Five Filmmakers Selected for 2023 Whistler Content Summit + Film Festival Delegation

Toronto-based filmmakers Andrew Chung, Tamara Gobez Dawit and Amir Kiani, along with Newfoundland-based filmmaker Jessica Brown and Vancouver’s Shakil Jessa, are heading to Whistler, BC, from November 29th to December 3rd. The five will be joined by BIPOC TV & Film Community Engagement Manager Ashutosh Sharma.

Amir Kiani is an Iranian-born former journalist and alumnus of Staffordshire University and Asian Film Academy. After graduating from film school and making short films in Iran, he moved to Ottawa to pursue his fine arts and cinema education.

Jessica Brown is a Nunatsiavut Inuk producer, director, and writer based in St. John’s, NL, who advocates for Indigenous representation and has received prestigious awards for her exceptional talent.

Andrew Chung is a writer/director whose films have been broadcast on CBC, Superchannel, and Fuse. His film, Ma, won Best Short at Reel Asian. His feature, White Elephant, won Best Feature at Reelworld and the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.

Shakil Jessa is a writer/director/producer from Vancouver specializing in creating authentic character-driven portrayals of young adults, queer people, and South Asians on screen.

Tamara Mariam Dawit is an Ethiopian-Canadian filmmaker boasting EAVE and Berlinale Talents alumni status, alongside fellowships from TIFF and Logan.

Each filmmaker will receive a delegate pass to attend the Whistler Content Summit + Film Festival taking place in BC from November 29 to December 3, early access to WFF industry programs (including priority registration for at least one 1-1 meeting), an invitation to participate in an exclusive Prepping for Whistler virtual session, and complimentary three nights accommodation. This opportunity is made possible through our Festival and Market Access Initiative and the generous support of the Inspirit Foundation.

This is the second year BIPOC TV & Film has been able to support a delegation for the Whistler Content Summit + Film Festival. In 2022, four filmmakers—Jessica To, Jenny-Lee Gilmore, Rana Sowdaey, and Miriam Van Emst—were selected, thanks to support from the Canada Media Fund.