Academy Talks: In the Room with Specialty Subscription Services

Presented by Boat Rocker Media

As film festivals and theatres continue to innovate and transition in new formats online, our panel discusses the content that is succeeding on specialty subscription platforms and the ideas they are looking to fund and distribute now. In conversation with OTT and broadcast distribution executives, this In the Room session explores how your work can reach audiences when gathering in the room is temporarily not possible.

Guests:

Alan Black | Managing Director, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema/Director of Operations, Hot Docs

Alan Black currently serves as Managing Director of Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and is the Director of Operations for Hot Docs. He is also co-curator of the Hot Docs Podcast Festival. Alan is an award winning filmmaker of Jackpot, Beautiful & Deranged, and Strongman, which have garnered attention on the festival circuit and been broadcast in Canada and abroad. Alan has sat on the boards and advisory committees of various film and cultural organizations, has participated on many festival and awards juries, and works as mentor and consultant on festival and theatrical strategy, operations, and audience building.

Jackie Pardy | Chief Content Officer, Super Channel

As Super Channel’s Chief Content Officer, Jackie leads the company’s domestic and foreign program acquisitions for the network’s four channels (Fuse, Heart & Home, Vault and Ginx) and oversees the pre-licensing of Super Channel’s Canadian productions.

Jackie joined Super Channel in April, 2019. Previously she has worked at Women in Film & Television–Toronto as Director of Development, responsible for developing and managing strategic partnerships. As well, she has held the position of Director, Network Content, Specialty and Pay TV at Corus Entertainment.

Jackie is based in Toronto where she lives with her husband and family.

LaShawn McGhee | Co-Founder & CPO, Revry Inc.

As Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, LaShawn uses her skills in media and production to oversee all technology functions at Revry including handling channel launches, deliverables management, and tech quality control. After leaving a nine-year nursing career with the United States Army, LaShawn dedicated herself to the art of storytelling by graduating from The American Film Institute (AFI) with a master’s degree in film editing. Since graduating, LaShawn has worked on film, television, and documentary projects as an editor, assistant editor, and producer. Previously involved in Ava Duvernay’s ARRAY film movement and a regular juror and panelists at events such as Outfest and the American Film Market (AFM), LaShawn brings her experience of working on feature films (Selma, The Leisure Class) and broadcast television (Girl Rising, A Chance to Dance) to Revry. Her technical skills are matched only by her passion for sharing the unique voices and stories of the LBGTQ community with the widest audiences possible. LaShawn was also integral in Revry’s selection as a member of the inaugural Goldman Sachs Launch with GS Black and Latinx Entrepreneur Cohort.

Lauren Whitelaw | Head of Programming, OUTtv

Lauren is the Head of Programming for OUTtv, currently in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK, Ireland and soon the USA. With services in multiple territories, she has successfully negotiated contracts with companies worldwide. Lauren recently joined the development team at the network and continues to work closely with producers globally to find the best LGBTQ+ programming.

Before joining OUTtv in 2006, Lauren helped launched the service PrideVision TV in 2001. Prior to 2001, she worked for companies including The Movie Network, CBC, and Vision TV.

In 2016, for OUTtv, Lauren co-created the OUTtv Original series Knock Knock Ghost which went on to have two nominations for a Canadian Screen Award in the category of Best Reality Series.

Mandeq Hassan | Programs & Acquisitions Director, Sisterhood Media

Mandeq Hassan has spent years working extensively in the film industry. She started her career at TIFF Next Wave as a youth programmer. Mandeq participated in Telluride Film Festival’s Symposium in 2018 and since 2019, Mandeq has been a key member of the Toronto-based distribution company Sisterhood Media. As Programs and Acquisitions Director, she connects audiences to films and filmmakers across Ontario and the world. Mandeq’s credits include popular works Gay Mean Girls (co-writer) and The Regent Park Project (co-writer, actress).

Moderated by:

Ravi Srinivasan | Programmer

Ravi Srinivasan is the Canadian Features Programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival, International Features Programmer for the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival and the founder / Executive Director of the South Western International Film Festival.

Free for Academy Members, $10 for Non-Members.

RSVP Required to Attend. Registration does not guarantee admission. Access will be granted on a first come, first served basis.