North Bay Film Festival 2024 | November 15-17
Panel Discussion: Indie Filmmaking
Join us for an engaging and informative Indie Filmmaking Panel on Saturday, November 16th, at 3 PM. Moderated by acclaimed local writer, director, and producer Derek Diorio—who brings a wealth of experience with five independent feature films under his belt—this panel will feature insightful discussions with filmmakers Austin Lindsay, Kirsten Kosloski, and Kourtney Roy. Attendees can expect to gain valuable knowledge from these industry professionals as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes in the world of independent filmmaking. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or a seasoned industry member, this free event offers a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most creative voices in the field.
Panelists & Speaker Bios:
Derek Diorio
Derek Diorio is a North Bay, Ontario-based writer, director, and producer. Beginning his career as an award-winning radio advertising copywriter, Derek co-founded several influential production companies and comedy troupes between 1979 and 1999, including Sound Venture Productions and Skit Row. His early work included co-writing for Ottawa-based television series such as You Can’t Do That on Television and The Raccoons. He went on to direct Ottawa’s first feature film, Two’s a Mob (1997), and co-produced House of Luk (1999) with Pat Morita and Michael Moriarty. In the early 2000s, he created a micro-studio that produced three indie films featuring actors like Patrick McKenna, Graham Greene, and Ernest Borgnine. Derek has also directed over 120 half-hour episodes for French-language series, and co-created and produced TVO’s flagship series Hard Rock Medical (2013-2018), filmed in partnership with Nipissing First Nation. He has worked extensively with Indigenous filmmakers, and his documentary The Quantum Tamers won the Prix Audace at the Pariscience International Science Film Festival in 2009. Derek continues to contribute to the Northern Ontario film industry through his mentorship of Digital Cinema and Broadcast students at Canadore College, and his work has earned numerous awards, including a Cable Ace Award and two Gemini nominations.
Austin Lindsay
Austin Lindsay is a Northern Ontario filmmaker currently studying at York University in Toronto, Ontario. While pursuing his education, he remains actively involved in the Northern Ontario film industry, directing and producing indie films across both regions. In 2021, he directed Abduction, a well-received Northern Ontario production, and continues to build a diverse body of work. His recent short film, Walter’s Room, was nominated for Outstanding Director – Short/Mid-Length Film at the 2024 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards, solidifying his growing reputation in the industry.
Kirsten Kosloski
Kirsten Kosloski is a documentary filmmaker, media artist and educator originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario. She has turned a passion for pop culture into several careers and has spent most of her life obsessing over music and film. She has worked as a music writer, film critic and has directed and produced several documentaries about life in Northern Ontario, including Five Bucks at the Door: The Story of Crocks N Rolls (2019), which screened at film festivals across North America. Her work as a filmmaker has been supported by the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts. Her latest film, First Snow (2024), is an animated short about her father’s immigration to Canada.
Kourtney Roy
Kourtney Roy works extensively as an independent photographer and filmmaker in the art world, as well as the advertising world of print and video. Her photographs have garnered many prizes and grants, including the Prix Picto in 2007, the Emily Award ECUAD in 2012, the Prix Carte Blanche PMU/Le Bal in 2013 and Pernod Ricard’s prestigious Carte Blanche in 2018. In 2019 she won the best experimental film award at the Brest European Short Film Festival with her dark and dreamy short MORNING, VEGAS. Her second short SLICE OF HEAVEN premiered at the 2020 Raindance Film Festival in London. KRYPTIC is her debut feature film.