Meet the 2025 SPIP Cohort

Amita Zamaana Toronto, ON

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Beverley Dondale, Victoria, BC

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Chad Townsend,Vancouver, BC

Andrea Saccheto, Field, ON

Chad Townsend is an experienced environmental professional and emerging visual storyteller. He studied planning, then ecology and has worked in the sustainably field for non-profits, governments and as a consultant in Canada, Europe, and South America. Chad transitioned into documentary filmmaking mid-career, studying at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. During the pandemic, he produced and directed the short Nomoto - a BC Tragedy, selected for regional festivals and Japanese Canadian Community events and now streaming on Knowledge Network. Chad is excited that his latest film project 1910 – The Uncovering will premiere at VIMFF in November.

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Beverley Dondale is the President of The ReUse People of Canada (TRP Canada) and founder of Alpha Select, a family of circular-economy ventures on Vancouver Island. She’s leading the development of a sustainable film production hub at Malahat Industrial Park that weaves reclaimed materials, reusable dishware systems, and zero-waste logistics into the fabric of production. Through her work, large volumes of old-growth lumber are salvaged and given new life, supporting both the local building and film industries. Beverley’s innovative approach was recently recognized as a 2025 Ecostar Awards finalist for Waste-to-Resource Innovation.

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Andrea Sacchetto resides on off-grid acreage in a small Northern Ontario community, where she has cultivated an eco-conscious lifestyle since 2016. When she returned to the film industry in 2023, her two worlds converged. As the owner and operator of Happy Planet Sustainable Production Services, Andrea is deeply committed to expanding both her expertise and her presence within the film community. She believes that sustainable practices in the film industry must be championed from leadership positions. Her mission is to educate the next generation of filmmakers on the essential values of environmentally responsible production methods.

Amita Zamaana is a producer, writer and director of both scripted and unscripted film and television. Through her independent production company, Amita helms bold and ambitious creative projects centring voices that are often underrepresented or misrepresented in the current media landscape.

Chloe Bearce, Toronto, ON

Elizabeth Parker-Wanie, Toronto, ON

New Westminster, BC

Jolanta Mojsej, Ottawa, ON

Laura MacNutt, Halifax, NS

Sina Moazeni, North Vancouver, BC

Natalie Ashanti Ira-Gould

Sault Ste Marie, ON

Mallory Furlong, Hamilton, ON

Lizzie Han, Toronto, ON

DIANA DONALDSON

JORDAN HALL

Cynthia Burke, Winnipeg, MN

Emily-Anne Fraser, Vancouver, BC

Joel Chanin, Coquitlam, BC

Emily-Anne Fraser graduated from the Langara Film Arts Program in 2013 and has been working in the film industry since 2015, gaining experience across multiple departments. Her career has included working on major network productions such as Fox’s Prison Break and HBO’s The Last of Us, where she witnessed firsthand the scale and impact of the industry’s practices. Having seen how wasteful traditional methods can be, she is now committed to driving change and creating more sustainable ways of working within film and television.

Elizabeth comes from a background of film production and live events. As an assistant director and live event technical director she has a comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of different types of productions from multiple angles! As the Studio Manager at Dark Slope Studios in Toronto, Elizabeth, collaborating with Bullfrog Power, created a “first of its kind” carbon offset program for their back office and the productions shooting in their stages!

Jesse James Clark

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Cynthia (Cindy) Burke has been a member of the film and television industry for over 10 years and has chosen to focus her professional attentions on Film Production Sustainability.

Her first career was teaching English and Art, and is committed to the principles of life-long learning as part of her work in environmental stewardship.

She has lived North of the 56th parallel, as well as England. Her passion to connect with others has lead to her participation as a Canadian representative in the Pueblo Inglis/Diverbo English programmes hosted in Europe.

Chloe Bearce comes from a film and television background and has worked in everything from art direction to editing to social media. She's passionate about storytelling, collaboration, and finding creative ways to make an impact.

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Laura MacNutt has long been a fierce advocate for sustainability. Her formal education began in Fine Arts, leading to a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies and then Masters of Architecture degrees. Laura’s profession led to residence in Finland, Bermuda, Switzerland, & several cities across Canada. Following 15 years practising architecture, Laura was introduced to the film industry on a bootstrapped TV pilot in Nova Scotia. She was smitten. In 2013 Laura founded a small vintage apparel business, KingsPIER, in her barn in Grand Pre, alongside sheep pens and a chicken coup. The business currently fills a 3-storey heritage building in downtown Halifax.

CLARA GEORGE

Passion for the screen industry and sustainability is reflected in Jolanta’s participation as ACTRA Ottawa Chair Green Committee, member of National Climate Action Working Group convened by Canadian film and television unions, guilds and trade associations, General Assembly Member for Canada on UN Entertainment and Culture for Film & Television Climate Action Committee, as Ontario Green Screen Ambassador. Passion supported by environmental projects in Federal Government career. Greening efforts underpinned by Bachelor Applied Arts, Honors, Geography and on-going sustainability certifications. Jolanta hopes to inspire and support the film and television industry in reducing carbon emissions for a healthier future.

Joel is a dedicated Vancouver-based film professional with over a decade of experience in the industry. Passionate about continuous growth and development, Joel is committed to leaving a positive impact, both on set and within the broader film community. His goal is to provide a supportive environment for storytelling, while adhering to current and future sustainability goals for green productions.

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Jesse is a Vancouver-based writer, director, and producer – happiest when his work brings a smile or sparks a shift. His film journey started with a reverse-acted single-shot short film that made the festival rounds and picked up a few awards, and has since led him into commercial storytelling, climate-focused media, and post-production on shows for Netflix, Lifetime, and more. He recently won the WE-CAN Climate Action Video Contest, and he’s passionately involved in community climate advocacy. Whether he’s wrangling raccoon puppets or framing a call to action, Jesse aims to make videos that are meaningful – and fun!

Sina Moazeni is a Vancouver-based producer and founder of Helz Pictures Inc. A graduate of Capilano University’s Documentary Filmmaking program, he has produced and directed several short films and worked across locations and production departments on TV series, commercials, and independent projects in B.C. Through his work at Helz Pictures, Sina helps emerging artists tell their stories visually and navigate industry barriers. His multidisciplinary background in filmmaking, engineering, and music informs his creative and collaborative approach to producing.

Meet the 2025 SPIP Expert Faculty

Ashleigh Prince (she/her) is an accomplished producer, sustainability consultant, and entertainment entrepreneur whose thirty-year career spans acting, producing, digital media, and environmental advocacy. Beginning as an actress in Hollywood working in commercials, theater, TV, and film, Ashleigh's career evolved to encompass multiple facets of the entertainment industry, establishing her as a versatile leader in sustainable media production. As co-founder of Tanasqui Films, Ashleigh has produced a wide variety of content across major networks and streaming platforms. Her recent consulting credits include high-profile feature films, premium television series, and independent productions, where she has worked both above and below the line, utilizing her comprehensive industry expertise.

A pioneer in sustainable entertainment practices, Ashleigh serves as an on-production sustainability consultant with Green Spark Group, notably implementing green initiatives. Her commitment to environmental advocacy led to the creation of Ecogal: The Curious Consumer, a platform combining her production expertise with environmental education. In 2024, she earned her Sustainability Production in Entertainment Certification (SPEC), further cementing her expertise in eco-conscious filmmaking. Currently in her fifth year pursuing Environmental Studies in the UK, Ashleigh continues to deepen her knowledge of ecological systems and sustainable media practices. She is also a graduate of the Climate Reality Training through Al Gore's organization.

After a 25-year career as a Line Producer, Clara is now working full-time on the sustainable production movement. Currently Chair of the DGC National Sustainability and Climate Action Committee, Clara also sits on the Producers' Guild of America Green Task Force, and is a Regional Sustainability Advisor for Netflix.

Clara has worked as a Vancouver-based television producer. Over her 25-year career, Clara has won an Emmy Award and PGA Award for “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”; an NAACP Award for “Sounder”; and a Women Image Awards for “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce.”

Clara has been an advocate of changing the way we produce film and television, promoting and practicing sustainable production.

Working with fellow producers, department heads, suppliers and studios, Clara is making significant steps towards greener productions.

Clara joined the Women For Climate Vancouver and has been working to coordinate and promote sustainability efforts with the industry and the city.

Clara was chosen as one of the first Reel Green Ambassadors by Creative BC and was honoured as a Sustainable Champion at the Vancouver International Film Festival and Sustainable Production Forum in 2018 & 2019.

Diana Donaldson is an award-winning independent Producer with over two decades of experience in the film industry, now specializing in Production Sustainability. She was one of the first Sustainability Advisors for Netflix, helping build out the program and was the first in North America to pilot; Electric 5ton/3ton EV Trucks, Renewable Diesel tanks on site, first Hydrogen Generator at basecamp, creating Safe Operating Manuals and adhering to provincial and district regulations in order to establish protocol for use of the new clean technology. From her low budget indie experience to striking large scale series, Donaldson has mastered what it takes to make a production and how to do it Sustainability, all while breaking down barriers and forging the path ahead. She has presented on panels with, DGC, IASTE, is listed as an Ambassador with Reel Green ™ , organized publicity shoots including Bloomberg and was featured on Netflix’s carbon production sizzle reel and on radio and Global TV.

Elsa supports CBC productions in developing their sustainable strategies- including the adoption of greener production practices, green storytelling on screen, and other strategies to advance sustainable decision-making. She collaborates with producers and internal and external environmental organizations.

Jordan Hall is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. She’s best known for her plays Kayak and How to Survive an Apocalypse, and for creating and writing cult-hit webseries Carmilla (Winner: Canadian Screen Award, over 70 million views on YouTube.) Jordan is an alumnus of the Corus Program at Banff, and the Pacific Screenwriting Program’s Scripted Series Lab. Recent credits include story editor and writer on Family Law; and the neurodiverse comedy Functioning, on option with MUSE Entertainment. She teaches screenwriting at Capilano University.

Natalie Ira-Gould is an Ontario–based producer, writer, and founder of Gouldwood Entertainment. Combining creative vision with production and business expertise, she has contributed to projects including Sort Of, The Well, and Warrior Strong. Natalie is passionate about creating diverse, climate-conscious stories and productions that foster meaningful connections on and off screen.

Mallory is a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program from the University of Toronto. She previously completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and spent her summers working as a Construction Labourer on various productions. Mallory has a broad range of experience in social media communications, marketing, education, and energy which give her a unique perspective on her work. Since graduating, Mallory has been looking for opportunities to bridge her academic background with her interest in the entertainment industry, which she hopes to achieve through the SPIP.

ASHLEIGH PRINCE

ELSA TOKUNAGA

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Lizzie Han is a writer and director based in Toronto. She is a recent graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University's film program and her works have screened at numerous international film festivals including NFFTY, TIFF Next Wave, Phoenix Film Festival, and Vancouver Short Film Festival. In her spare time she enjoys playing piano, reading, running, and figure skating.