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ROUNDTABLES

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PANELS

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NETWORKING

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FOOD + DRINK

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ROUNDTABLES • PANELS • NETWORKING • FOOD + DRINK •

ROUNDTABLES. PANELS. NETWORKING. FOOD + DRINK.

The inaugural Latin Forum was able to bring the Film + TV industry to the Latin community. For our second year we want to bring the Canadian media industry to the Latin community.

Focusing on amplifying Latin voices in media and bringing the industry to our doorstep. Panel discussions on how to reach a Latin American audience, creating in the new age, and working across sectors.

Breakout roundtable meetings for attendees to have small group discussions with major organizations and companies across the industry including CBC, Telefilm, Neshama Entertainment, Ontario Creates, Toronto Arts Council, and more.

SCHEDULE OF THE DAY

9:00 AM Registration

10:00 AM Opening Remarks

10:30 AM “How Latin Canadian Creatives Can Reach A Latin American Audience'“ Panel Discussion, followed by Q&A

11:30 AM “Creating In The New Age” Panel Discussion, followed by Q&A

12:30 PM Lunch

1:30 PM “Working Across Sectors” Panel Discussion, followed by Q&A

2:30 PM Roundtable Networking

4:00 PM Fireside Chat with Manuel Rodriguez Saenz

5:00 PM Networking Mixer

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

HOW LATIN CANADIAN CREATIVES

CAN REACH A LATIN AMERICAN AUDIENCE

  • Diana Sanchez

    MODERATOR
    Executive Director

    Hot Docs

  • Leandro Matos

    Screenwriter

  • José Rosales

    Toronto Metropolitan University

  • Andrea Giusti

    Andrea Giusti

    Producer

  • Jaime Escallon-Buraglia

    Writer, Director, Showrunner

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

  • Diana Sanchez has over 25 years experience in the International and Canadian film industry. She has held positions at many international film festivals, including TIFF, both as Senior Director of Film, and as an International Programmer. Diana has worked in many film and cultural organizations, including the Madrid Film Archive, Rotterdam Film Festival, Miami Film Festival, Los Angeles Latino Film Festival (LALIFF) and the IFF Panama where she was the Founding Artistic Director. A life-long learner and educator, Diana has an MA in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto where she teaches undergraduates. Her most recent series, Vertiginous Visions: Cinematic Encounters With Rapid Change (co-programmed with Jennifer Baichwal) is currently playing at the MAST Foundation in Bologna.

  • Leandro Matos is a Brazilian screenwriter with several credits in film and television. He worked with major names in the industry, such as 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company, Comedy Central, and Netflix, writing in 15 tv series and 5 feature films. 

    His latest feature, Desapega!, was one of the top 10 box office hits of 2023 and was nominated as Comedy of the Year at the 2024 Brazilian Academy Awards. Leandro recently won the 2024 Brazilian Writers Guild Award for Best Writing on a Kids/Teen series for his work in Aruna’s Magic, a Disney Plus original series. His first Canadian feature, Lemonade, is currently in early financing stage, and he is developing a new series with an Emmy nominated producer of What We Do in the Shadows.

    His other credits in cinema include 20th Century Studios’ My Perfect Family,In Therapy 2, Apaixonados – O Filme, and Love.com, available on Netflix worldwide. Among his TV writing credits are All the Same…Or Not, also for Disney Plus, the Brazilian version of Drunk History for Comedy Central and Netflix’s Samantha!. He began his writing career in the comedy series Cilada, one of the most popular shows on Brazilian television at the time. He created the comedy series Os Figuras and De Cabelo em Pé, and the head writer of If I Were You the Series, a big success at Fox. During his career, he managed to work in all stages of production, from financing to casting, production, post and even marketing. 

    Besides his writing career, Leandro has been a working in film festivals and industry related events for the last 17 years. He produces the Brazil Film Fest Toronto and is a curator for the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival. He is also a programmer at Access Canada Media, helping to invite and bring to Canada speakers from all around the world to many events, such as Content Canada, Primetime and the Black Screen Office Symposium. 

    Leandro immigrated to Canada in 2018 looking to have a chance in his career, focusing on character-driven stories. He is a member of the Writers Guild of Canada, the Canadian Academy and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

  • José Rosales is an educator, media producer, and consultant with a double master’s in Media Production and Business Administration from TMU. He created the documentary and community platform Hablemos de Cine, El Salvador, and has managed high-value portfolios for global brands like Udemy, Five9, and Red Cross Canada. As a lecturer in TMU’s Master of Media Production program, José mentors emerging creatives, guiding them from concept development to pitch-ready projects. His queer-centric short films—recognized by TIFF TOP TEN and other major festivals—have screened across Canada, Central America, and the U.S., demonstrating his ability to craft impactful, global narratives.a

  • Andrea Giusti is a producer with over 18 years of experience, having released 20 shows across various formats, including feature films, drama series, unscripted series, and documentaries. She has collaborated with major players like Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Discovery, YTO Original, and Globo. Her productions have won awards at Sundance, MIPTV, and MIPCOM.

    Specializing in co-productions and international partnerships, Andrea has worked on co-productions with Brazil, including “Garcia” (Colombia), “Post Mortem” (Chile), and “Hijos de la Ruta” (Mexico). She is currently involved in a development co-production with France and Uruguay or Canada. Andrea regularly attends major international film festivals and co-production markets, fostering long-term media partnerships. Additionally, she served as a jury member for Panamá’s Concurso Fondo Cine 2019.

  • Jaime Escallon-Buraglia is an award-winning writer, director, and showrunner with extensive experience across five continents and nine languages. He has produced, written, and directed seven feature films, a dozen scripted series, and over 150 documentaries, including the Emmy Award-winning The Cancer Dancer.


    As a seasoned unscripted showrunner, Jaime has led notable formats like Married at First Sight, The X Factor, The 50, Deal or No Deal and Survivor. He has also created original formats such as Wendy: Still Lost But Now Famous and Medical Patrol, which won Best Format at the India Catalina Awards.


CREATING IN THE NEW AGE

  • Marita Olcese

    Media Planning Manager

  • Andres Salazar

    Underknown

  • Bruno Lyra

    Toronto Film School

  • Agustin Guevara Mastretta

    TVO

  • Augustin Quijano

    Drinkbox Studios

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

  • Marita Olcese is a seasoned media leader with more than 15 years of experience driving paid media strategy and effectiveness across Canada, the U.S., and international markets. Currently at Corus Entertainment, she leads innovative, data-driven campaigns across traditional and digital platforms. . Originally from Peru, Marita’s professional journey reflects perseverance, adaptability, and a passion for continuous learning. She is passionate about mentorship, cultural representation, and building media strategies that deliver measurable impact.

  • Andres Salazar is a documentary writer and producer with credits on TV series such as Strange Creatures and Animal Senses, which he created. He has also worked on feature documentaries like Sharkwater Extinction and Strange Creatures of the Arctic. Currently, Andres is the showrunner of the digital documentary series Animalogic, where he explores wildlife, conservation, and the natural world. With a passion for uncovering nature’s hidden stories, his work blends captivating storytelling with scientific accuracy, bringing audiences closer to the wonders of our planet.

  • Bruno S. Lyra is a media specialist who started his career as a corporate lawyer, having become the youngest partner in the history of his 70+ year firm (and with a client roster that included some of the most prominent international broadcasters, streamers, and content providers).

    Since making a career shift away from his practice, Bruno has devoted his time to: a) academic roles, which included serving as Director of the Film Production Program for the Toronto Film School and currently teaching their Contracts & Copyright in Media course; b) producing (with projects acquired by outlets such as HBO) and consulting for a variety of productions in both traditional and new media (including influencers with a 15M+ following); c) speaking engagements on media topics for high-profile institutions such as Mensa; d) screenwriting (highlights include a deal on his bilingual hour-long drama The International School).

  • Agustin Guevara is an Acquisitions Officer for TVOkids. He oversees production and development of children's shows for Ontario's public broadcaster. Some of the programs he's worked on include "Dino Dex", "All-Round Champion", "Galapagos X", among many others. Previously, he was a development executive for 9 Story Media Group where he worked on several animated properties, including "Rosie's Rules" and "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum", which feature Latino characters front and center. 

  • Augusto Quijano (also known as Cuxo) is a Mexican artist based in Toronto with over 15 years in the video game industry. As Art Director at the award-winning Drinkbox Studios, he shapes the visual direction of acclaimed titles and oversees their narrative. His solo art is bold, colourful, and rhythmic building on a unique visual language he’s developed over the years. He enjoys creating meaningful stories with other creative minds.

WORKING ACROSS SECTORS

  • Sarah Cifuentes

     Independent Consultant - Brand Partnerships & Experiential Marketing Strategy

  • Eduardo Vaisman

    Audio Director

    Ubisoft

  • Fabio Montanari

    Writer / Professor at York University

  • Jordan Loewen Colon

    Filmmaker/Game Designer/AI

  • Camila Bellido

    Account Executive / Marketing Professor

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

  • Sarah is a Toronto-based professional with 13+ years of experience driving impact across a diverse landscape of industries that intersect with community, music, sports, and culture. She has spent most of her career stepping into newly created leadership roles, focused on marketing, brand partnerships, talent relations and project management.

    Sarah has worked in various in house roles across leading edge organizations such as the Toronto Raptors, MLSE/Live Nation, Red Bull, and Soho House. Most recently, she stepped out on her own as an independent consultant, bringing her expertise and network to help brands and organizations unlock new opportunities in culture and community.


  • Eduardo Vaisman is an Argentine-Canadian audio professional with 30 years' experience. He started his audio career in the film industry, where he has credits in over 60 feature films from six different countries. Eduardo audio expertise encompasses roles from dialogue editor to re-recording mixer. In 2010, Eduardo made the leap to the game industry, joining the team at Ubisoft Toronto. Since then, Eduardo has shipped 5 AAA titles including Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist, Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6. Currently he is the Audio Director for the Splinter Cell remake.

  • Fabio Montanari is a Screenwriter and a Film Professor, who has written a number of series for top networks including Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, and National Geographic. He is the creator of Suture, a medical-thriller TV series acquired by Amazon Prime Video, which premiered in November 2024.

    As a Screenwriter and Director, Montanari’s independent work has been screened in over 50 film festivals around the world including Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and São Paulo, where he was awarded Audience Favorite. He has created content in multiple markets including in the U.S., Argentina, Venezuela, and Canada. 


    Fabio Montanari holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University in New York (Fulbright scholar). He is an Assistant Professor in Screenwriting at York University and a member of the Connected Minds Program with research on the intersections and limitations of Artificial intelligence and Screenwriting.

  • Jordan Loewen-Colón (PhD) is a Taíno poet and mixed media artist (short film and video games) who moonlights as a professor of AI Ethics and Policy at Queen’s University. He is a former ordained minister trained at Princeton Theological Seminary and studied mysticism, philosophy, and new media at Syracuse University. His current research involves transmuting Indigenous (Taíno) values and ways of knowing into emerging forms of technological and cultural consciousness. His philosophical work explores questions of reality and media, diving into how technology shapes our emotions, how emotions influence our perceptions, and how those perceptions ultimately construct the worlds we inhabit.

  • Lima-born, Montreal-raised, and Toronto-based, Camila knows what it’s like to adapt across industries. She’s currently an Account Executive at MLSE, teaches part-time marketing for indie artists at Seneca, and serves as Chair of the JUNOS R&B Committee. Her Spotify Wrapped said her top music moods were energy and bold - the same way she shows up in every project she takes on.

ROUNDTABLE NETWORKING

  • Underknown

ABOUT THE HOSTS

  • Sonja Smith is a Voiceover Casting Specialist at Backstage and joined the team remotely from Canada in August 2020. Sonja started her career as a voice actor and quickly realized her passion lies within the world of online casting. Sonja has been working in the voiceover industry for 11+ years and has assisted with casting a wide range of creative projects including national commercials, corporate communications and film + TV animation.

  • Andres Salazar is a documentary writer and producer with credits on TV series such as Strange Creatures and Animal Senses, which he created. He has also worked on feature documentaries like Sharkwater Extinction and Strange Creatures of the Arctic. Currently, Andres is the showrunner of the digital documentary series Animalogic, where he explores wildlife, conservation, and the natural world. With a passion for uncovering nature’s hidden stories, his work blends captivating storytelling with scientific accuracy, bringing audiences closer to the wonders of our planet.

  • Jayden Walters is an Associate Partner Manager at Acast Canada, where she assists podcasters with audience growth and development opportunities, and editorial content strategy. Prior to Acast, she worked as an Associate Content Producer at business media company Morning Brew, focusing on podcasting and short form video. Jayden holds a degree in Media Management from The New School.

  • As Executive in Charge of Unscripted Development Yasmine works with independent producers to develop factual and documentary programming for CBC. She also serves as a production executive on Bollywed & Locals Welcome. Prior to joining the CBC she worked within Canada’s independent production sector for 20 years.

  • Anna Newallo has three decades of experience in the Film and TV industry. As a Program Consultant at Ontario Creates, her portfolio includes the IP Fund (Feature Film Production) and Marketing and Distribution Initiative. As a producer, her award-winning independent films have played major international festivals, and as a writer, her short stories have appeared in numerous publications and her debut novel was released spring 2024. Prior to joining Ontario Creates, she worked on projects for The Disney Channel, CTV, Discovery Channel, CBC, TMN (now Crave), CityTV and BRAVO.

  • Justine is currently the Director of Culture and Strategic Planning for CBC Unscripted.  She is responsible for leading the equity and inclusion work within her department from data collection to initiatives that focus on increasing representation within the unscripted community. Some of the programs she has led include The Insiders’ Guide to Science and Nature Filmmaking, AccessCBC and Creating Connections, a collaboration with BIPOC TV & Film.

  • Vinuja Shanthasoruban is a Tamil-Canadian producer, and actor from Scarborough who is passionate about uplifting underrepresented voices and increasing their access to the entertainment industry. As a Director of Development at Neshama, she's responsible for sourcing, developing and pitching concepts for Neshama's growing slate of projects. Vinuja is also an alumni of the Reelworld Producer Program and has worked on projects such as True Dating Stories (CBC) and Someone Lives Here (Hot Docs).

  • Mark is the Associate Manager and Climate Lens Facilitator at the Independent Production Fund.

  • Tina Apostolopoulos-Moniz is a force in unscripted storytelling, with decades of experience and hundreds of hours of buzz-worthy, award-winning content to her name. At Lark, she helps shape the strategy and slate for standout factual, reality, and documentary programmes. During her tenure at Bell Media, she championed audience favourites like MasterChef Canada, Farming for Love, and Mary Makes It Easy, while leading Crave’s acclaimed feature doc slate, including Anthropocene and Once Were Brothers. Earlier in her career, Tina was behind the lens on fan favourites So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Canadian Idol, and Project Runway Canada.

  • Program Manager, Visual & Media Arts

  • Jake Burling is a production executive at Elevation Pictures, Canada's largest indie distributor and producer of creator-driven, commercially-minded content.

  • Dillon Taylor got his start in the television industry 12 years ago after graduating from the Writing and Producing for Television program at Humber College. He joined Shaftesbury in 2013 working for Smokebomb Entertainment and has amassed a wealth of experience across the entirety of the production process, from development to post-production and delivery. He has produced several Shaftesbury digital productions including CLAIREvoyant, and Falconette, and has written for, directed, edited, completed visual effects, and creative produced Clearwater Kids Challenge, What the Stink?, Maker Space, Emerald Code: Decoded, The Infinite Worlds of Ella Jane, the Youth Media Alliance Award winning STEAM Stars, and the Kidscreen award winning Solutioneers, among others. He is currently a Development Executive in the Prime Time

  • Shenaz Baksh is the director of Screen Industry Training Hub (SITHub), a creative screen industry training company and Epic Games Unreal Authorized Training Partner based in Toronto. SITHub offers leading-edge training solutions in Filmmaking, Television Production, Video Game Production and Extended Reality for professional and community organizations, companies and educational institutions. Annually, their team designs and delivers 200+ workshops, community projects and micro-credentials that impact thousands of local and international artists. SITHub focuses on innovative tools and technologies, collaborates with partners to promote inclusive opportunities and prioritizes cultivation of the next leading storytellers. Selected organizations include Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), IM4 Media Lab, New Media Manitoba (NMM), OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC), Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario (DGC), Canadian Cinema Editors (CCE), Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC). With over two decades in film and television production and screen industries education, Shenaz's leadership champions access and skill development for underrepresented communities, fosters organizational growth and supports industry workforce development. Email: info@sithub.ca and Web: www.sithub.ca

  • Luisa is a Colombian-born film executive, diversity advocate, and filmmaker. She is currently the Manager: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at ACTRA Toronto. Her previous work includes TIFF and Warner Bros. where she advocated for and created programs to support diversity and inclusion in the industry.

  • Jasmine Rach is a journalist, podcast producer and the business development manager at Lead Podcasting in Toronto, where she leads client relations and supports business growth. Jasmine specializes in helping brands and organizations create, produce, and distribute successful podcasts from concept to launch. With over 5 years of experience, she combines storytelling expertise with technical precision to help build podcasts that engage audiences, win awards, and achieve brand goals.

  • Lori Chodos has worked at Telefilm Canada on the Canada Media Fund Program Administration team since 2018. Prior to that she worked in documentary and narrative production in Toronto, New York and Lima, Peru.

  • As Vice President, Scripted Development for Lionsgate Canada, Andrew runs the studio’s scripted development slate with an eye towards selling into the domestic Canadian marketplace and securing global co-production opportunities. With series sold to ABC, Amazon, CBC, CTV, CityTV, Disney+, Global, Netflix, Starz, SyFy, Hallmark, and The CW, Andrew brings both his passion for storytelling and his knowledge of the ever-evolving marketplace into every pitch.

    A creative-first exec, he loves rolling up his sleeves with writers and shepherding bold voices to deliver entertaining, commercial series with distinct points-of-view. Ever on the lookout for both original creative and noisy IP, Andrew takes pride in the strong relationships he’s built with emerging and experienced talent founded on creative collaboration.

    Andrew has spoken on panels and participated in juries at All Access Manitoba, Banff World Media Festival, Nova Scotia Content Market, Prime Time Ottawa, the Canadian Film Centre, Content Canada, Content London, MediaCon Dublin, Scripted NYC, WattCon, Queen’s Media Conference, Humber College, and Toronto Metropolitan University.

  • Matheus is a seasoned IT professional with 16 years of experience who has successfully transitioned from a founder of a gaming company to a manager in a global tech company. Currently, Matheus leads a team of partner engineers at YouTube, where they collaborate with major media and entertainment partners across Canada and Latin America to help them achieve their business goals. His expertise lies in leveraging technology to drive business goals through strategic partnerships, product adoption, and technical solutions.

  • Item descriptionAn accomplished media industry leader with recent experience as a scripted development executive with Bell Media’s original programming team. Prior to this Williamson oversaw the primetime scripted division at Blue Ant Studios (Saloon Media) as Senior Vice President of Scripted.

    A Winnipeg-born executive producer who frequently collaborates with international co-producers and buyers in the USA, Latin America, and Europe, including Apple+, The CW, Roku, Ellen Pompeo’s Calamity Jane (US), and StoryFirst Media (UK). Based in Toronto, Williamson possesses extensive experience creating, packaging, and financing television content for the Canadian market including Bell Media, CBC, Corus, and APTN.

    Williamson launched her media career in Los Angeles with Blueprint Entertainment before joining Entertainment One’s scripted television division in 2008. Subsequently became President of Pier 21 Films, overseeing numerous shows including the Bell Media (CTV, Comedy Network) series, The Beaverton.