TEAM
- Catherine MacKinnon, Festival Director/Filmmaker
- Frank Folino, Associate Director
- Jill Andrew, Director of Media Relations
- Shanna R. Kelly, Director of Marketing
- Kelly Halligan, Arts & Entertainment Manager
- Jeri Cripps, Program Designer
CATHERINE MACKINNON, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR/FILMMAKER
Catherine’s award-winning film “I’m Not From Hear” was shown at 20 different film festivals. (2003) She worked in many productions including short films, television, documentaries and feature films, as a producer, co-producer, production coordinator, consultant and director. As a performer, Catherine participated in Vagina Monologues, with Vanessa Vaughan, Rachel McAdams and Shirley Douglas as well as provided atmospheric vocals in a feature film “Silent Hill” starring Sean Bean, Radha Mitchell, and Jodelle Ferland. Her feature film as a Co-Producer “HAMILL” a biopic of real life UFC Fighter, Matt Hamill, starring Russell Harvard, Shoshannah Stern, et al, recently won a AFI Fest Breakthrough Audience Award in Los Angeles.
Her recent acting gig was in a comedy-improv show “Kenny vs Spenny”. She also performed with the ensemble, “Voices of Chornobyl”, a Co production of Deaf West Theatre and Anataeus Theater.Catherine was recently performed with an ensemble cast “ASImprov” at DeafWest Theatre led by Tyrone Giordano. Catherine is a co-founder and a Festival Director of Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival. She is currently attached on a documentary “Rise From the Ashes” with co directors, Renny and Bellamie Harvard, and in post production of “Transients”. Catherine graduated from Ryerson University School of Image Arts with a BFA in Film Studies.
FRANK FOLINO, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Frank Folino was born Deaf in Toronto and he graduated with Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science at York University with his research fields relating to the political economy and political power on Canadian federalism.
He joined Pride Toronto, a not-for-profit organization that hosts Pride Week, an annual festival held during the first weekend of July in downtown Toronto. Pride Toronto exists to celebrate the history, courage, diversity and future of Toronto’s LGBTTIQQ2SA communities and is one of the leading cultural events of its kind in the world with a total economic benefit in 2009 of $136 million. His work at Pride Toronto is Human Rights Coordinator is to manage the Global Human Rights for Queers: What OUT is About program through events management, program development and logistics management. In addition to his work at Pride Toronto, he is Vice President for the Canadian Association of the Deaf, a not-for-profit organization that promote and protect the rights, needs, and concerns of those who are linguistically and culturally Deaf across Canada who are ASL/English and LSQ/French.
He received the volunteer award from Festivals and Events of Ontario (FEO) in March 2010, an organization that promotes economic tourism in Ontario for his huge efforts in promoting Pride Toronto and he also received Ontario Volunteer Service Awards from Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration in June 2010 for his volunteer recognition in the Province of Ontario.
In his role as an Associate Director: Sponsorship, Development and Finance, he is responsible for all sources of revenue for the Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival and brings a fresh new strategy to achieve the festival goal.
JILL ANDREW, DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS
Jill Andrew BEd, MA, PhD (c.) is thrilled to be on board with TIDFAF providing media relations and sponsorship support! Jill is an award-winning journalist, social sciences, drama, equity, media awareness feminist educator and events host. Jill is the producer of Curvy Catwalk Fashion Fundraiser, BITE ME! Toronto Int’l Body Image Film & Arts Festival, Dining with Dames Girls Leadership & Mentorship Program and other creative projects. Jill’s TV appearances have included City TV, OMNI, ET Canada with print in Metro, Star, Vervegirl and T.O. Night Newspaper etc. Jill has been recognized as the Michele Landsberg Media Activism Award and the Endless Possibilities African-Canadian Women’s Award recipient among others. In 2010 Jill was 1 of 120 Canadian women hand picked by then Governor General Michaëlle Jean to participate in her and Canada’s first ever Governor General’s Conference on Women’s Security at Rideau Hall. In her off time Jill is obsessed with lottery scratch tickets and cats and one day plans to host not only a talk show and a girls success institute but to run a million dollar cat sanctuary. She’s got too many movies she loves to list a favourite but Dirty Dancing is definitely near the top. “No body puts baby in a corner!” www.bitemefilmfest.com
SHANNA R. KELLY, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Shanna R. Kelly is both owner/creative director of nine one one maxim studios and a fervent supporter of the arts. Having studied theatre arts and graduating with honors in creative design, in addition to working with several film producers and arts festivals makes Shanna the perfect candidate for the Director of Marketing position she holds with Toronto International Deaf Film & Arts Festival.
Creating and managing campaigns that consist of advertising in multiple formats over various types of media, is Shanna’s passion: ensuring the technical details are spot on is a must. Balancing the creative with the essential message is an art on its own. One of Shanna’s favorite quotes is from Miyoko Ohno, a Japanese bridge designer, “Balance is beautiful.”
KELLY HALLIGAN, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MANAGER
Born in Toronto, Kelly Halligan graduated From Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA with a B.F.A in Illustration. She is currently a freelance Illustrator & artist. In the past, Kelly had been illustrated for few children’s books.
Her current role as Film Jury Coordination, Film Selection & Coordination, Arts Selection & Coordination, and new ideas to Arts & Entertainment, i.e: create a diversity of film festival selections.
JERI CRIPPS, PROGRAM DESIGNER
I have a BAH in Studio Art from University of Guelph. I am currently a freelance graphic designer while working as a supply teacher at Ernest C. Drury School for the Deaf. I am a creative design professional with a solid track record of achievement in graphic design, advertising, marketing communications, publications, packaging, printing and distribution. I enjoy taking on a broad range of responsibilities, seeing projects through to successful conclusions.