TBFF BLACK MARKET: MEET THE PRODUCERS
The TBFF’s Black Market introduces a special masterclass with established producers from Canada and abroad that will focus on the art of producing and the funding aspect in filmmaking. You won't want to miss this! Seats are limited!
Randy Thomas (MODERATOR)
Randy grew up in Moncton NB and studied Marketing and Business Administration at St Mary's University before heading to Montreal to pursue a career in acting. Currently, Randy has recurring roles in two TV series and continues to mentor other actors through the Actor Advantage Program. A program that teaches actors how to earn a living as artists in show business. Randy also published his first book in 2015, the 6P's of Success for Actors. A book that outlines the six essential elements artists must consider in order to sustain a long-term career in the entertainment industry.
Sol Aponte (Executive Producer / Producer)
Originally from Belleville, New Jersey, Sol Aponte is a two time Emmy Award nominee who has been working in the entertainment industry for all of his adult life. At age 18, he began working for one of the biggest music marketing and promotions company on the East Coast where he handled street promotion accounts in the DC/Baltimore markets. There he built long lasting relationships with top music celebrities as well as record label executives from: Warner Bros., Universal, Arista, Interscope, Motown, Def Jam, Priority and many more. After graduating cum laude from Long Island University's School of Media Arts, Sol immediately began working as a sound engineer for major television networks including CBS, E!, BET, Fox, ABC and more. In 2005 he received his first Emmy Award nomination followed another in 2006. In 2008 Sol began producing content for international territories including France and Africa. Sol independently produced an international interview series entitled "Beyond the Talent" that features guests: Kevin Hart, Usher, Miguel, Estelle and a plethora of other international urban artists. The series is slated to air on Amazon Prime in May 2017. In 2015 Sol produced the award winning short film Sacred Heart, written by his wife and production partner, Jennia Fredrique Aponte. The film's executive producer is Jussie Smollett of the hit tv show Empire. In 2016 Sol produced another award winning short entitled 90 DAYS, which is touring the film festival circuit at several Academy Qualifying festivals. He is also a producer on the feature film Skin in the Game with producing partners Kandoo Films, who was just nominated for an Oscar for Ava Duverney's 13th.
Jon Michael Shink
Jon Michael Shink is a lead producer for Pendragwn Productions based in Washington DC. He has received national and international awards for his work including multiple Telly and Hermes Creative Awards. Jon Michael has produced documentary projects in North America, Africa and Asia. His work has screened at numerous film festivals around the world including the Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) and the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF). His most recent award-winning feature documentary, We Are the Ones, is available on Amazon and iTunes.
Jacqueline “JJ” Ingram
A Chicago native, JJ’s producer credits include: Chasing The Blues (Fulton Market Films), The Long Dumb Road (Sundance 2018), Operator (SXSW 2016, The Orchard), Unexpected (Sundance 2015, Film Arcade), Bloomin Mud Shuffle (Factory 25) and Baby Mary (SXSW 2014). JJ recently wrapped the coming of age drama, Once Upon A River (River Run Films) and is currently developing the Chicago based horror-thriller, Cubicle.
Michael "Lyfelong" Foster
Michael "Lyfelong" Foster is a passionate Filmmaker, Fashion Designer, & Entrepreneur based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Michael started crafting songs, poems, and short stories when he was only eleven years old, which ultimately ignited his unwavering passion to take his creative writing to a professional level. Throughout his film career, Michael has gained extensive expertise and acclaim. He received the "Best Socially Conscious" Film Award for "When Tables Turn" and the Grand Jury Award for the film "Evelyn Black." A number of his films were also selected and screened by Film Festivals across the globe. Knowing no limits, Michael is the Founder of the fashion line Inner Elite, where he has modeled and directed commercials all throughout Paris, Miami, Panama, and Jamaica. Furthermore, he graduated from the esteemed Art Institute of Charlotte Digital Film & Video Production program.
Cathleen MacDonald
Producer-Writer-Director ,(The Curves, Working Animals, Moving On) is a creative entrepreneur who works in broadcast, digital media, and distribution. Her work is notable for stories that reveal the human and natural worlds and challenge assumptions. She is the creator, writer-producer-director of the 26-part series, shot on four continents, Working Animals (Discovery Canada, Animal Planet, Canal D and distributed worldwide) and the writer-producer-director of The Animal IQ Test (Discovery Channel, Animal Planet). Of her nine episodes of CBC’s Moving On, the episode, The Courage of Sharon won a Columbus Film Festival Award and was included in CBC’s entry for a Gemini nomination. She serves as a guest speaker and as a juror for industry festivals, organizations, and funders and has served on the board of directors for the Oakville Film Festival. Cathleen has an Honors BFA in Film Production from York University. She is currently the digital producer for the feature documentary, The Divided Brain (CBC Documentary Channel).
Stephina Zwane
Stephina has worked as a Writer, Producer and Director for some of the major TV broadcasters in South Africa. She is the co-owner of Sorele Media, a Film and TV Production company. She directed her debut feature film, Love and Kwaito in 2016 and most recently, wrote and directed, the comedy drama Baby Mamas (2018).
