FOFS 2025
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FOFS 2025 *
In the Casting Room:
DEIA in Casting Panel
Co-Presented by ACTRA Toronto
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Mariah Inger (Moderator)
Mariah Inger has been an actress for over 30yrs. She works in film, TV, voice, Video Games & Theatre.She is the co-founder of ‘MW Mentorship’, A company focused on mentorship for ALL emerging artists, teaching them the ‘Business of Art’, while creating a place for marginalized artists to gain skills and tools to help identify and confront micro & macro aggressions often faced within the industry. Also a theatre director & producer, as well as the Chair of ACTRA National’s DEIB committee, helping to implement better diversity & inclusion policies within the industry. Actor, Director, Producer, Mentor, Activist & proud mother.
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Rachel Osbourne
Rachel Osbourne is a Jamaican-Canadian casting director known for her eye for nuanced, character-driven talent. Her credits include the 2023 TIFF selection Express, 2024 TIFF selection After Sunday, and The Other Stuff (Reelworld 2024). She also cast the upcoming feature It Comes in Waves. Rachel’s television work includes Global’s Robyn Hood, CBC/BBC’s Gangnam Project, and Netflix’s Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War. With a growing reputation for championing authentic performances, she brings cultural sensitivity and storytelling insight to every project she joins.
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Tonjha Richardson
Tonjha Richardson (she/her) is a Mixed Race/Black actor, writer, and emerging director from Scarborough with over 15 years of acting experience in TV, film, and theatre. She serves as an ACTRA Toronto Councillor, Co-Chair of TAWC and the Disability Alliance Subcommittee, Facilitator of ACTRA’s Respect on Set course, and was a member of the 2025 IPA Bargaining Team. Tonjha has participated on various panels promoting DEIB initiatives across the industry and beyond. As a panelist for the FOFS 2025 DEIB Casting workshop, she brings a deep commitment to fostering safer, more inclusive spaces.
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Millie Tom
Millie Tom is a Toronto-based Casting Director with over 20 years of experience in casting series, features for film and television, video games & audiobooks. She is a 2017 Canadian Screen Award Winner for Best Achievement in Casting which she shares with Deirdre Bowen, for their work on the CBC series, Kim’s Convenience in its debut season.
Millie's other credits include The Incredible Hulk (2008); Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; video game Far Cry 5; Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues & You (Season 2 & 3); the upcoming limited series Robyn Hood, created and produced by Director X; and the recently released Apple TV+ series JANE produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment and the Jane Goodall Institute.
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Colleen Rush
Colleen has spent the past decade building a dynamic career in casting. Since joining forces with the acclaimed Larissa Mair in 2016, she hasn’t looked back. Together, they’ve earned four Canadian Screen Award nominations and collaborated on a wide range of acclaimed projects for major networks including Netflix, Crave, CBC, Treehouse, Amazon, TVO, Hallmark, Lifetime, OWN, Prime Video, and Hulu.
Passionate about storytelling, Colleen thrives on working closely with creators, directors, producers, and actors to find the perfect talent for every role. Her recent credits include the feature films Youngblood and Nika and Madison, Season 2 of Mistletoe Murders (Hallmark), The Office Movers (Crave), Late Bloomer (Crave), and BET (Netflix). -
Glenda Clarke
Our founder, Glenda Clarke, brings her nurturing spirit from her mental health nursing background to the casting world, championing voices that long for the spotlight. As part of her commitment to nurturing diverse talent, Glenda is also an alumni of Reelworld Screen Institute's Black Entrepreneurship Program, specifically within the Casting Director stream. This engagement reflects her dedication to diversifying the industry and her pursuit of growth and development in her field.
At GC Casting, we see beyond the script, seeking out those unique stories often left untold. We are a sanctuary for talent from every walk of life—Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and anyone who's ever felt the industry's doors closed to them. We're not just filling roles; we're opening doors to diversity, equity, and representation. -
Janet-Rose Nguyen
Janet-Rose Nguyen is an award-winning writer/director. Her work explores the awful ways humans treat each other using comedy, horror, feminism, and queerness. Her work focuses on the Asian and Vietnamese diaspora. Recently she was a Top 10 finalist of the Screencraft Horror Competition for her feature film “Cedar Falls Bay”, was part of the Rising Voices Canada cohort presented by Hillman Grad/BIPOCTV & FILM/Indeed, and was selected for the 2024 Creators Market at the Tribeca Film Festival. She is an alumnus of the Reelworld Emerging 20 Program and the Canadian Film Centre’s CBC Actors Conservatory. Her films and screenplays have been featured all over North America with the National Screen Institute, the Hollywood International Short Film Festival, and the Regent Park Film Festival. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and a BFA in Screenwriting.