Page Text: MEREDITH LEARY.
Secretary.
April 13, 2021. As a lover of arts and culture, you can often find Meredith at events, festivals, or touring local museums. She is passionate about connecting with people, building relationships, and creating exceptional experiences. Meredith is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Arts and Cultural Management program and is currently utilizing her arts administration skills as the Program Lead at the Alberta Museums Association. She is excited to work with EIFFS to help support amazing film artists. A movie she still thinks about is ANGRY INUK (Dir: Alethea Arnaquq-Baril) – a beautiful look at the central role of seal hunting in the lives of the Inuit.
OLIVIA FUNG.
Director
April 13, 2021. Olivia became involved with EIFFS in 2013, strategizing and contributing to the festival's social media platform. Working as a local architect, she believes film to be a great source of inspiration for idea expression as well as a reflection of the times. Outside of designing beautiful spaces for her clients, Olivia has also volunteered time to several local organizations through blog writing and event planning/hosting. As a passionate patron and volunteer, she is dedicated to spreading the word about the festival's selections of emerging filmmakers and cinema. She still thinks about CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Dir: Luca Guadagnino) which, by the way, Olivia saw in-theatre at the Edmonton International Film Festival.
KAVIS REED.
Director
April 13, 2021. A graduate of Furman University in South Carolina, Kavis has called Edmonton home since 1995. Back then, he was a Defensive Back with the Edmonton Eskimos, a passionate supporter, and participant, of their ‘Stay In School’ program, with dreams of working in medicine. Enter forks in the road. He has worked with seven (7) CFL teams across the country, including the Edmonton Eskimos as Head Coach. His first introduction to EIFFS was as ‘Celebrity Guest’ at the festival’s 24/One Filmmaker Challenge in 2015. He threw down the sentence for filmmakers to incorporate in their films… “You can’t protect the corner route”. Kavis is excited to bring his business savvy to EIFFS. Favorite movie? A FEW GOOD MEN. “This star-filled movie satisfied my appetite for military and legal action plots. The outcome was unexpected. Truly engaging from start to finish,” writes Kavis Reed.
MIKE LUPIEN.
President
2016. When Mike isn’t busy with the day to day operation of his public relations consultancy and contracting service, he is providing his talents and knowledge to organizations with a story to tell like the Edmonton International Film Festival. A film maker in his younger days, Mike is interested in opportunities to appreciate films or be involved in the industry in some way. Mike and his wife support many local organizations particularly in the Arts, Education and within their community. They have four children who keep them busy from sunrise to sunset, and maybe a little more after that. Mike is an accredited member of the Canadian Public Relations Society. Most recent favourite movie: ABOUT TIME (Dir: Hyung Shik Kim).
yonathan sumamo.
Director.
In South Side Edmonton, born and raised, on the playground was where he spent most of his days! As a lifelong Edmontonian, Yonathan is a proud booster for our City, and that means being an active supporter of his favourite festival in Festival City -- EIFF! By day, Yonathan works in public affairs, supporting organizations to advocate for their key priorities. Working with a national firm, he provides media relations, marketing and government relations and engagement support. A passionate volunteer, Yonathan is also on the board of directors for the Art Galley of Alberta, a policy committee member with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the President's Advisory Committee for the Edmonton Stingers. Yonathan has volunteered with EIFF for years, and is eager to continue to connect Edmonton with this incredible festival -- where movie-lovers and movie-makers meet. Favourite movie you might ask? Well, let me tell you about "Shark Attack 3: Megalodon"...but seriously, it would have to be Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."
WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR OUR NEXT CALL FOR APPLICATIONS.
yonathan sumamo.
Vice-President.
In South Side Edmonton, born and raised, on the playground was where he spent most of his days! As a lifelong Edmontonian, Yonathan is a proud booster for our City, and that means being an active supporter of his favourite festival in Festival City -- EIFF! By day, Yonathan works in public affairs, supporting organizations to advocate for their key priorities. Working with a national firm, he provides media relations, marketing and government relations and engagement support. A passionate volunteer, Yonathan is also on the board of directors for the Art Galley of Alberta, a policy committee member with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the President's Advisory Committee for the Edmonton Stingers. Yonathan has volunteered with EIFF for years, and is eager to continue to connect Edmonton with this incredible festival -- where movie-lovers and movie-makers meet. Favourite movie you might ask? Well, let me tell you about "Shark Attack 3: Megalodon"...but seriously, it would have to be Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."
Dany le.
Treasurer
February 27, 2018. Dany is a Partner at MNP LLP and lead’s the Business Valuation and Litigation Support practice in Edmonton. Dany focuses on learning about all local businesses and helping clients. Dany was born and raised in Edmonton and spends his free time playing in the city's ball hockey leagues, being in the presence of live music and staying on top of movies. Dany has attended the festival for years and now looks forward to working with EIFFS to grow its presence. “The older you get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin' man, L-I-V-I-N.” — Wooderson (DAZED AND CONFUSED, 1993).
HILARY ANAKA.
Director
April 13, 2021. Hilary is a professional communicator and supports a diverse mix of local and national clients through her consulting business. She’s passionate about eradicating corporate-speak – no mention of synergies, laser focus or circling back, please. She is a community do-gooder and supports many local causes every year. After serving on the boards of YWCA Edmonton and the Edmonton chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Hilary is thrilled to join the EIFFS Board and be part of this YEG institution. During the pandemic in 2020-2021, Hilary dived into movies as a way to transport her to far-off destinations, in lieu of actually being there.
Sydney moule.
Executive Producer
Sydney MOULE has had a long history with the Edmonton International Film Festival Society and EIFF. In 2004, Ms. Moule began volunteering – who recalls seeing her wear a sandwich board on Whyte Avenue, in an effort to woo hockey fans into theatres at a time when the players were on strike? Flash forward to 2010. Sydney joins Team EIFF as a Programmer. Since then she has taken on a variety of roles and continues to be a beacon of guidance in the evolution of EIFF, bringing exciting live events and galas together with thoughtful programming, Sydney’s mission for EIFF is to grow its audience while engaging them with films and events that are vital to our growing arts community. She loves an indie comedy or tear-jerker drama, but above-all she is passionate about the Alberta film industry and all the local talent it helps to foster!
VINCENT BRULOTTE.
Artistic Director
An avid film-lover who commits to seeing as many EIFF films as possible, we feel privileged that Vincent BRULOTTE officially joined Team EIFF in 2020. His passion is programming, however his talents are endless and he’s beyond excited to bring fresh ideas to enhance the festival ‘experience’ for audiences and filmmakers. Interested in finding new and exciting voices in filmmaking, he’s driven by stories both international and local, with a strong interest in voices from the LGBTQ+ community and from filmmakers of color. Most of all, he simply loves movies, and believes a good story comes from anywhere and everywhere. Ask him “What’s your favorite place in the entire world?” and he’ll answer without skipping a beat… “Sitting inside a movie theatre.”
meet our Team.
KERRIE LONG.
Program Director
Since 2004, Kerrie LONG has managed the daily duties required to produce a film festival – raising funds, grant writing, sponsorship, leading the production and programming teams, working with the EIFFS volunteer Board of Directors, balancing the budget, the list goes on – all while multiplying life by the power of two, being a Mom, a Kookum, a Wife, and an Auntie. In her previous life, Kerrie was a writer and producer with ACCESS Television and a freelance Producer/Production Manager with many television credits. She grew up in Vegreville, Alberta, daughter of dairy farmers. “EIFF films I still think about are WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY (2006) and LUCKY (2017).”
kailla maclellan.
Production Manager
Pronounced KAY-LA (like LA LA LAND), Kailla MacLELLAN’s journey with EIFF also began as a volunteer, then in 2014, opportunity knocked, and she stepped through the door. Kailla tackles all the ‘less glamorous’ work – front of house, signage, set dressing, filmmaker needs, financial reporting, the list goes on. Her previous experience in scheduling with various Security companies and her love of numbers makes her a wizard on the Excel front and with a background in film production, she’s our double-feature. Whether on-set, or in an office, in pre-production, ZOOM’ing or on the ground, Kailla is the one person who is completely calm, smiling, and prepared for whichever way the world wants to tilt on any given day.
OFFICE HOURS & LOCATION
Suite #201, 10816A – 82 Avenue
EDMONTON | Alberta | T6E 2B3 | Canada
P: +1.780.423.0844 | E: info@edmontonfilmfest.com