Director Members

Alex Caulfield is an award-winning director and writer with a strong background as a creative producer based in Vancouver, BC. Embracing a passion for "telling stories that make people feel less alone," Alex is known for their work on character-driven films portraying complex female and non-binary protagonists.

Alex's recent credits include the Lifetime television movie The Podcast Murders (2022), the award-winning short films Dear Departed (2021), Do We Leave This Here (2017), and Last Night (2016), among many others. Their debut feature film What Comes Next is a highly anticipated, intergenerational coming-of-age story about a 17 year-old who embarks on an ill-advised relationship with an older family friend.

Alex is an alum of the National Screen Institute, the Whistler Film Festival Talent Labs and they were awarded a Creator Mentorship from the Geena Davis Institute. They are one of eight participants selected for the 2021 - 2022 Women in the Director's Chair Story and Leadership program with What Comes Next. Until 2021, Alex worked as a creative executive and on-set supervising producer at an international production and distribution company where they were instrumental in supervising the production of twelve feature length films within two years.

As their multifaceted career continues to evolve, Alex is drawn towards collaboration and community building, demystifying the industry and examining the importance of alternative pathways to success. They are deeply committed to supporting queer, trans and gender non-conforming people, autistic people and those dealing with mental illnesses by creating greater onscreen representations and providing professional mentorship opportunities.

Linda-Lisa Hayter is known for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made (2021), Five More Minutes (2021) and Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing (2020).

Nicholas Humphries is an award-winning director from Vancouver, Canada. His accolades include Best Short at the Screamfest and British Horror Film Festivals, Audience Choice at the NSI Film Exchange, a Tabloid Witch, an Aloha Accolade and a Golden Sheaf. His films have been nominated for multiple Leo Awards, have screened at Grauman's Chinese and Egyptian Theaters, on HBO, CBC, Super Channel, TMC, Fearnet, Space Channel, Tubi, Hallmark and in festivals around the world. Additionally, Nicholas has directed for Written by a Kid on the hit premium YouTube Channel Geek & Sundry. He is also a director on the acclaimed Syfy digital series, Riese: Kingdom Falling, which was nominated for four Streamy Awards, three IAWTV Awards and a Leo Award. Riese was also an Official Honoree at the 2011 Webby Awards. He has an MFA in Film Production from University of British Columbia.

Working with diverse teams, funders and influencers, Liz Marshall has written, directed, produced and filmed multiple impactful projects around the globe since the 1990s. Motivated by the transformative language of film and television, her work is exhibited and reviewed widely. Feature documentary titles include: Meat the Future (2020) Midian Farm (2018) The Ghosts in Our Machine (2013) Water on the Table (2010.)

Sophie's first job in film was reading fan mail for The L Word. Later, she studied at Simon Fraser University and her short film The Worst Day Ever had its premiere at TIFF in 2012. Her recent work includes Medical Drama (Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival 2019) and the stop motion animation Zeb's Spider (co-directed with Alicia Eisen and produced by the National Film Board). Her background as an award-winning production designer informs her practice as a director. Her feature debut Until Branches Bend, a Canada-Swiss co-production with Experimental Forest Films, Ceroma Films, Reign Films, and Cinédokké, is slated for release in the fall of 2022.

P.J. Naworynski is an award-winning director and show creator known for his compelling cinematic style, and his passion for maintaining a positive, inclusive work environment. P.J. has directed more than 120 hours of television drama and documentary programs. His considerable list of nominations and awards include a 2020 Silver Worldmedal for Best Direction from New York Festival, a 2020 Platinum Remi for Best Direction from Worldfest Houston, a 2020 Silver Telly for Best Direction and a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Factual Program for the docudrama series "Disasters at Sea". Other recognitions include a 2017 CSA Nomination for "Against All Odds," a 2014 CSA Nomination for Best Director for "Air Aces: Red Tails," and a 2011 Gemini award for Best Director in a Documentary Series for "Nazi Fugitives."

In 2018 P.J. fulfilled a lifelong goal and wrote a best selling non-fiction book. He is in talks to version the book into a feature film.

P.J. loves being on set and in the post suite. His enthusiastic work ethic corresponds with his extensive list of collaborators that includes Discovery Channel, CBC, National Geographic, A&E, Channel 5, Superchannel, Sky, Fox TV, Investigation Discovery, Parks Canada, and History Channel.

Adam Kane was born on 23 January 1968 in Burbank, California, USA. He is a director and producer, known for Prodigal Son (2019), American Gods (2017) and Deadly Class (2018). He was previously married to Leslie Hope.

Adam Stern is known for Faster Than Light (2017), Levels (2024) and The Adept (2015).

Ali Liebert is a DGC Award Nominated Director and Canadian Screen Award winning actor currently residing in Vancouver.

Ali's recent film credits include: They who Surround Us (Leo Award Nominee), and Stephen Chbosky's Wonder, starring Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay. Ali is best known for her portrayal of Betty Mcrae in Reelz/Global TV's original hit series Bomb Girls which earned her both a Leo Award and a Canadian Screen Award. Recently Ali appeared as a guest star on Van Helsing (Netlix/Syfy), on 2 seasons of One of us Lying (NBC Universal/Peacock), and Family Law (Global). Other Television credits include: MechX4 (DisneyXD), Ten Days in the Valley (ABC), iZombie (CW), Legends of Tomorrow (CW), Harper's Island (CBC).

With her extensive experience as an actor (over 100 credits to her name) and producer (Afterparty, Whistler Film Festival & Cooking With Love, Hallmark Channel), Ali's creative evolution to directing has been natural one. Her first tv movie, Amish Abduction (Lifetime), gained her a DGC Award nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement - Movies for Television (2020). The film was also nominated for a Leo Award for Best Television Movie and Best Lead Performance by a Female. Ali's debut short film, The Quieting, made its world premiere at Inside Out Toronto LGBTQ Film Festival (2020). Ali received an EDA Award nomination for "Best Female-Directed Short" from the Alliance of Women Film Journalists and Whistler Film Festival. With the support of the DGC, Ali wrote and directed a short film called Calls From A Bridge on a virtual production stage which was selected to screen at Whistler Film Festival. Her last TV movie, The Holiday Sitter was on the TOP 15 Xmas movies in both Vanity Fair and Vogue. Her most recent film shot on location in Ireland and the UK for Hallmark. You can find her at @aliliebert on Instagram & Twitter.

Alysse Leite-Rogers is known for Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2014), Chesapeake Shores (2016) and Family Law (2021).

Born In England, raised in Canada. BFA Acting University of Windsor. Amanda spent 12 seasons on Stargate SG-1 (1997) and its spin-offs, Stargate: Atlantis (2004) and Stargate Universe (2009), as "Samantha Carter". She then took on the lead role of "Dr. Helen Magnus" on the television series Sanctuary (2008), a project she had been nurturing from its inception on the internet.

Tapping has come to secure a strong and direct influence on her projects from behind the lens. She was an Executive Producer of Sanctuary (2008) and also sat in the director's chair for several episodes. She previously directed the Stargate SG-1 (1997) episode, Resurrection (2004), in 2004, which garnered her a Leo Award nomination for Best Director. She has also directed three episodes each of Primeval: New World (2012), Arctic Air (2012) and Continuum (2012). She has also directed Strange Empire (2014), Olympus (2015), Dark Matter (2015) and X Company (2015). Tapping has also earned four Leo Awards for Best Actress, has been nominated for two Gemini Awards and four Saturn Awards and won the 2005 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Amanda's love of comedy lead her to co-found the all female Canadian comedy troupe, Random Acts. Her work in the short film Breakdown (2006) earned her the Canadian Comedy Award in 2007. She also did films like Space Milkshake (2012), Random Acts of Romance (2012), Taken Back: Finding Haley (2012) and Kid Cannabis (2014). She was Naomi on 7 episodes of the 8th season of Supernatural (2005). She also played a recurring character on the sitcom Package Deal (2013).

Tapping has had the pleasure of supporting various charities and organizations such as The Coast Foundation, a support agency for people with mental disabilities, The Canadian Cancer Society, UNICEF and V-Day by performing in "The Vagina Monologues" to help end violence against women and girls worldwide. She also sits on the leadership council for The Waterkeeper Alliance. Amanda launched the charitable foundation "Sanctuary for Kids" in 2009 to support both local and global children's charities helping children in crisis. To date they have raised over $650,000. Their work takes them to Nepal, Haiti and the downtown east side of Vancouver. She was honored with Women in Film's "Woman of Vision" award. She also received the YWCA Women of Distinction "Connecting the Community" Award. She was awarded The Jules Verne Award in Paris for her humanitarian work. She was offered an Honorary Life Membership from the University College of Dublin Law Society and received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from The University of Windsor.

Amanda J. Strachan is known for Make Your Move (2013), The Surrogate Scandal (2023) and Black Dog: The Documentary (2020).

Amelia Burstyn is known for Lost in Space (2018), Defiance (2013) and The Whispers (2015).

Ana Valine is known for Sitting on the Edge of Marlene (2014), Once There Was a Winter (2017) and How Eunice Got Her Baby (2009).

Andy Mikita is known for Travelers (2016), Motive (2013) and Family Law (2021).

Ann Forry is known for With Love, Your Sweetly Salted (2023), Lies Between Friends (2022) and Psycho Intern (2021).

Born in Alberta, to a doctor father and musician mother, Anne earned degrees in mathematics and music, putting her way through university as a performer. She came to film-making after working and traveling around the world for a couple of years, exploring Europe, Asia and Africa. She returned home to join a collective focused on making political documentaries. Here she had the opportunity to shoot, edit, produce, write, direct and instigate dozens of short movies before flying solo and being a free-lance artist. In 1979 she married Garth Hendren and a year later gave birth to a identical twin boys, Quincy and Morgan - who today both work in film. By the nineties she had moved to Salt Spring island on the west coast of Canada and was known for making Canadian classics that won numerous national and international awards. Known as a master story-teller, her work to date has garnered seven honorary doctorates and an Order of Canada. She lives now in White Rock B.C. with her husband, Luben Izov, and continues to write and direct and mentoring film-makers in the art of story-telling.

Arnold Lim is an award-winning Korean-Canadian director, producer and photojournalist in production for his next feature film The Bryce Lee Story. Known for his work on All-in Madonna, The Cameraman and Godhead. His films have screened internationally, including at the Toronto International Film Festival, and he has programmed for film festivals, including the Vancouver Asian Film Festival and Victoria Film Festival. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Asia Youngman is known for Black Mirror (2011), 30 for 30 (2009) and N'xaxaitkw (2022).

Aubrey Arnason is a filmmaker of Icelandic lineage. An award winning director she won the Leo Award for Best Direction in a Television Movie for her directorial debut - A Love To Remember. Her movies have premiered on Lifetime, Amazon, HULU and Peacock. She wrote & directed I Don't which won - Best Romance at the Hollywood Best Indie Film Festival and Best Romantic Comedy at Indie Short Fest. She co-created & Executive Produced two comedic pilots with Rogers . The Range (pilot) was top 3 at the Banff Media Pilot Competition. Aubrey's directed over 70 episodes of reality/lifestyle television and been nominated for 13 Leo Awards, winning multiple. She has been recognized by the Bell Media Fellowship, won the 2X More - Women In View award, is a NSI Totally TV Alum, Vancouver Film School Graduate and Crazy 8's Film Event Alum. Her quirky short Kindergarten Da Bin Ich Wieder won Best Writing the "Goldie Award" at the VISFF, was broadcast by CBC and screened multiple festivals including National Canadian Film Day. Aubrey is an award winning TV host and an accomplished actor. She's the host of the DGC podcast "Talking to Actors" which shares how to effectively direct & communicate with actors.

Baljit Sangra: Film and Television Director Baljit Sangra is a Vancouver based filmmaker who has been working on documentaries, corporate videos, feature films and factual entertainment. Her passion is exploring social and cross-cultural issues. She has now directed/produced the documentary "Because We Are Girls" in association with NFB @nfb_interactive. She has also directed/produced Many Rivers Home a personal story that focuses on Seniors in assisted care and looks at the end story of life for OmniTV. In addition, she has directed/produced the documentary Warrior Boyz in association with NFB and Canwest which examines the long running gang scene unique to the Indo-Canadian enclave of the Lower Mainland. Warrior Boyz premiered at Doxa and was nominated for three Leos. Baljit also directed an A&E for CityTV and Channel M called VIVA! for several seasons.

Boris Ivanov is a seasoned producer and director with a 25-year track record across scripted drama, documentary, TV series, and emerging AI-driven content. Based in Vancouver, he brings a cinematic eye and hands-on approach to every stage of production whether it's a dramatic series, a vérité doc, or an animated AI avatar. Known for merging classic storytelling with cutting-edge tools, Ivanov is a trusted creative partner for broadcasters, streamers, and platforms looking to push boundaries without losing the plot.

Brayden DeMorest-Purdy is an award-winning director, producer, and writer. He started his career in Toronto, Ontario at Rogers Television as a studio assistant, and then worked his way to directing and producing segments for the station. Since then, Brayden has worked on a variety of studio and independent projects. His directorial debut Beyond the Woods won four best picture awards, a best directing award, and a variety of other awards and nominations.

Brayden has a variety of skills in live-action and animation. And knowledge of all stages of production. When directing he finds it useful to lean into these other skills to make unique and engaging stories. Brayden has worked and learned from some of his idols including: Neill Blomkamp's producing team (Elysium/ Chappie), Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Stephen Campanelli who is Clint Eastwood's go-to camera operator and collaborator.

Brianne Nord-Stewart is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker known for writing and directing comedy films and series, and directing music videos around the world.

She got her start in Edmonton, Alberta, before moving to Vancouver, BC where she built a foundation for her work. After producing a handful of short comedies, Nord-Stewart began developing and producing series and feature films.

Brishkay Ahmed is known for In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland (2021), Fatima in Kabul (2021) and Unveiled: The Kohistan Video Scandal (2016).