CASSAUNDRA SLOAN

Festival Coordinator

Cassaundra (she/her) is a director, writer, producer, and the founder of Girl North Studios, a motion picture and television production company championing women behind the lens. Beginning her journey as a youth actor, Cassaundra transitioned behind the camera, starting as a production assistant and production coordinator, cultivating vital connections within the Canadian film and TV landscape. Over the years, she has crafted compelling narratives as a writer, content producer, and creative producer on diverse global projects, including leveraging documentary storytelling to amplify the voices of nonprofit organizations and champion social causes.

You can reach Cassaundra at coordinator@digi60.org

ARDEN FOX

Festival Assistant

Arden (he/they) is this year’s Festival Assistant, focused on supporting filmmakers, volunteers, and his fellow JCP staff. Brand new to Ottawa, he is excited to learn more about the local film scene, support its filmmakers, and hopes to help facilitate Digi60’s best festival yet. With a background in digital media and video game development, they’re keen on details and deeply passionate about the power for community connections and self-discovery through film. When not working, they can be found watching a myriad of horror movies and writing about them for blogs and zines.

You can reach Arden at festivalassistant@digi60.org

ALYA BOUSLAMA

Social Media and Communications Assistant

Alya (she/her) is a creative communications professional with a background in photography, video, writing, and digital storytelling. She has worked across a range of creative projects, from photographing events and producing social media content to writing and developing stories for digital platforms. She is drawn to work that brings together strong visuals, thoughtful storytelling, and a genuine sense of connection. She enjoys working alongside other creatives, learning from the people around her, and being part of projects that bring a community together.

You can reach Alya at: communications@digi60.org 

Emily Ramsay

Chair of the Board

Emily (she/her) is a producer who loves telling stories about Ottawa. She started her filmmaking journey with Digi60 so it was natural to transition to joined Digi60 as Co-Director of the festival in 2015, then as Director and Board Chair in 2019; her goal was to help bring more professional development opportunities to new and emerging filmmakers. She is now the Executive Director of the Digital Arts Resource Centre, Ottawa’s premiere artist-run media arts centre. Emily’s artistic practice focuses on intersectional documentaries that highlight community storytelling as a co-founder of Obscura Creative, a collective of film professionals focusing on community storytelling projects focusing on Ottawa. Emily is an alumnus of the WIFT Executive Leadership in Media Certificate Program, co-presented by York University Schulich School of Business, is a graduate of the Algonquin College Scriptwriting Program, an alumni of WIFT Corus Media Management Accelerator, a recipient of the City of Ottawa Youth in Culture grant and the CMPA Ontario Production Mentorship grant. She was selected for the OFN Leadership Circle and serves on the Boards of Arts Ottawa and Ottawa Festival Network. You can reach Emily at info@digi60.org.

SPARROW MCGOWAN

Communications Director

Sparrow (she/her) is a writer and communications consultant with 20 years of experience across multiple sectors, including education, film and sustainability. She has worked with both the nonprofit and private sectors, advising national and international organizations on strategic communications, branding, marketing, events and social media. Active in the Canadian film community for over a decade, she wrote and directed her first film for Ottawa’s Digi60 Film Festival in 2010 and later attended Vancouver’s Langara College of Film Arts, specializing in the writing stream. She has written multiple produced short films and recently served on the board of directors for Film PEI.

You can reach Sparrow at sparrow@digi60.org

Kunran (YiYan) Liu

Technial Director

Kunran (YiYan) Liu is an Electrical Engineering student with a love for both creative and technical worlds. As an emerging tech enthusiast, she enjoys supporting behind-the-scenes work at community arts events. She looks forward to bringing her curiosity and energy to Digi60 as Technical Director.

Supreet Jaiswal

Director of Equity Initiatives

I am passionate about films and all things cinema - with experience in acting, production, and event coordination. Raised in Ottawa, I'm keen to be a support system to emerging creators and help grow the local creative industry.

Vince Deiulis

Treasurer

Vince Deiulis is an Ottawa-based bookkeeper with over a decade of experience in the film and television industry in Toronto and the GTA. A graduate of Fanshawe College’s Theatre Arts & Filmmaking program, he has worked across a wide range of productions—from music videos to Tier A features—in both on-set and office roles. He recently completed a Certificate in Entertainment Law from Osgoode Hall (2025), adding to his Accounting Certificate from Algonquin College (2021). His recent film credits include payroll work on Titans Season 4 and Welcome to Derry.

In addition to his work in film, Vince is an avid supporter of live performance, having written, acted, and produced theatre in both Toronto and Ottawa. In 2018, he co-created a play exploring Nigeria’s role in World War I, later writing about the experience for the Canadian Theatre Review. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family and remains passionate about storytelling in all forms.

JASON DAI

Director of Community Engagement

Jason Dai is an independent filmmaker currently building his portfolio of short narrative and documentary projects. His films explore humour within the themes of friendship, memory and grief. He believes that Ottawa has a vibrant arts and cultural landscape. Having always wanted to make movies, he started taking workshops at Digital Arts Resource Centre and continues to frequent Bytowne Cinema and Mayfair Theatre.

He registered for his first Digi60 in 2021 and discovered a wonderful and growing community of new and emerging filmmakers. Every subsequent year of Digi60 has brought a new set of lessons, and its DIY ethos has broadened his filmmaking practice and skillset. As a board member, he hopes to continue Digi60’s growth and its support of the Ottawa independent filmmaking community.

Tsenu Zelleke

Director of Partnerships

I am a dynamic communications strategist and policy analyst driving impact at the intersection of media, entertainment, and community building. My expertise in public affairs, policy management, strategic public opinion, and policy analysis has enabled me to excel in diverse roles with organizations such as the United States Embassy in Ottawa, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, and the Canadian Media Producers Association.

My experiences have fueled my commitment to local organizations like Apt613 and Debaser, where I have championed the importance of gig-economy creatives for local economic development through non-profit initiatives.

Currently, as the Communications Coordinator at the Ottawa Film Office, I manage the organization’s social media presence and foster stakeholder relationships. I am eager to bring my authentic voice, openness to learning, and dedication to supporting Digi60’s vision and future strategic goals in Ottawa.

Derek Price

Volunteer Mentorship & JCP Director

Derek (he/him) is a creative storyteller with extensive experience producing, directing and editing documentary and lifestyle narratives, as well scripted content for film, TV, web and brands. He is a mix of both technical and talent director, combining his love of technology with his people skills. He has over 100 hours of broadcast directing, and over 150 hours of broadcast editing. He is a Content Producer at Ross Video and is a member of Obscura Creative, a collective of film and TV pros committed to local grassroots production in Ottawa. You can see his work on Amazon Prime, CTV Life, Crave, CBC Gem, Fite TV and Fibe TV1.

You can reach Derek at derek@digi60.org.

Tera BRuinsma

Volunteer Director of Accessibility Programming and Delivery

Tera Bruinsma (she/her) is a queer independent filmmaker and visual artist based in unceded Algonquin territory (so-called Ottawa). With over 10 years of experience in the non-profit arts sector, she has supported festivals, galleries, and community art events across the city. Her creative work focuses on documentary and video portrait filmmaking, informed by a background in anthropology and a deep interest in people and their backgrounds.Tera also freelances with local collectives and artists, particularly those with disabilities, drawing from her own lived experience. She brings a strong commitment to accessibility, community collaboration, and amplifying underrepresented voices in film.

Kevin Burton

Volunteer

Kevin (he/him) has been at the helm of Digi60 since 2009, growing the festival from a handful of participants to many handfuls, adding professional development and growing partnerships. He has worked with several television and media outlets in the Ottawa area, and is a live event videographer for the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa Redblacks and the Ottawa 67’s, Kevin is also an educator at Algonquin College teaching the next generation of film and media professionals.

You can reach Kevin at info@digi60.org.