci’s Inquest, Weird Homes and others. For a complete list of credits please visit www.peggythompson.ca

Vice President

Shana Myara

(2020-2021)

Filmmaker/Writer 

Elected on 2021-01-25

Shana Myara is the director of the radical body positivity documentary WELL ROUNDED. She is currently developing the series KILLJOY COMEDY for CBC, and is an award-winning writer of fiction, a former festival artistic director, and movies buyer for a cable TV network.

 Secretary

Gwen Haworth

(2020-2021)

Project Manager 

Elected on 2021-01-25

Gwen completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in film production at UBC, and toured internationally with her feature documentary 'She's a Boy I Knew' from 2007-09. Gwen currently works as a project manager with the Provincial Health Services Authority overseeing initiatives that use film, new media, and other learning modalities to enhance cultural competency in care providers and health literacy in British Columbians accessing care.

 Treasurer 

Regina Leung

(2020-2021)

Business Consultant/Campaign Producer

Elected on 2021-01-25

With over 15 years of experience in the software industry, she is skilled in digital branding, client development and project management. She is a managing partner of HyBird Media Group, and responsible for corporate development, investment strategies for start-up and enterprise technology companies and the implementation of digital marketing and branding strategies targeting North America and Asia. 

DIRECTORS 

 Jessica Bradford

(2020- 2021)

Writer/Director, Educator 

Elected on 2019-09-24

Jessica Bradford is an award-winning writer and director based in Vancouver, Canada. She is a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Lab and an alumna of the Women In the Director’s Chair program. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and B.A. (Hons) in English Literature and American Studies. Jessica’s films have won numerous awards including a Gemini, B.C. Leo Awards and the Kodak Image Award for Excellence in Visual Storytelling.

Sharon McGowan

 (2020-2021)

Filmmaker/Professor 

Re-elected on 2021-01-25

Sharon McGowan is an Associate Professor teaching film production and creative writing at UBC. McGowan is a Lifetime Member of WIFTV, a past recipient of the Woman of the Year Spotlight Award, a founding board member, and a Past President of WIFTV (1989-91). She co-chairs the Advocacy and ARIA Committees. She is also the founding producer and co-chair of WIFTV’s From Our Dark Side genre film program.

Marena Dix

(2020-2021)

Post Production Supervisor 

Elected 2020-09-09

Marena is an award-winning film professional working out of Vancouver, BC. After working on notable short-form works, such as the Gotham-nominated web series Inconceivable, Marena moved her  focus to post production. Over the last five years she has honed her skills on many popular series and independent features in post and is excited to work on many more in the future.

Susan Brinton

(2020-2021)

Media Consultant 

Re-elected on 2018-07-25

President, Suebee Media (2009-2021); Senior Project Manager, CMPA-BC (2015-2016); Media Consultant (2009-2016); Community Programmer, Coast Cable (2008-2010); Senior Policy Advisor, TV - Telefilm Canada (2002-2005); Director of Policy Research, CMF (1999-2002); Western Director, Canadian Production - Global TV (1989-1997).

 Doreen Manuel

(2020-2021)

Administrator/Educator 

Elected on 2021-01-25

Doreen Manuel is the sixth child of Grand Chief Dr. George Manuel and Marceline Manuel. She is a graduate of the Aboriginal Film and Television Program at Capilano University and Fine Arts-Film Production Master’s Degree program at UBC. She has an extensive background working in First Nations education and community development in both rural and urban centres. Doreen comes from a long line of oral historians and factual storytellers from her First Nations traditional background.

Anaïsa Visser

(2020-2021)

Writer/Director/Assistant Director/Teacher

Elected on 2021-01-25

Anaïsa grew up all over the world, namely in Mozambique, the United States, then France, before moving to Vancouver to pursue an undergraduate degree at Emily Carr University. She graduated in 2013 with a BFA in Film, Video and Integrated Media. Subsequently, Anaïsa worked in equipment rentals for five years before returning to school to pursue her Masters Degree in Film Production and Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia. She dedicates most of her spare time to writing, directing, and producing her own independent film work, and to helping others make their independent projects.

 Christine Willes

(2021) 

Actor

Elected on 2021-06-30

Christine Willes began her professional acting career in Canadian theatre over 45 years ago. She has performed with theatre companies large and small across the nation, and earned three Jessies for Excellence in Theatre in Vancouver. She segued to film and television when she started a family. Over the last 25 years she has performed in dozens of TV series. Christine is also a labour activist in Vancouver’s film and television industry and a recognized leader in advocating for gender equality in Canada’s screen-based media. She is one of the founders of Canadian Unions for Equality on Screen, and contributed to the first ever national report on women’s employment in Canada’s screen-based media, 2013’s Focus on Women.