Featured Guests

Toronto-born soprano Christina Smith is redefining what it means to be a classical artist in the digital age. With a voice that fuses operatic power, theatrical depth, and modern soul, Christina has quickly become one of Canada’s most exciting emerging vocal talents. Her rise captured national attention in 2025, when a series of her viral parody videos showcased her dynamic interpretations of both opera arias and contemporary classics—amassing thousands of views and inspiring a new generation to fall in love with the art form. In March 2025, Christina made her acting debut when she starred in the production Coming Home: The Musical Play, delivering a powerful portrayal of the legendary Jessye Norman—a role that paid homage to one of her greatest inspirations while spotlighting her own artistry and emotional depth. In April of that same year, her momentum continued with the Canadian premiere of Bring It On: The Musical, where her vocal agility and dance background established her as …

Julisa Marcel is a Virgin Islands born & raised, Toronto-based writer-director with a background in independent film production. She holds an MFA in Creative writing from Queens University of Charlotte, and is an alum of several film training programs, including the OYA Emerging Filmmakers Program and Hollywood Entertainment’s inaugural Women in Entertainment Mentorship. She is passionate about telling the nuanced, character-driven stories about Black girls and women she needed to see growing up.

Matthew Kelly is a Canadian filmmaker, director, and educator based in Toronto whose work spans independent film, music video production, animation, and film education. With more than a decade of experience in visual storytelling, Kelly focuses on creating opportunities for emerging filmmakers while continuing to develop his own projects across documentary and narrative film. Kelly began his filmmaking career in 2013 when he founded M Works, a Canadian hip-hop media platform that grew into one of the country's prominent independent music video outlets. Over the past decade, the platform has produced a catalogue of more than 300 music videos directed and edited by Kelly, collectively generating over 20 million online views. His contributions to Canadian music releases have also earned two Gold plaques from Music Canada. Beyond music video production, Kelly has produced and worked on a number of short films that have screened at film festivals and been featured on CBC Gem. He has al…

Shanice Iesha Bowrin is an actor, writer, and emerging filmmaker, recently winning the Toronto Film Plug Pitch Competition and the Talent Lab at the Reykjavik Film Festival. She blends horror and Caribbean folklore to explore themes of family, identity, and healing. Inspired by her own experiences, Shanice encourages reflection on unspoken truths. Her work highlights home, social issues, and Black queerness, often with a surreal twist. Recent writing credits include "All For Her," "Check, Please!," and her experimental short film, "Queen of Spice and her short film A Family Affair," currently in post-production.

Tracy Paulotte is a Montreal-based event producer and business operations consultant working across entertainment, music, and culture. She brings 8+ years of experience supporting cultural organizations through production, programming, and strategic operations. Recent work includes leading the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) event at TIFF’s 50th edition and producing the launch event for Grimelle (ICI TOU.TV), as well as organizing exclusive masterclasses in Montreal featuring internationally recognized musicians such as Larnell Lewis and Kemy Siala. She previously served as Head of Programs and Outreach at Fondation Dynastie, where she developed initiatives, panels, and entrepreneurship programs supporting Black creatives across Quebec in collaboration with major cultural institutions and funding bodies. She also maintains a long-term workshop residency with DESTA Black Youth Network, focusing on creative entrepreneurship and career development, alongside regular work as…