May 31 - June 9, 2024
VSFF
TEAM
Each year, Vancouver Short Film Festival is produced by a team of passionate film-loving organizers who donate countless hours to producing our annual celebration of Canadian short-form works, as well as year-round festival operations.
Board of Directors
Kristyn Stilling
She/Her
Chair of the Board
Born and raised in the Semiahmoo Nation (White Rock, BC, Canada) Kristyn Stilling has immersed herself into the Canadian film community as an independent Producer with over 10 years of experience. Her first feature film, Golden Delicious, premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival in Oct 2022 and has screened at over 15 festivals. Kristyn’s 2020 short film, FREYA, won 5 Leo Awards in 2021 including Best Short Film. FREYA sold to CBC Gem and the Dust channel where it has 40K views. Kristyn is also the Chair of the Vancouver Short Film Festival and has previously worked for such prestigious organizations as the National Film Board of Canada, eOne, Whistler Film Festival, Crazy8s Film Society, and Kickstart Entertainment. IMBD
Forman Howes
He/Him
Secretary
Forman Howes teaches video production and animation at the Byng Arts high school program in Vancouver. For twenty 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, including the VSFF. As part of his program he has written and directed four short films and one feature as a way to provide a mentorship experience for his students. He looks forward to continuing the tradition of excellence at the Vancouver Short Film Festival.
Paul Armstrong
He/Him
Outreach Director
Paul Armstrong is an award-winning Vancouver film, television and theatre producer with over 75 film producing credits including both short form as well as feature films including Lawrence & Holloman and Cool Daddy. Paul is also the founder, programmer and producer of The Celluloid Social Club, an in-person screening series of short films, and from 2013-2022 was an Executive Director of Crazy8s, the 8 day short filmmaking challenge. Paul has been on the Board of the Vancouver Short Film Festival since its inception.
Marena Dix
She/Her
General Director
Marena Dix is an award winning filmmaker from Vancouver, BC. After beginning her career 10 years ago in producing short film, she found her calling in Post Production and has since gone on to Supervise for Hallmark to Netflix. As a passionate member of the Vancouver film industry, Marena also serves on the board for both GEMS and VSFF. She previously directed the Vancouver Short Film Festival from 2016 - 2020 and has returned to the role for the 2024 season.
Grace Chin
She/Her
General Director
Grace Chin produces, writes, edits, and acts. Based in Vancouver, BC's cross-cultural and creative industries, she co-founded the Pan-Asian Staged Reading Society and its script development platform, Scripting Aloud; is the Executive Director of Crazy8s; and is General Manager of Ruby Slippers Theatre. 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.
Javier Badillo
He/Him
General Director
Javier Badillo is a Venezuelan-Canadian film producer, writer and director, and owner of the production company Spitshine Flicks. He was the Director of Programming of the Vancouver Short Film Festival from 2012 to 2019. After directing more than a dozen short films, Javier released his feature-length debut, the crowdfunded war drama ROADS OF ITHRIYAH, in 2022. His second feature film as a producer is ENMANUEL (2023), a documentary which follows a Venezuelan refugee family in Colombia. In his free time, Javier enjoys long walks on the beach and saving kittens.
Melanie Jones
They/Them
General Director
Based in Vancouver, Melanie is an award-winning filmmaker of over a dozen short films, including the Crazy 8’s Comedy, Shuttlecock. Melanie’s first feature FSM earned them a Leo nomination for Best Directing and they are an alumnus of numerous talent labs including the TIFF Writer’s Studio, Women in the Director’s Chair, and Reykjavik Talent Lab.
Festival Co-Directors
Marena Dix
She/Her
Festival Co-Director
Marena Dix is an award winning filmmaker from Vancouver, BC. After beginning her career 10 years ago in producing short film, she found her calling in Post Production and has since gone on to Supervise for Hallmark to Netflix. As a passionate member of the Vancouver film industry, Marena also serves on the board for both GEMS and VSFF. She previously directed the Vancouver Short Film Festival from 2016 - 2020 and has returned to the role for the 2024 season.
Duncan Carr
He/They
Festival Co-Director
Duncan Carr is a Scottish-Canadian film producer and screenwriter. He is an LCFA alumni who dabbles in finance and production logistics. He works as a Producer, Production Manager and 1st AD for independent films and as a Production Assistant and Health & Safety Manager on network television. He brings years of experience in event coordination and non-profit management. He is committed to combating the erasure of Canadian-created content. He loves bringing people together to play board games and tabletop roleplaying games.