VIBFF Vancouver Black Filmmaker Spotlight

A new showcase celebrating the Black filmmakers shaping Vancouver’s film industry.

As part of the Vancouver International Black Film Festival’s BLACK MARKET Industry Series, the Vancouver Black Filmmaker Spotlight features three selected short films by local Black filmmakers, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

This showcase offers audiences an opportunity to discover local talent, hear the stories behind the films, and engage directly with the filmmakers about their creative journeys, filmmaking processes, and perspectives on the industry

Actor and Voice Artist

Dean Redman was born in Birmingham, England, to Jamaican parents. He is an accomplished actor with more than 100 film, television, and voice animation credits.

He is known for his performances in major blockbusters, including Legendary/Blizzard Films’ Warcraft, in which he portrayed two significant characters alongside Travis Fimmel, Dominic Cooper, and Paula Patton. He also appeared in 20th Century Fox’s Oscar-nominated film War for the Planet of the Apes, alongside Woody Harrelson and Andy Serkis.

Redman has extensive experience in martial arts, weapons handling, and firearms. He is also recognized for his distinctive, deep, smooth, smoky, and commanding voice, featured in Marvel’s Nick Fury, the LEGO series Ninjago, Dragon Quest, and many other productions. His television guest appearances include Stargate SG-1, The X-Files, Smallville, Superman & Lois, and Virgin River.

Actor, Spoken Word Poet, and Filmmaker

Ivana Samuel is an actor, spoken word poet, and filmmaker based in Vancouver. She created her debut short film, Who We Are, through the Reel Youth Black Brilliance program in partnership with TELUS STORYHIVE. Through the Fabienne Colas and Netflix Being Black in Canada Program, she completed her second short film and first documentary, The Book of Black Voices, which follows two Black poets, Adonis and Imbali, as they seek community in Vancouver.

Her latest short film, Looking Glass, draws inspiration from African mythology and explores mental health, self-hate, self-love, and invisibility. The film was funded by the Voices With Impact Film Festival. Ivana is an alumna of the 2023 VIFF Catalyst Mentorship Program and Black Women Film! Canada at TIFF, as well as the 2024 Whistler Film Festival Documentary Lab.

Nigerian-Canadian Actor and Filmmaker

Henry King is a Nigerian-Canadian actor and filmmaker based in Vancouver, BC. His film and television credits include Kung Fu, Superman & Lois, Fire Country, and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches. Driven by a passion for original storytelling, Henry stepped behind the camera to write, direct, produce, and star in DONNIE, an award-winning short film inspired by his own experiences and cultural heritage.

Director and Writer

Born and raised in Lyon, France, Eloane Venkatapen moved to Vancouver to study Film Production at UBC. She is currently developing her first feature film, Lanmè, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada, and Creative BC. The project participated in the Whistler Film Festival 2025 Screenwriters Lab and was invited to pitch at the Marché du Film at Cannes in 2026.

Her latest short film, Backlog, received support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, and the NFB. As a mixed-race woman and French speaker in BC, Eloane is committed to telling stories from underrepresented perspectives.

Director, Producer, and Cinematographer

Born in Ecuador and raised in the Middle East, Andy Hodgson graduated from Capilano University’s Cinematography program in Vancouver in 2004. He began his career working on several big-budget films as a member of IATSE Local 891 before pursuing his passion for filmmaking as a producer, director, and cinematographer.

Alongside producing and directing short films, Andy works as a Director of Photography on independent features and productions for networks and companies including OWN, Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime.