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Drew Dennis, Executive Director Drew comes to Out On Screen with an extensive background in non-profit management. After studying business at the University of Western Ontario, Drew went on a date and fell in love with queer film. Sometimes life’s like that. Drew is particularly energized about film’s power as a tool for social justice. Drew is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and currently serves as co-chair of the LGBTQ Advisory Committee to Vancouver City Council. Drew identifies as trans and skates the gender binary preferring neither pronoun. |
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Amber Dawn, Director of Programming Amber Dawn is a writer, filmmaker and performance artist. She's been featured on stages from Kentucky drag bars to Harvard campus, and her short films have played in over ten countries. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC and is the editor of two queer anthologies. Voted Xtra! West's Hero of the Year (2008), she is best known for representing shameless, no-holds-barred queer sexuality, a theme throughout much of her artwork and her community activism. |
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Ross Johnstone, Director of Youth Education |
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Paul Crosby, Director of Development |
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Kat Biondi, Director of Operations Kat graduated from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a BA in Political Science / Theatre. She moved to Vancouver in 2006 to further her career in the non-profit sector. Kat has an extensive background in fundraising and events management, including the Scotiabank AIDS WALK for LIFE. In her spare time, Kat enjoys theatre, farmers' markets, baking pies and drinking coffee. |
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Smita Acharyya. Development & Special Events Coordinator Smita is multiple award-winning filmmaker, working with her twin sister and producer, through their production company Twinsletown Productions. Smita recently received the 2009 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Outstanding Young Alumna Award for her accomplishments in film. Her films have screened worldwide including her most recent film Sorry Girl, which took home the Special Jury Prize from the Female Shorts Film & Video Showcase at the Torpedo Gallery in Virginia. Smita is currently working on her first feature film Shanti Claus, a Hindu Christmas comedy. |
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Rick Clark, Designer Rick was the Designer for Out On Screen in 2008 and he's back for 2010! He only uses his finger guns for good. |
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Theo J. Naven, Programming Facilitator Theo J. Naven is a consultant and community programmer who works in health-care, faith-based, academic and radical queer, Trans* and ally communities. Theo’s work often centres around policy, organizational development, sustainability, anti-oppression and accessibility, while working with diverse individuals and communities, including individuals with addictions and substance use histories, individuals of multiple and varying abilities, backgrounds, spiritualities and experiences. Theo is a male-passing/genderqueer Trans* boy who loves diving into communities, projects and the occasional treasure-filled dumpster. |
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Crystal Sikma, Marketing & Outreach Coordinator In 2007, Crystal moved from Regina, Saskatchewan to Vancouver to attend the Creative Writing Program at UBC. Concurrent to her MFA, she was the Poetry Editor for the literary magazine, PRISM international. Crystal spends her spare time at concerts, readings, coffee shops and thrift stores. |
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Lindsey Fraser, Marketing & Outreach Assistant Lindsey has been involved with Out On Screen for the last two years, as a volunteer for the Out in Schools program and the Queer Film Festival. He is currently studying Urban Planning at Langara College and is looking forward to an exciting summer filled with art, community and lots of queers! |
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Janet Glassford, Box Office Coordinator Janet is back for her 2nd go as Box Office Coordinator and delighted to be working with such a supportive team. She comes to Out On Screen with several years experience with Vancouver International Film Festival & Whistler Film Festival. Her adaptability, strategy-planning, & creative problem solving skills, coupled with spontaneous breaking into song & 'acting' like a Box Office Coordinator also serve her in her career as an actor & singer in schools, theatres, film, TV & the occassional table top. |
| Jen is a self-confessed scholar, queer advocate, and human rights activist. After graduating from UBC's Women's and Gender Studies program in 2009, she hopes to continue a graduate degree in education, with a focus on feminist pedagogy, queer theory and media/cultural studies. She has a penchant for all things colourful and is proudly owned by her five cats. |
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Joanna Yuen, Assistant Editor A bit of a nomad, Jo has been on light feet for all of her adult life, never staying in one place for very long. She was born in Vancouver, stayed for a few years in Montreal and, now back in BC, she is studying to be an editor. |
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Jessica Somers is Out On Screen's weekend bookkeeper - always a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. During the week she's the accountant to a small manufacturing company in Vancouver. Jessica enjoys bicycling to work in fancy dresses, writing fiction and picnicking on the beach. In a recent accomplishment, Jessica won the award for Best Approach in her Monday night bowling league. |
