SDP Participants

Esinam Kosi Agamah brings her trailblazing spirit and unquenchable thirst for innovation to every project she works on. Anchored by a bachelor’s degree in psychology and mass communications from York University, she has orchestrated corporate travel experiences at American Express and elevated festival red carpets and fan zone interactions at the Toronto International Film Festival. During her tenure at Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s celebrated annual arts event, she orchestrated captivating citywide art transformations, collaborating with artists to bring their visions to life. In 2023, Esinam expanded her professional portfolio again, in the role of a talent producer trainee for The Legacy Awards.

Toronto-native Rashayn Alexander was raised in Durham Region by Jamaican parents. An emerging filmmaker with a deep-rooted passion for the arts, his transformative educational journey saw him study film production at California’s Santa Monica College and the Vancouver Film School. Rashayn finds joy in gardening, football, and poetry, but his true calling lies in the world of cinema, where his cultural influences and his commitment to storytelling drive his creative endeavours and his crafting of captivating narratives. He envisions a future in which diverse voices are celebrated in film and aspires to devise meaningful cinematic experiences that will resonate with audiences worldwide. Through his work, Rashayn seeks to bridge cultures, break down barriers, and contribute to the global tapestry of vibrant storytelling.

Marcus Armstrong is a director, cinematographer, and editor based in the GTA. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in digital communications, he decided to follow his passion for filmmaking and embark on a journey as a freelancer. Now, more than six years later, he owns his own production company, Introspective Films, and has been fortunate to shape his career through work with a variety of clients and organizations. When not working with his usual stable of clients, he works on larger, widely recognized productions that range from fiction films to reality television, often taking on the roles of camera assistant or digital imaging technician. On these sets Marcus usually does jobs such as 2nd camera assistant and digital imaging technician. His current goal is to grow his knowledge and network and to apply those experiences to his future productions.

Xavier Brown’s passion for music led him to study at the renowned Harris Institute for the Arts. A specialist in audio production, he is focused on crafting and shaping the soundscapes of tomorrow. When not immersed in his studies, Xavier works as a professional DJ, weaving melodies to create unforgettable experiences for listeners, joining rhythm and harmony to keep the crowd grooving. His path through the music industry finds him tirelessly seeking new avenues to express his love for sound, from the dance floor to the recording studio. Xavier is a rising star whose ambition knows no bounds.

Jahniya Campbell is a dynamic beat-maker and producer who loves to blend musical genres and defy proscribed music theory. He started his producing journey at just 13 years old, when one of his childhood friends introduced him to the world of digital audio workstations. Drawing inspiration from producers including Metro Boomin, Ronny J, Murda Beatz, and others, Jahniya found himself set on the path he wanted to take. His aptitude with a wide range of diverse musical forms and formats allows him to create productions in a variety of genres, often mixing subgenres to create his own distinct sound. At 17, he landed his first major placement, with rappers Dababy and NBA Youngboy, on their collab album Better Than You, which debuted at #10 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and peaked at #7 on the US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts. Since then, Jahniya has been working with rappers like KB Mike, Tob Duke, and DeeBaby, seeking to increase his exposure in the industry.

As an introverted youth, Makayla Campbell escaped into the story worlds of serial television. A proud Afro-Jamaican who was born and raised in Canada, she seldom saw faces like hers on the screen. Her vivid imagination and instinctive flair for creative writing soon turned an idea into an ambition, so she attended Carleton University’s renowned journalism program, where she realized her true passion for storytelling and video media. Later, at Toronto Metropolitan University’s media production program, she obtained her degree with screenwriting and production projects that focused on her passion for human rights, social justice, and diverse stories and representation. Makayla has since freelanced as a production coordinator at CBC Kids and a video producer at CBC Digital, and is currently looking to write Afro-surrealist, comedic, and dramatic projects. Having worked as a script editor and script coordinator at Crave and CaribbeanTales-TV, her goal is to produce television series featuring accurate and collaborative BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representations, which she believes are desperately lacking today.

Anastasia De Lyon’s unwavering passion for art, fashion, and storytelling has consistently steered her creative journey. She began her career in the fashion world as a model, later enhancing her skills studying in the fashion program at George Brown College. She went on to excel in the retail sector, first as an in-store stylist and later a regional visual manager for a prominent Toronto boutique that specialized in cutting-edge global fashion. Driven by her desire for growth and artistic exploration, Anastasia expanded her horizons, embracing a wide range of positions within the arts and entertainment sectors, including event production, art direction, wardrobe styling, experiential marketing, and acting, all of which brought her closer to her aspiration of becoming a creative director. Anastasia advocates for inclusivity with passion, striving to amplify and create platforms for Black voices, and to champion diversity within her community.

Grace May Gilbert-Walters’s professional career has been shaped by a foundation in music and entertainment gained during her studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her experience includes roles as a producer on CTV’s The Social, the #1 talk show in Canada, as well as an associate producer on Trey Anthony’s highly acclaimed production of A Black Girl in Love (with Herself). For The Social, she researches, writes, and executes live national programming, and has produced segments on prominent figures including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Niall Horan, Shaggy & Kes, and Amanda Marshall. Grace also dedicates her efforts to shedding light on Canada’s ongoing crises in homelessness and food security. Committed to celebrating Black and BIPOC excellence in Canada, Grace is furthering her mission to bring under-represented voices and meaningful stories to the forefront of the industry.

A passionate entertainment industry professional, Kianah Lécuyer has expertise in entertainment production and digital marketing. She graduated from Queen’s University with a BA (Hons.) in Global Development Studies, with a minor in Religious Studies. Her journey in the entertainment industry began with notable positions at Insight Productions and the FULLCC Music Group, where she contributed to the success of high-profile events such as The Next Step – Absolute Dance tour in the United Kingdom and Ireland; The JUNO Awards; The Legacy Awards; and Canada’s New Year’s Eve: Countdown to 2023. She is the founder of Jelo Consultation, a design company dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses in elevating their virtual presence. She leveraged her technical skills to serve as the Digital Marketing Consultant for Envision Management & Production, working with renowned acts like Kid Koala (Eric San) and Bell Orchestre. On their downtime, Kianah is a voracious volunteer, notably serving on the Queen’s Black Alumni Chapter and the Queen’s Queer Alumni Chapter which she co-founded.

Visual storyteller Chelsea Nyomi is drawn to themes of arts, culture, and identity. As a multidisciplinary artist focused on building communities through shared experiences, she works in film and video, photography, graphic design, creative direction, and writing. Her film projects include Generations of Home, Memoirs to Little Jamaica, Cultured Reflections, and Life of an Artist. She has worked as a video editor for TSN, MLSE, Yahoo Sports, CP24, and Proper Television. Chelsea is the founder of Vagus Creatives, a platform that showcases the artwork and shares the stories of a global selection of diverse artists and creative entrepreneurs.

Yvano Wickham-Edwards (Yvano Antonio) is a Canadian film director best known for the Canadian Screen Award-winning documentary Being Black in Toronto. A Toronto native, he made his directorial debut in 2019 with the short documentary #BLACK, which was selected for 11 film festivals across North America. Recently, Yvano took on the role of director of the top 10 countdown web series Clubhouse Jamz. His work is driven by a combination of mindfulness and ingenuity, with the goal of generating positive change in Canada’s Black community.

Samuel Williams is the founder and owner of SamSound Productions and the record label SSP Music Group Inc. A JUNO-nominated engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the music industry, he is an experienced and well-rounded multi-instrumentalist, musical director, producer, composer, and engineer. His personal sound is a fusion of funk, soul, R&B, smooth jazz, and urban jazz, all influenced by his West African and Jamaican roots. Samuel’s broad experience includes live sound, live and studio recordings, studio production, musical compositions, songwriting, and arranging. His live engineering skills can be heard on recordings for some of the industry’s top artists, including Eddie Bullen, Larnell Lewis, Israel and the New Breed, Fred Hammond, Travis Greene, and Kim Burrell. Samuel’s stature as a well-known musician has afforded him the opportunity to play for artists including Eddie Bullen, Jully Black, Londa Larmond, Kardinal Offishall, Deborah Cox, Gary Beals, Dru, Donnell Leahy and Natalie MacMaster. He has graced the stage with artists such as CeCe Winans, Lenny LeBlanc, Black Eyed Peas, Jacksoul, Keisha Chanté, Chantal Kreviazuk. Beyond the spotlight, Samuel dons the hat of Musical Director, orchestrating noteworthy events, such as the SOCAN Music Awards and working with artists like Jully Black. March 2023 marked a milestone for Samuel with the release of his debut full-length album, SaMantics.

Anthony Wright has been surrounded by music his entire life. He got his start in the church, and, at 14, was playing with members of the Isley Brothers and Surface. At 16, he was the staff arranger for the Busch Gardens Starlight Orchestra. After extensive training, Anthony’s arranging and composition skills, along with his proficiency in woodwinds, piano, and voice led him to become the youngest musical director for Carnival Cruise Lines. Anthony has produced work with BoB, Jadakiss, Flo Rida, and Christina Aguilera, among other major artists. He was recently featured as a musician and arranger on CTV’s The Launch, working directly under Musical Director Orin Isaacs, was the musical director for the Canadian Country Music Awards (2020 and 2021), and worked under Isaacs on The JUNO Awards (2019 and 2021), Canada’s Walk of Fame (2018 and 2019), Canada’s Got Talent (2021 and 2022), and the 2022 Legacy Awards.

MJ Asuza is a video editor, producer, writer, and director based in Toronto. Born in Montreal to a Kenyan mother, MJ had the privilege of early exposure to cultures and languages from around the globe. Writing, music, and cinema were a big part of his early years and provided a way for him to connect to his roots and to the world around him. After making short films in high school and CEGEP, he moved to Toronto to attend York University, with the goal of becoming a filmmaker.

As a producer and director, MJ’s most notable work has been Free Money, a 12-minute film about universal basic income in a future Toronto. Making the sci-fi comedy, which he also wrote and edited, was his first time working with a full professional crew and a real budget. Screened at more than 15 festivals in North America, most recently Toronto’s Reelworld, the film received the Award of Excellence at the Canada Shorts Film Festival and was named Best Sci-Fi Film at the San Francisco Indie Short Film Festival.

MJ’s editing work has led to collaborations with Ample Labs, DJ Sara Dziri, and the Ebb & Flow Theatre. He has also worked as an editor and motion designer for MoneySense, Heliopolis Productions, and the Taylor Reid Creative Agency. Most recently, he edited promotional materials for Joan & Olivia: A Hollywood Ghost Story, the popular 2022 TO Fringe production, for which he was also a co-producer and videographer.

Jaylan Birl is passionate about sound technology and audio engineering. He graduated from the Recording Connection Audio Institute in 2014 with a diploma in music production and sound engineering. Jaylan has experience working in studio and on live music events on digital and analog audio consoles, and pro audio systems.

Jaylan has worked as a monitor engineer at Polaris Recording Studios, as an audio engineer at Adelaide Hall/Radio, and as a tech (AV) specialist at Rec Room. Jaylan was an RF tech on The Legacy Awards. He joined the Skills Development Program in December 2022 as an A2 onstage trainee on Canada’s New Year’s Eve Countdown.

Nathaniel Brown is a Toronto-based audio technician, musician, producer, and artist. His combined experience with live shows, in recording studios, and with honing his engineering skills makes him an all-around talent. His drive and passion for live audio and his creativity engineering different styles of music will make him a force in his field.

A music lover from a young age, Nathaniel discovered his gift early. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix, he taught himself to play the guitar from his musical inspiration Jimi Hendrix, then went on to learn other instruments. He is a recent graduate of the Harris Institute School for the Arts. Nathaniel has completed courses including Broadcast Audio, Production and Engineering, and Studio Orientation. These courses were taught by industry leaders who helped him
learn how to engineer and work multiple DAWs to record and edit.

Since graduating in 2021, Nathaniel has had several opportunities to showcase his skills: he interned as an audio assistant on the 2022 JUNO Awards; worked as an audio assistant on The Legacy Awards; shadowed the front of house engineer on Shaggy’s live concert at the Ontario Place Bandstand in 2021; and shadowed the front of house engineer at live shows at Meridian Hall and the DC Music Studio in 2021.

Omar Davis has over ten years of experience as an audio-visual professional. Since 2011, he has worked as an overdrive director at CityNews & OMNI News, where he is responsible for coding and operating automated systems while directing live-to-air and live-to-tape newscasts.

Omar has operated audio, video, and lighting equipment for countless concerts, corporate events, press conferences, and awards shows. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Omar applied his skillset to webcasts, using professional level equipment for broadcasts via Zoom, Skype, and Facebook with OBS and WireCast. In September 2022, Omar trained as a monitor engineer on The Legacy Awards.

With over 25 years of work in various aspects of live production, Wayne Hawthorne has experience in theatre sound design, stagecraft, technical audio, and broadcast music mixing, as well as theme park spectacles and installation. This variety of experience allows Wayne to view production as a means of satisfying an audience’s high expectations – whether for live, recorded, or broadcast material. Wayne’s work as a licensed electrical engineer allows him to stand out in the field, and his work on acoustic signal processing for the defense industry provides a technical foundation that couples nicely with his musical sensibilities. This combination of skills led to the formation of Click Track Audio, one of Canada’s few professional remote recording audio services.

Wayne has been involved in national broadcasts for producers such as CTV, Heritage Canada, Rogers Television, Sirius XM Radio, and VRAK TV, for events featuring a long list of personalities, among them Billy Talent, Blue Rodeo, Etta James, Diana Krall the Sam Roberts Band, and the Tragically Hip. Wayne’s credits also include the recording and 5.1 mix of the National Arts Centre Orchestra for the 2021 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, and he was the assistant sound designer for the remounting of Walter Borden’s seminal play The Last Epistle of Tightrope Time.

Wayne continues to work in the industry as a freelance producer, broadcast music mixer, and front-of-house mixer and engineer. He teaches in the Music Industry Arts program at Algonquin College in Ottawa.

Akheam Jackson was born and raised in Old Harbour, Jamaica, and began his journey in audio by performing in music. He enrolled at the Mico University College, where he pursued a bachelor’s degree in music education. He joined a reggae band, which led him to start meddling with amplifiers, soundboards, and speakers. At various functions, he was the one setting up the speakers and sound system to ensure that levels were adjusted effectively for the audience.

Akheam migrated to Canada to seek opportunities in the teaching profession. It was at this time he discovered the audio schools in Canada and enrolled in the Metal Works Institute’s Audio Production and Engineering program.

Following his graduation, Akheam began his career in the audio world as an intern at Red Lab Studios, a postproduction studio, and volunteering as a stagehand for various venues across the Greater Toronto Area. He landed a full-time job as a junior in-house audio technician at the Sound Academy, and vastly developed his knowledge and skills by rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest audio professionals from Toronto and around the world.

Today, with seven years of audio experience, Akheam works predominantly as a monitor engineer and front-of house engineer for Rebel, while freelancing with affiliate venues including the Danforth Music Hall and the Axis Club Theatre, as well as with various companies and music festivals.

Eric John discovered his passion for live audio and editing in Humber College’s Broadcast Television program, where he was introduced to various aspects of television such as camera work, master control operations, and video and sound editing.

After graduating with honours, Eric continued to use the audio skills he acquired to work in the media industry. Thanks to the Skills Development Program, Eric has worked on amazing projects such as the JUNO Awards and The Legacy Awards. His current focus is on earning credibility in his field to explore working for local professional sports teams or to seek opportunities abroad.

Elizabeth Kahura is a Kenyan-born, Toronto-based editor. An assistant editor trainee in the Black Academy Skills Development Program, Elizabeth is also a trainee assistant picture editor (GAP) at the Director’s Guild of Canada. She is also a photographer, filmmaker, and artist who is dedicated to the art of storytelling. Since her training in video design and production at George Brown College, Elizabeth has devoted herself to bringing diverse and thought-provoking stories to life – and not shying away from the weird. She has an affinity for 90s action movies, particularly anything featuring John Woo or Nicolas Cage. Elizabeth looks forward to collaborating with fellow creators and continuing to grow within the industry.

Milca Kuflu is an emerging writer-director based in Toronto. Her journey into film and television began many years ago while she was a student at the University of Toronto. After she was suspended in her second year, she applied for the Remix project, a program for youth interested in creative careers. Milca made a short documentary about the pressure placed on Black second-generation creatives to get “secure” jobs instead of pursuing their artistic dreams. When she returned to complete her studies, Milca and her best friend started a blog called The Africana; together they wrote about identity, culture, and politics. They hosted a popular event called the Africana Gatherings at the Manifesto office and an on-campus discussion series for students and community members.

In 2016, Milca made her directorial debut with the 10-minute documentary Dance Saved My Life, which was made during her time at the POV 3rd Street Media Training Program. It was screened to a private audience at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Since then, Milca has been invited to attend TIFF’s Next Wave screenwriting workshop hosted by Dee Rees, completed a Master of Journalism degree at Toronto Metropolitan University, and wrote and directed the short film Commuter, a comedy about the perils of off-line communication that screened at the Regent Park Film Festival. Milca hopes to complete another short film script and some samples that might help her break into writing for television.

Shane LaTouche is a two-time graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, with an MA in media production and a BA in radio and television arts. He is an alumnus of several media and entrepreneurship programs, including CEE Toronto’s Production Assistant Program; Summer Company; and Business in the Streets. Shane’s latest venture has placed him in the roles of Production Manager and Junior Line Producer at Insight Productions, and as Founder and Executive Director of the Toronto Black Media Association (TBMA). Recognizing a need for a better support system in Toronto for the city’s Black creative and media professionals, Shane created TBMA, a non-profit grassroots organization, to build a community and push for better opportunities and safe spaces for creatives like himself.

Shane was graciously given the opportunity to tour the United States and work with several international reggae and dancehall artists under Francis Management, among them Mr. Vegas, Konshens, Christopher Martin, and Beenie Man. His multimedia expertise has allowed him to take on several media-related roles over the years, and through his company ISLVND Co., Shane uses that expertise to focus on photography and event-planning projects that are
largely related to the Caribbean diaspora.

Rosemary Martin has ten years of experience in the field of audio engineering. She trained at the Trebas Institute before starting her career as a freelance audio technician. Rosemary has worked with organizations such as Rebel Entertainment Complex, Solotech, the Apex Sound & Light Corporation, and TealTone Productions. In 2022, Rosemary trained on The Legacy Awards as a patch master.

Habib Aristide-Nduwayo graduated with a diploma in audio production from the Harris Institute of the Arts in 2021. He has a strong background in recording, editing, and mixing, both in studio and live on location. He is proficient in the use of digital and multimedia recording and sound applications.

Habib volunteered as an audio assistant with LiveWire Remote Recorders for the Tribute to Canadian Rap Music for the 50th JUNO Awards, and for a recording of the Beatles tribute Ones, which featured a rock band backed by a symphony orchestra. In September 2022, he worked as an A2 trainee on The Legacy Awards.

Chantel Paul has been designing and creating womenswear for the past seven years. While working on conceptual design projects, including her personal clothing line, Chantel worked as an executive assistant at a venture capital firm.

Chantel studied fashion design and management at Humber College. To complete her internship project, Chantel designed and constructed full looks for the Major Lazer dancers while they were on two North American tours. After graduating in 2012, Chantel began working on her womenswear line, Product of my Generation, which led to her executing her first collection and fashion show in 2016.

Chantel continues to work on conceptual design projects and is currently in the early stages of creating her second womenswear collection. Chantel believes that balance is necessary not only in design, but in everyday life, fuelling her to continue to work on her passion of design, clothing construction, and styling.

Adelaide Russell has lived in Tofino, British Columbia, for the past few years, where she started Tofino Nitro, her own business, while working in tech sales.

Adelaide loves fashion, watching projects come to fruition, and giving everyday items a bit of pizzazz. She built her career on event planning, marketing, design, and sales. She holds a degree in tourism management and is working through a certificate in graphic design from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. When she is not dreaming up businesses and working on creative projects, Adelaide can be found surfing, mountain biking, running, thrift shopping, or hosting dinner parties.

Adelaide thought a career in film & TV was out of reach until this opportunity with the Black Academy Skills Development Program provided a foundation to shape her career. Working on The Legacy Awards was a dream come true for Adelaide. She hopes Black people watching the awards will be proud to be part of the Black community and motivated to reach their dreams.

Tenesha Vernon graduated from Humber College and Sheridan College with a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and business management. Given the opportunity to employ her business knowledge and skills, Tenesha has worked on many projects and events in the music industry, and has worked very closely with local and international artists. Driven by a passion for music and film, she has started her journey into the film industry. Relying on both of her passions, Tenesha hopes to be a part of educating and growing the community.

Tewobesta Zewdie is an emerging filmmaker based in Canada. Born and raised in Ethiopia, she made the move to Canada over 10 years ago. After attending film school, she collaborated on several independent projects. Throughout her career, she has experienced many opportunities in the industry that have allowed her to express her art; in doing so, she has been able to reach an audience that seeks authentic stories.

Tewobesta is deeply immersed in her culture and her art reflects that. A recent project with her visual poetry allowed Tewobesta to put her work forward into broader media outlets. Seeing her latest project come to fruition has driven her to aim towards creating bigger productions. She intends to tell stories of unique and culture-specific perspectives, and take part in magnifying the stories of the Black women who came before us.

Tewobesta looks forward to establishing herself in this fast-growing industry and seeing the future of filmmaking.