EMILY WELDON

Emily Weldon is a passionate film festival producer and independent filmmaker born and raised in the Vancouver area. She has worked in event production with some of Vancouver’s top film events, such as Crazy8s, VIFF, Whistler Film Festival, and many more. A staff member of VSFF since 2017, Emily has been a part of the festival’s growth and successes over the last four years, and looks forward to continuing to strengthen VSFF as a key platform for BC artists to showcase their work. She is a graduate of UBC’s BFA Creative Writing program. 

NICOLAS AYERBE BARONA

Nicolas Ayerbe Barona from Colombia, has been working independently as a producer in Vancouver since finishing his studies in film at UBC and the CDM. He has produced several shorts like A-Yi (streaming now on CBC GEM), The Quieting for Crazy8s, commercials (like one with John Cena), and a feature film: Cadence, which won the Must See Audience Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2016. He regularly volunteers in the local chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada; and works at the National Film Board. He was previously in charge of Sponsorships at the VSFF.

KRISTYN STILLING

CHAIR OF THE BOARD

Born and raised in the lower mainland Kristyn Stilling has immersed herself into the Canadian film community. She works full time as a Production Coordinator at the National Film Board Vancouver office and is also the Shorts Programmer at the Whistler Film Festival, Programming Director for the webisode festival VanChan, and the Chair of the Board for VSFF. Additionally for the past 2 years she has been a Co-Producer with Crazy8s Film Society, producing 12 short films all made within 8 days. 

GRACE CHIN

GENERAL DIRECTOR

Grace Chin produces, writes, edits, and acts. Based in Vancouver, BC's cultural and creative industries, she co-founded the Pan-Asian Staged Reading Society and its script development platform, Scripting Aloud; is General Manager of Ruby Slippers Theatre; and is on the board of Vancouver Short Film Festival. She is a Playwrights Guild of Canada and UBCP/ACTRA member, and a marketing content specialist. She was Festival Director of Vancouver Asian Film Festival, and has served on various boards, juries, and panels, including for Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre and Crazy8s. Grace is googleable.

MARENA DIX

GENERAL DIRECTOR

Marena Dix is an award winning film producer from Victoria, BC. After graduating with a diploma in Entertainment Business Management from Vancouver Film School she has produced multiple short films and web series in Vancouver and the lower mainland. She has been involved in the short film festival since 2013 in varying roles.

ROBIN CHAN

TREASURER

Robin has been producing content for film and television for over a decade. He has produced short films, music videos, promotional videos and the feature films “Lucky Stars” (2002) and “The Hollow Child” (2017). His recent work includes: “Joanna Makes a Friend” (2011) winner of the Audience Choice Awards at TIFF.kid Toronto International Film Festival and “Anxious Oswald Greene” (2014) winner of the Best Short Film Award at the LA Comedy Festival and multiple Leo Awards. Robin is the principle
of Like Minded Media.

FORMAN HOWES

SECRETARY

Forman Howes teaches video production and animation at the Byng Arts high school program in Vancouver. For fifteen years he has helped young filmmakers develop their skills and launch their careers. His student’s films have won awards at festivals all over North America. As part of his program he has written and directed four short films, and one feature, while mentoring his students. He looks forward to helping continue the tradition at the Vancouver Short Film Festival.

PAUL ARMSTRONG

OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Paul Armstrong is an award-winning Vancouver film, television and theatre producer with over 25 film producing credits including both feature and short form. Paul is the founder, programmer and producer of The Celluloid Social Club, a monthly screening of short films, and is the Executive Director of Crazy8s, the 8 day filmmaking challenge running since 1999.

SASHA DUNCAN

Sasha is a writer, educator, and independent filmmaker with a background in both micro-budget indies and kids' animation. She currently teaches young artists Career Prep at Vancouver Film School, offers workshops on stress-management, boundary-setting, and being a better human, and script coverage, analysis, and critique. Sasha is passionate about social justice, thrifted vintage, and keeping her plant children alive. She holds a diploma in Writing for Film & Television from VFS and a B.A. in Sociology from UBC.