TBFF BLACK MARKET: MEET THE FILM MAKERS
The TBFF’s Black Market returns with a Masterclass/Workshop that you won’t want to miss if you want to succeed in the film industry. Established filmmakers from Canada and abroad will come talk about their experience with filmmaking from creation, to financing, production, distribution. 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.
Aaron Greer
Co-Director’s Bio: Aaron Greer has developed a diverse professional portfolio. Among some of the highlights are his award-winning feature film, Gettin’ Grown, which has screened at film festivals around the world and is distributed by Film Life and Warner Brothers Home Video; his documentary, Flying Away, which has been broadcast on public television stations nation-wide; and his co-authored, award-winning screenplay Fruit of the Tree, which was selected for the prestigious Tribeca All-Access program. In addition to his production work, the Chicago-based filmmaker is an Associate Professor at Loyola University-Chicago, where he directs the Film and Digital Media program.
Peter Wangugi Gitau
Peter Wangugi Gitau is an award winning filmmaker and has worked collaboratively and individually on a variety of socially engaged interdisciplinary projects for over eight years. He has made theater productions, documentaries and fiction films touching on social economic issues in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya. Peter has worked with several Non Governmental Organizations on different film projects among them; Film-aid International, World Food Programme, Windle Trust Kenya, Population Services Kenya and Amref Health Africa. He has also directed award winning Kenyan TV shows Pendo & Prey n Pray among many others.
Bob Celli
Bob Celli is an award winning Producer/Director and Actor. Most recently Bob wrote and directed Figs For Italo, a short film based on a true story and inspired by actual events. The film was an official selection at 33 festivals in the US and abroad, and garnered 13 awards and 13 additional nominations, including Best National Short, Best Dramatic Short, Special Jury Award - Short film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Bob also wrote and directed the short film Going Home. It was an official selection at the Moab Independent Film Festival, the Gold Award Winner for Best Dramatic Original Short at the Houston International Film Festival, Winner of the Best Short Award at The Northampton Independent Film Festival, and Winner of Best Original Short at the 2003 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. He and Laura Delano created DelanoCelli Productions. DelanoCelli Productions workshopped and produced the world premiere of Down Range, a play by Jeffery Skinner. The production was sponsored by Beth Davis In Good Company and all profits form the production were donated to Soldiers Heart, a veterans' return and healing project addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of veterans, their families and communities. They were associate producers of the Off-Broadway show Circle by Suzanne Bachner. Circle was the winner of the OOBR for best ensemble cast and SPOTLIGHT AWARDS. Together they have worked extensively in New York City as producers and also as actors. Laura has appeared in Fame, Slow Dancing in the Big City, The Warriors, The Chosen, and Stardust Memories. Bob has appeared in As The World Turns, The Onion News Network, Going Home, Down Range and Circle.
Natalie Novak Remplakowski
Natalie Novak Remplakowski is a Toronto-based director, producer, writer and actor who brings her love for visual storytelling to scripted, as well as documentary filmmaking. She is currently producing a comedic series in development called Beattie & Mae as well as The Communist’s Daughter. She recently directed the web series, Easy V, nominated at Vancouver Web Fest 2018 for ‘Best Dramedy’. Her short film ‘Accidentals’ written by and starring Aisha Evelyna is playing at the Toronto Black Film Festival at 9pm on Saturday, February 17th.She is also working on a feature documentary Only Child; Eldest of Six. Natalie entered the film industry by way of acting, which she began at age 11 in an indie feature film. Natalie is a graduate of York University’s Acting Conservatory and Second City’s Improv Conservatory. Working in film production straight out of theatre school, she has since worked with some of Canada's most sought after Indie darlings.
Katarzyna Kochany
Katarzyna Kochany is a director of drama, comedy, and live action with animation/VFX. Her work has screened on every continent except Antarctica, earning over 30 awards and 150 official selections from USA, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, India, Italy and Kingdom of Swaziland. She is an active voting member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and has served on various juries, including Canadian Screen Awards, Youth Media Alliance and KIDS FIRST. A natural collaborator and a leader known for a strong sense of story, Katarzyna has mentored a dozen writers as Development Executive for Los Angeles-based 168 Film Write of Passage creative incubator and writing competition, including two finalists and a grand prize winner. She currently serves on the panel of experts for The Pilot Project.
Jennia Fredrique Aponte
'Don't let the smooth taste fool you!' Jennia Fredrique... actress, host and comic is a dynamic powerhouse of talent! Born in Gary Indiana, Jennia moved to New York then Chicago to study theater at Columbia University before relocating to Los Angeles to seriously pursue her dreams. Jennia sites that if it she weren't in the entertainment industry she would have never left the mid West, which is home for her. Since arriving to the city of Angels, Jennia has been able to make the people of her home town proud. It didn't take long for Jennia to find her groove in LA and begin booking gigs on television shows as well as national commercials. At one time she was even hailed the "commercial queen" as her face became the face of many popular products including McDonalds and Pepsi.
Jennia's true passion is comedic relief and when it comes to making people laugh she is no joke. She has held recurring roles on shows such as Noah's Arc (Logo) City Guys (NBC), Half and Half (UPN), and One on One (UPN) and Passions (NBC). She has also guest starred on My Wife and Kids (ABC), Cuts (CW) and the Hughley's (CW) to name a few.
Jennia was recently a series regular on BET / CENTRIC's "According to Him & Her", where she gave advice on relationship rules. She currently also hosts celebrity inteview series "Beyond the Talent" where she has interviewed the likes of: Usher, Kevin Hart, Akon, Miguel, Estelle, Flo Rida and many other urban music artists.
Jennia has found new love and success in writing and directing. In 2015 she wrote and directed the award winning film Sacred Heart which was beautifully shot in the streets of Paris France. She recently co-directed the award winning short film 90 DAYS, starring Teyonah Parris, Nic Few and Pauletta Washington, and is making lots of noise at highly regarded film festivals.
Frederick Lewis
the writer, director and co-producer of “Paul Laurence Dunbar: Beyond the Mask” is a professor in the School of Media Arts & Studies at Ohio University. His previous documentaries have been seen on PBS stations throughout the U.S. and been screened at more than 60 cultural/educational venues, including the National Gallery of Art, the Lake Placid Film Forum and the Explorers Club in NYC. For “Beyond the Mask,” more than 25 of his former students assisted with the production, shooting footage across the U.S., assisting with research, editing and composing music. Professor Lewis is a recipient of the Presidential Teacher Award, Ohio University’s highest honor for transformative teaching, curriculum innovation and mentoring.He recently served as a Fulbright Specialist in Hungary and has also taught or lectured in England, Germany, France, Ukraine, Malaysia and Vietnam.
