Regent Park Film Festival Team
Ananya Ohri – Executive Director
An educator and filmmaker, Ananya holds a Master’s degree in Cinema and Media Studies from York University where she researched participatory documentary processes, ranging from community based video work in India and Canada, to online cyber-community video creations. She brings together a diversity of experiences in conceptualizing and organizing community based art projects. Email ananya@regentparkfilmfestival.com
Elwood Jimmy – Program Director
Since 1997, Elwood Jimmy has worked as an artist, writer, curator, programmer and administrator. He has played a lead role in several art projects and organizations, supporting the development, creation and presentation of interdisciplinary, community engaged, and new artistic practices. Originally from Saskatchewan, he has lived in Toronto since 2012. Email elwood@regentparkfilmfestival.com
Richard Fung – Workshop Program Facilitator
Richard grew up in Regent Park and quickly realized he wanted a career in film and television. An honours graduate from Humber College, Richard’s many filmmaking awards include 2nd Place at the 2008 24-hour Film Challenge, Best Broadcast at the Cannes 2008 Real Ideas Studio Program, and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2009 Slamdance Film Festival. Richard regularly facilitates filmmaking workshops and other events for the Regent Park community. Richard was the festival’s Program Director from 2011-2012. Email richard@blackbeltcine.com
Sherri Gallowitz – Art Director
Sherri founded G Strategic Branding & Communications to bring her extensive branding and graphic design experience to organizations that make a difference in the educational, environmental, and arts and culture sectors. Sherri’s goal is to help her clients do well by doing good and inspire change.
Yemaya Adofo – Administrative Assistant
Yemaya was a volunteer for the 2012 Regent Park Film Festival and returned as Administrative Assistant in winter 2013. She has been involved with the arts her whole life and is very passionate about it. She currently dances with Opera Atelier and is saving for university. Email: info@regentparkfilmfestival.com
Board
Sonia Jog – Chair
As Executive Director of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, Sonia is responsible for all aspects of the organization, including operations, marketing, human resources management and finance. Her previous experience includes volunteer work with TechSoup Canada, Off Centre Music Salon, and contracts with both the Toronto International Film Festival and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montréal. Sonia holds a MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
Jason Creed – Vice Chair
A reside
nt of Regent Park, Jason remains passionate about his community. For the last five years, he has worked as a student-parent support worker for Pathways to Education. In addition, Jason has worked with many agencies around Regent Park, including the Regent Park Health Centre, Dixon Hall, and the Downtown Boys and Girls Club of Toronto. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work degree at Ryerson University. Jason is a father of four.
Carmen Dan-Dobre – Treasurer
Carmen i
s an accomplished IT professional who understands the importance of community engagement. As an IT Portfolio Manager, Carmen oversees a budget of more than $3 million, and manages upwards of seven project teams simultaneously. As a Treasurer of the McNicoll Childcare organization, Carmen ensured the delivery of balanced budgets, and assisted with the transition of the daycare from a school age based childcare service to an infant, toddler and preschool age care service.[/one_third]
Mark Thompson
Mark is an IT project manager, with roots in social work and a lifelong commitment to philanthropy and the arts. His passion for community arts development has taken him to Africa where he helped launch a charity, developed an arts program and designed film festival workshops. Mark has also been involved with both the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.
Allison Saretsky
Allison holds a Bachelor of Design from Ryerson University and has been working in the private retail sector and the not-for-profit sector for the past seven years. Until recently, she worked as Interactive Marketing Manager at the Luminato Festival, where she supervised all online, email, social media, and mobile projects. She is also a board member of Theatre Smash. She is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the University of Toronto.
Teresa Ramnarine
Teresa joined the RPFF Executive in 2013. As a passionate advocate for community development, she has extensive experience in programming, fundraising, and management with inner city and community based organizations. Teresa holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master’s degree in English literature. She is a lawyer for the federal government and previously worked for a large law firm in commercial litigation.
Jennifer Holness
Jennifer Holness is an award-winning writer and producer. Her first feature, Love, Sex and Eating the Bones, won nine festival awards including Best First Feature at TIFF 2003. Her two-part CBC miniseries, Guns, won five Geminis. Jennifer also co-created the thirteen-part comedy series She’s The Mayor for VisionTV. She has also produced numerous documentaries and co-directed the NFB history documentary, Speakers For The Dead. Jen recently co-wrote and produced the feature Home Again, directed by Sudz Sutherland.
Maryna de Lannoy
Maryna de Lannoy brings over six years marketing experience, spanning roles in production, campaign management and marketing communications in both the fashion and hospitality industries. From 2007–2011 Maryna ran the Holt Renfrew production & graphic design department as they produced corporate campaigns and in-store collateral. In 2011, Maryna was appointed Manager, Campaign Management for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. Currently, she is FRHI’s Manager, Integrated Marketing Communications. Maryna enjoys volunteering whenever she has an opportunity.
