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The Whistler
2026
Reeling from their daughter's loss, Nicole and Sebastian come into possession of a secluded Venezuelan farm, unaware of the dark forces they're about to face.
Diego Velasco
Director · Known for The Whistler
Writer/Director Diego Velasco was born in the US and raised in Venezuela. His first feature, La Hora Cero (The Zero Hour) broke all Venezuelan Box Office records and garnered 35 festival awards. The Lincoln Center’s Film Comment Magazine called it “rare and special: an intelligent, finely constructed and wonderfully acted feature with a subversive message and a sting in the tail.” Velasco’s next feature, The Whistler, is a thriller based on the Venezuelan legend of the same name, and was written by his wife and frequent collaborator, Carolina Paiz (Orange Is the New Black / Narcos) and is produced by Dillon D Jordan (The Kindergarten Teacher / Skin) with PaperChase films. On the TV front, Velasco directed the immigration episode for the final season of the Emmy-Award-winning Orange is the New Black, an episode which The New Yorker singled out as “brilliant.” He also directed for Jenji Kohan’s new Netflix comedy Teenage Bounty Hunters, premiering this August, and is currently the producer/director for Social Distance, Netflix’s first scripted anthology written and produced remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tanya Lapointe
Producer · Known for Dune: Part Three, Dune: Part Two
Tanya Lapointe is a Canadian filmmaker and former journalist, most noted for her 2020 documentary film The Paper Man (Lafortune en papier). A long-time arts and culture journalist for Ici Radio-Canada, she began dating film director Denis Villeneuve in the mid-2010s. She took a leave of absence from the network in 2015 to work as a production assistant on Villeneuve's film Arrival, subsequently announcing her departure from journalism in 2016. Her debut as a documentary filmmaker, 50/50, was broadcast by Radio-Canada in 2018 and examined the gender gap between men and women in society. The Paper Man premiered at the Whistler Film Festival in 2020, where it won the Audience Award. She participated in the 2021 edition of Le Combat des livres, advocating for Melchior Mbonimpa's novel Le totem des Baranda. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tanya Lapointe, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Tina Carver
Smoky-voiced, sultry Tina Carver began her career in the post-war stages of Germany and France. Having married an Indiana academic who served the High Commission for Occupied Germany in a legal capacity, her acting opportunities were confined to entertaining troops under the auspices of the Special Services. Nonetheless, she had both the looks and the talent to secure leads in quality plays like "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Miranda". In 1953, she joined a theatrical ensemble in Bad Godesberg, while her husband ran a drama workshop on the side. However, her marriage subsequently went on the rocks, resulting in an acrimonious divorce and a return to the States. Tina's screen career got off to a start with steady radio and television work in New York. In 1954, she moved to California for guest spots on two fashionable crime shows, The Whistler (1954) and The Lone Wolf (1954). This exposure resulted in several small supporting roles in feature films, and she was eventually signed under contract by Columbia. Her first role saw her third-billed, as partner-in-crime to a racketeer (played by Pat O'Brien) in Inside Detroit (1956), an expose of corruption in the Auto Workers Union. This solitary lead, in what was a relatively decent minor film noir, was unaccountably followed by a return to supporting roles in bottom-of-the-bill second-raters, like Uranium Boom (1956) and The Man Who Turned to Stone (1957). There was also an uncredited bit in the A-grade boxing drama The Harder They Fall (1956), starring Humphrey Bogart. It begs the question, who did Tina upset to drop from starlet to bit player within a year? It got worse: upon leaving Columbia, Tina took another step down the ladder to Allied Artists, where she was cast opposite Tod Andrews in the laughable creature feature From Hell It Came (1957). The monster in this typical 50's 'mutation by radiation' offering, was a walking tree stump, created by Paul Blaisdell, who later breathed life into various other beasts for Roger Corman. While this film has since attained something of a cult following (perhaps, because it is so bad, that it becomes enjoyable on a comedic level), a contemporary reviewer allegedly wrote about 'From Hell, it Came'.. .and to Hell it can go". For the remaining four years of her short tenure in Hollywood, Tina acted exclusively on the small screen, guesting in a handful of popular TV shows like Perry Mason (1957) and Bronco (1958). In January 1958, her five-year-old daughter. Katherine. was struck and killed by a car in the school zone where she was playing. As a result of her ongoing grief over this tragic accident, she lost interest in acting. She passed away in 1982 after a short illness.
Laura Sofía Domínguez
Cast · Known for The Whistler
Laura Sofía Domínguez is a Venezuelan actress, dancer, and singer based in Los Angeles. Graduating from The Art of Acting Studio Stella Adler, Laura filmed her first featured movie “The Whistler” & recently filmed her first Guest star role on the third season of the Tv show “P-Valley”. Throughout her career, she has starred as Irina in The Three Sisters, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing and Penelope in The Odyssey.
Ana Carrizales
Ana Carrizales is a Peruvian-Canadian writer, filmmaker and producer based in Vancouver, BC. She has directed and produced a number of films and short docs. Most recently, she produced the sci-fi drama The Shipment (Tribeca 2019, Palms Springs 2019, Hollyshorts 2019) and documentary The Day Don Died (Hot Docs 2019, Palm Springs 2019). Her latest film project, A Pregnant Woman (writer / director), was the recipient of the 2019 Harold Greenberg Fund and BC Arts Council Media Assistance Grant and is currently in post-production. Most recently, her feature documentary Shaman’s Shadow received The Rogers’ Developmental Fund and was accepted by the Whistler Documentary Lab. An engaged community member with a passion for supporting underrepresented voices in film, she has served on the boards of The Documentary Organization of Canada - BC Chapter (2017-2019) and the Vancouver Latin-American Film Festival (2017-2019). She also served as a juror for the DOXA Film Festival, Vancouver International Women in Film and Television Film Festival and VLAFF, and in 2018 volunteered as screener in the Whistler Film Festival. In addition to raising her two year old daughter Gabrielle, Ana is an instructor at Vancouver Film School, where she teaches film production.
Gail Maurice
Gail Maurice is a fluent Cree/Michif speaking actor and an award-winning filmmaker. She created her own company Assini Productions to tell stories that highlight strong Indigenous female leads. She translates and speaks her language whenever she can on the big and little screen. She translated and played the role of Ida, in Night Raiders. She translated/co-wrote and played the role of Meetos, in Quebexit and won Best Screenplay at the Whistler Film Festival 2020.
Olivia Ducayen
Cast · Known for Lockbox
Olivia Ducayen hails from Vancouver, BC, and is a talented Canadian actor. She has gained recognition for her remarkable performances in notable projects such as "Sorry About the Demon" (2022) and the short film "B-Side," which was showcased at prestigious events like the Whistler Film Festival (2019) and the Vancouver International Short Film Festival (2020). Olivia's exceptional work in "B-Side" even earned her a nomination for a Leo award in the category of Best Short Drama. Her passion for acting began at a young age, as she actively participated in community theatre on Bowen Island. At just 13 years old, Olivia made her debut in a short film, marking the beginning of her promising career. In 2019, she successfully completed her Diploma in Acting for Stage and Screen from Capilano University.
Mackenzie Gray
Cast · Known for Man of Steel
Mackenzie Gray was born and raised in Toronto. A professional actor for over 40 years, he has appeared in over 150 films and television shows. As of 2017, he is a series regular on the Marvel/FX Series Legion (2017) playing "The Eye" and is a recurring cast member on both the CW series Riverdale (2016) as "The Pathologist" and plays "The Time Master" on DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016). Since moving to Vancouver in 1998 as a series lead for the television series The Net(1998), he has appeared as a guest star in scores of Vancouver or Calgary-filmed productions, recently including the BBC America/Netflix series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016), Fargo (2014), R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2010), Alcatraz(2012), and Project Mc² (2015). He returned to Toronto to Guest-Star in the series Bitten(2014). Guest-Starring roles include "John Amos" in If There Be Thorns (2015), "David Bowie" in Some Assembly Required (2014), "Lex Luthor" in Season 10 of Smallville (2001), "The Djiin" in Supernatural (2005), "The Observer" in the series finale of Fringe (2008), as the Devil, in the form of Keith Richards, in R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2010), as a Southern U.S. Senator opposed to Civil Rights in the mini-series The Kennedys (2011) and as a Graphic Novelist with a dark secret again in R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour(2010). Other Guest-Star or Lead roles include work on the TV series Human Target (2010), Young Blades (2005), Da Vinci's Inquest (1998), The Collector (2004), First Wave (1998), So Weird (1999), Once Upon a Time (2011), True Justice (2010), The Bridge (2010), Sanctuary (2008), Psych (2006), Kyle XY (2006), The L Word (2004), Romeo! (2003), The Twilight Zone (2002), Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers: To Live and Die in Starlight (2002), Big Sound (2000), Andromeda (2000), Cold Squad (1998), Voyage of the Unicorn (2001) and Welcome to Paradox (1998). Mackenzie was recently seen on the big screen in Warcraft: The Beginning (2016), and was celebrated around the world for his portrayal of "Jax-Ur" in Warner Brothers' Zack Snyder-directed Superman film Man of Steel (2013). He appeared as the band's Road Manager in Metallica's 3-D IMAX Feature Metallica Through the Never (2013) and appeared in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009). Other feature film work includes co-starring roles in Grave Encounters (2011), Shooter (2007), Storm Seekers (2009), Riddles of the Sphinx (2008), Destination: Infestation (2007), Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead (2008), Strip Search (1997), Christmas on Chestnut Street (2006), 2103: The Deadly Wake (1997), Word of Honor (2003), The Hitcher II: I've Been Waiting(2003), Falling Fire (1997), In Her Mother's Footsteps (2006), Hard Ride to Hell (2010), Shepherd (1998), Fugitives Run (2005), Replikator (1994) and The Long Kiss Goodnight(1996). He co-produced and acted in the upcoming feature film Heart of Clay (2017), and the award-winning feature film Poe: Last Days of the Raven (2008). Mackenzie has written, produced and directed 7 short films. His Crazy 8's Film Noir short Under the Bridge of Fear(2013) screened at Cannes Court Métrage at The Cannes Film Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Whistler Film Festival and was broadcast by the CBC. It was nominated for 10 LEO Awards, winning one.
David Agranov
David Agranov was born in Riga, Latvia to Russian parents. His family moved to Italy and lived in Rome on Viale Regina Margherita. They then moved to London for some time, before finally emigrating to the United States. He grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and became a naturalized American citizen. Agranov is an actor, singer, and songwriter who works in Theatre, Film, Television, and Music. (member: AEA, SAG, AFTRA, ASCAP.) He is known for playing the sadistic prison physician, "Dr. Marat", who manipulates Villanelle, played by Jodie Comer, in the hit series 'Killing Eve' from Phoebe Waller-Bridge and BBC America, Hired and Directed by Danny Boyle for F/X's 'Trust', he also plays "J. Ronald Getty", son to J. Paul Getty, as portrayed by Donald Sutherland. Shot in London, Rome, and Calabria, the cast also includes Hilary Swank as Gail Getty, Harris Dickinson, as the kidnapped grandson, J. Paul Getty III, as well as Michael Esper, and Norbert Leo Butz as the other Getty sons. In May of 2019, he had his debut as a cast member of a Film In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, when 'La Gomera', in Selection Officielle, had its World Premiere. Directed by Corneliu Porumboiu, the film's international title is 'The Whistlers'. He plays "Denis", the young American filmmaker who shows up at the wrong place at the wrong time. He'll next be seen as "The Knight" in the upcoming feature film 'A Pity', directed by Kevin and Alec Barth. Their Director of Photography was Chayse Irvin, also known for Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman' and the upcoming 'Blonde' from Andrew Dominik. He played "Rodolpho" in A View from the Bridge, directed by Daniel Aukin at the Tony Award Winning Regional Theatre, Arena Stage, with Delaney Williams, Virginia Kull, and Louis Cancelmi. He co-produced and starred in the West Coast Premiere of the stage version of 'Trainspotting' where he gave a tour de force performance as "Tommy". He also played "Edmund the Bastard" at the Met Theatre in Los Angeles, with James Gammon as 'King Lear'. He is the creator of the one man show, 'The Chet Baker Project', where he portrays the trumpeter/singer, and has performed this one act play in New York, Beverly Hills, and Rome. Agranov recurred as "Yuri the Fury" on 'Ray Donovan' for Showtime, opposite Liev Schreiber, Jack Kesy, and Raymond J. Barry. He also recurred as "Jim Ballard" on 'The Unit', produced by David Mamet for 20th Century Fox Television. He then went on to play "Ferdinand" in Tom Stoppard's 'Rock and Roll' at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., a role based largely on Vaclav Havel. He was hired for several scenes opposite Angelina Jolie in SALT, directed by Phillip Noyce, released in 2010 by Columbia Pictures.
Hannah Cheesman
Hannah Cheesman is a CSA-nominated filmmaker, writer and actor. Named a Playback Five to Watch and a TIFF Emerging Canadian Filmmaker, Hannah’s hit digital series Whatever, Linda is currently in development as an hour-long television series with Bell Media, alongside executive producer Graeme Manson (Orphan Black, Snowpiercer). Hannah has directed and written three short films (Emmy, Cheese and Brunch Bitch) as well as co-directing her first feature film, The Definites (Whistler, Cucalorus), and has written on such shows as Workin’ Moms and Find Me in Paris.
Holly Dignard
Holly Elissa Dignard (born 1 October 1979) is a Canadian actress. She made her TV debut on the Sci-Fi Channel's hit series Outer Limits. Her credits include The Chris Isaak Show, Stargate SG-1, Voyage of the Unicorn, Stargate Atlantis, The L Word, Battlestar Galactica, Kyle X/Y, Eureka, Supernatural, Kill Switch and Polar Shift. She is one of the stars of the Canadian series Whistler. Dignard has a production company entitled Jackal Empire Productions. Description above from the Wikipedia article Holly Dignard, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Larry Whistler
Lawrence Whistler is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his legendary feud with his mentor Bruno Sammartino in the 1980s. Throughout his career, he was a two-time world champion, winning the AWA World Heavyweight Championship twice. He began his career in 1972, training under Sammartino's tutelage, and quickly made a name for himself in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), where he captured several titles, including the tag team championship with Tony Garea. In 1980, after a confrontation with Sammartino, Zbyszko became one of the most hated villains in wrestling history, sparking one of the most intense rivalries of all time. Over the course of his career, he also worked in other promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, and American Wrestling Association (AWA), earning a reputation as a skilled and cunning technical wrestler. In the late 80s and early 90s, Zbyszko also worked as a commentator and member of the WCW roster, where his legacy as "The Living Legend" continued. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, with Bruno Sammartino doing the honors. He also had a brief stint in the independent circuit and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) before officially retiring in 2015. Zbyszko is regarded as one of the greatest villains in wrestling history, known for his ability to elicit intense reactions both inside and outside the ring.
Diego Klattenhoff
Cast · Known for The Blacklist, Homeland, Pacific Rim
Diego Klattenhoff is a Canadian actor known for his portrayals of Mike Faber in the Showtime series Homeland and as FBI Agent Donald Ressler in The Blacklist. He has also appeared as Derek in Whistler and Ivan in Men in Trees.
David Paetkau
David Paetkau is a Canadian-American actor who is perhaps best known for his roles of Evan Lewis in Final Destination 2 and the deceased Beck McKaye in Whistler (2006–2008). He has also appeared in I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) and also So Weird as Brent on the episode Vampire. He currently stars as Sam Braddock in Flashpoint, a TV police drama filmed in and around Toronto by CTV. The series also airs in the USA on CBS on Friday nights. After a successful trial run in the summer of 2008, CBS ordered a full 22 episode second season of Flashpoint in its current Friday night time, where it has earned solid ratings. The series also stars Enrico Colantoni, Hugh Dillon, and Amy Jo Johnson. David's voice can be heard in Canadian commercials for the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Description above from the Wikipedia article David Paetkau, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Toby Hargrave
Cast · Known for Little Fish
Described as “a happy Hagrid” (for his more than passing resemblance to the Harry Potter chum) comedian Toby Hargrave shares the character’s imposing physical presence as well as his colossal warmth. Audiences are drawn in (if never completely put at ease) by Hargrave’s humble charm and unwaveringly honest comedy. A gifted storyteller with an absurd ability to pinpoint the unseen hilarity of life, Hargrave has captivated audiences for over 20 years. Credits include appearances at the Just for LaughsComedy Festival in Montreal, Atomic Comedy Festival in Washington State, Whistler & Edmonton Comedy Festivals, Vancouver International Comedy Festival, where he was award title of “Funniest Comedian in Vancouver”. Starting in his home town of Edmonton Alberta, Toby has performed at The Comedy Store, Improv, Laugh Shop, Yuk Yuks, Hermosa Comedy Magic Club, Jon Lovitz Comedy Club and continues to enthrall audiences across North American with his incredible ability to connect with diverse crowds and relate his unique comedic perspective.
Ryan Kennedy
Ryan Kennedy (born December 6, 1982) is an Canadian actor. He is best known for his role "Travis Hollier" in the 2006 TV series Whistler and "Jake Harrow" in The CW 2010 TV series Hellcats. Description above from the Wikipedia article Ryan Kennedy, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Brendan Penny
Brendan James Penny (born November 9, 1978) is a Canadian film and television actor who first became well known to TV audiences as A.J. Varland in the first season of Whistler that aired in Canada from 2006–2008. He is perhaps best known as Detective Brian Lucas in Motive, a Canadian crime drama centred on a team of Vancouver homicide detectives, also starring Kristin Lehman, Louis Ferreira and Lauren Holly, which aired from 2013–2016. Brendan currently stars as Kevin O'Brien in the Hallmark Channel family drama series Chesapeake Shores, which premiered on August 14, 2016. He has also been the hero of a number of Hallmark originals.
Tamara Hope
Tamara Hope (born November 2, 1984) is a Canadian actress. Her starring roles include Guinevere Jones and The Nickel Children, a film about teenage prostitution. Tamara had a recurring role on CTV's now defunct Whistler as Leah McLure. Hope has recently been featured in the Modernista! ad campaign promoting the Palm Pre phone. Description above from the Wikipedia article Tamara Hope, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Deanne Foley
Deanne Foley is a Canadian feature film & TV director and writer. She is best known for the critically acclaimed feature film, An Audience Of Chairs. The film picked up four awards at FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival 2018 including Best Director & Best Picture. Her sophomore feature, Relative Happiness, was nominated for Best Picture at the 2015 Directors Guild of Canada Awards, and the Borsos Best Canadian Feature at Whistler Film Festival. Beat Down, her debut feature film, garnered three Canadian Comedy Award nominations including Best Direction. She has directed on CBC's one-hour Republic of Doyle and most recently, she directed the Lifetime MOW Christmas Reservations starring Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina The Teenage Witch) on location in the USA. She is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada & Writers Guild of Canada. Deanne was awarded BMO Artist of the Years by Arts NL in 2015.
Chelah Horsdal
Chelah Horsdal is a Canadian actress. She is known for her regular roles in the television series Hell on Wheels, When Calls the Heart, and The Man in the High Castle, recurring roles on Stargate SG-1, Level Up, Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery, and for her roles in the films Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Horsdal was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She says she "was born to hippie parents while surrounded by friends and family on the 'farm' Headacres." She is the daughter of mother Lindsay and folksinger father Valdy. She grew up with her mother in Kitsilano and attended Bayview Elementary followed by Lord Byng Secondary. She began modelling in locally shot TV shows and commercials at 18, and then lived in the Caribbean for a year. Horsdal began her acting career in 2002. She has since appeared in more than 75 commercials as well as in films and on television. She has played lead and supporting roles on Hell on Wheels, The Man In the High Castle, When Calls the Heart, Candiland, Patterson's Wager, Three Weeks, Three Kids, On Strike For Christmas, Marley & Me: The Puppy Years, and Lifetime's The Client List. She had lead roles in Lying To Be Perfect and Mrs. Miracle. Additional credits include leads on the feature Burning Mussolini, Nickelodeon's Gym Teacher: The Movie, co-starring Christopher Meloni and Amy Sedaris, Flirting with Forty with Heather Locklear and the FOX TV pilot The Virgin of Akron, Ohio. Supporting leads include Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem for 20th Century Fox and Possession alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, as well as Elegy with Ben Kingsley and Penélope Cruz and Rise of the Planet of the Apes with John Lithgow and James Franco. Her performances in the short films Dark Room (2006) and The Hostage (2010) both earned Leo nominations for Best Performance. Recurring roles include Battlestar Galactica, Exes & Ohs, The L Word, Stargate: SG1, Saved, DaVinci's Inquest, Whistler, Blackstone, Clue and Cartoon Network's Level Up. The Hostage, for which Horsdal was nominated for Best Actress at the 2011 Leos, co-starred and was produced by Tahmoh Penikett and Aleks Paunovic. Horsdal was nominated for four more Leo Awards for her guest starring turn on Arctic Air (2013), for Hell on Wheels and When Calls the Heart, and for Patterson's Wager.
Tom Downing
Tom Downing is an Irish-American television and film actor, producer, and writer. Along with his work on the Emmy Winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Chicago PD, Shameless, and BULL, his first major film was playing the lead in the dark comedy The Life & Death of an Unhappily Married Man. The film went on a 50 city international film festival tour winning over 20 awards including 14 for Best Film and over 30 nominations. Winning Best Actor and Actor of the Year, he garnered acclaim for a "truly great lead performance". That year, Whistler International Film Festival named it a Top Pick alongside Carol (Cate Blanchett), Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), and Born To Be Blue (Ethan Hawke). The film went on to win the Canada Int'l Film Festival "Rising Star Award" and the "Extra Mile Award" from the Sydney Indie Film Festival. Following a worldwide release, it became a "Top-Selling Comedy" distributed through Time-Warner, Sony, Amazon, and iTunes platforms. The following year, he appeared in Keep The Change (Best U.S. Film Winner, Tribeca Film Festival - Kino Lorber North American Theatrical) and Hustlers starring Jennifer Lopez which grossed $157.6 million globally. Tom recently starred in the multi award-winning film Skeletons alongside Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham). Tom is the creator, producer, and writing supervisor of Greetings! From Prison, an award-winning dark comedy series starring himself along with Rusty Schwimmer (The Perfect Storm), John Reynolds (Stranger Things), and Chris Redd (Saturday Night Live). The show is a Silver Award Winner for Excellence in Internet Television (DC Webfest) and winner of Best Premise and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (LA Webfest). Tom was born to a large Irish Catholic family in Cleveland, Ohio. At 14, he began his creative work by taking music, singing, and acting classes while making small indie films and running his own radio show in Lafayette, IN. where he spent his formative years. Tom is a graduate of the world famous training centers The Second City Conservatory, The iO Theatre, Chicago's Artistic Home, and Purdue University where he was named the first recipient of their Outstanding Alumni Award in Film & Video Studies. In addition to acting, he is also a country and western singer and guitar player and drummer and is also an experienced acrylic painter. He splits his time between Los Angeles and New York City.
Ali Liebert
Ali Liebert is a Canadian Screen Award winner ("Best Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series") for her portrayal of Betty Mcrae in Reelz/Global TV's original hit series, Bomb Girls. She also won a Leo Award for the same character. In 2013, Whistler Film Festival, Elle Canada & Variety named her "Rising Star of the Festival". Variety also featured her as "International Star You Should Know" in their July issue. In 2014, the Hollywood Reporter named Ali as one of the "Next Generation 15 Hottest Canadian Talents under 35". Ali's film career has taken her to festivals across the world, most recently to South Korea for the Busan International Film Festival with Connor Gaston's crisis-of-faith drama, THE DEVOUT. Ali took home the 2016 Leo Award for 'Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture' for her role in THE DEVOUT, a mother coming to terms with her young daughters imminent passing. Her other favourite feature credits include Sook- Yin Lee's YEAR OF THE CARNIVORE (TIFF), Ben Ratner's DOWN RIVER (VIFF) and FOXFIRE (TIFF) (based on the Joyce Carol Oates novel), which was written and directed by Palme d'Or winning French filmmaker Laurent Cantet for Paris-based Memento Films International. In 2011, Ali had two films that premiered at TIFF: AFGHAN LUKE (Mike Clattenburg) and SISTERS AND BROTHERS (Carl Bessai). Ali was also extremely honoured to work alongside Academy Award Nominee Michael Clark Duncan and Emmy Award Nominee Loretta Devine in the Robert Townsend dramatic feature, IN THE HIVE. In 2017, Ali was also thrilled to be a part of Stephen Chbosky's WONDER, starring Julia Roberts and Jacob Trembley. Her favorite Television Credits include: Bomb Girls (Global), MechX4 (DisneyXD), Lost Girl (Syfy), Ten Days in the Valley (ABC), iZombie (CW), Legends of Tomorrow (CW), Harper's Island (CBC) and and Strange Empire and Intelligence, both on the CBC. With her extensive experience as an actor (85 credits to her name) and producer (AFTERPARTY, Whistler Film Festival & COOKING WITH LOVE, Hallmark Channel), Ali's creative evolution to directing is a natural one. Having completed principal photography on her first movie, AMISH ABDUCTION, in December 2018, Ali is in prep for her second film. Alongside her producing partner, Ali has multiple projects in active development and plans to continue directing and producing her own projects. Ali splits her time between Vancouver, Toronto & Los Angeles. You can find her at @aliliebert on instagram & twitter. - IMDb
Ruth Lawrence
Ruth Lawrence is a filmmaker based in St. John’s, NL. Ruth’s feature films include Little Orphans (Best Canadian Feature, Whistler Film Festival 2020), Hopeless Romantic (2018), and the comedy feature, Party Pirate, sold-out its opening Gala overnight at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival in October 2023. Her documentaries A Lot of Love in the Room (2021) and Circus by Komatik (2019) have been featured on CBC Gem. She has directed, written, and/or produced on over 70 short films and webisodes. She’s writing two features, one with Sherry White and one with Emily Bridger. Ruth’s honours include the Joan Orenstein Best Actress Award, the RBC Michelle Jackson Award for Emerging Filmmaker, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council’s Artist of the Year, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the YWCA Woman of Distinction, a WIFT-AT WAVE Award, the national Leslie Yeo Award for Volunteerism, and the inaugural Ross Leslie Award for her contributions to film and theatre.