FOFS 2026
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FOFS 2026 *
Land First: Sustainable Filmmaking Through an Indigenous Lens (Virtual)
Co-Presented by the Indigenous Screen Office
Sustainability is often framed as a luxury... something only large productions with dedicated green teams can afford. This panel challenges that assumption.
Land First explores how sustainable filmmaking can be approached through practical, community-centred methods informed by Indigenous knowledge systems, environmental stewardship, and responsible production practices. It centres the idea that sustainability is not budget-contingent, but a mindset and methodology that can be integrated into productions of any scale.
Designed specifically for independent and low-budget filmmakers, this conversation will examine how meaningful environmental responsibility can be embedded into productions with limited resources. Rather than focusing on costly certifications or large-scale infrastructure, panelists will highlight accessible, scalable strategies that emerging filmmakers can implement immediately.
Drawing on perspectives from Indigenous filmmakers, sustainability practitioners, producers, and industry leaders, this panel will explore how Indigenous principles of respect for the land, reciprocity, and relational accountability can inform a more sustainable future for the Canadian screen industry. Together, the discussion will demonstrate that environmental responsibility is not a niche practice, but an essential part of how stories can be made with care for people, place, and future generations.
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Moderated by Kerri Coombs (Energy Strategy Architect, TheGreenShot)
Kerri Coombs is a multi-disciplinary filmmaker and sustainability consultant with a unique blend of technical, on-set, and analytical expertise. With hands-on experience in the lighting department, she has worked across both Indigenous and non-Indigenous projects, bringing a grounded, practical understanding of production operations to her advocacy. As a sustainability consultant for global studios, Kerri specializes in tracking and reducing Scope 1 emissions, directly tackling the industry's carbon footprint. Merging her technical background with environmental strategy, she created GridPro—a specialized software tool designed to map, model, and minimize energy-related emissions, helping productions transition toward cleaner, more sustainable power solutions.
Photography Credit: Yvonne Hanson
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Mary Anne Waterhouse (Producer)
A two-time CSA winning producer, Mary Anne has experience across all facets of production. From line producing to development and producing independently, her career has run the gamut from low-budget indies and network series to large-scale studio features.
Mary Anne has produced numerous independent projects, including the award-winning zombie comedy Fido, starring Carrie Anne Moss and Billy Connolly; The Steps, starring Jason Ritter; and The Invisibles, starring Tim Blake Nelson, Bruce Greenwood, and Gretchen Mol. Notable feature credits include the indie Kodachrome starring Jason Sudeikis, Elysium with Neil Blomkamp, and Joss Whedon’s Cabin in the Woods. Recent credits include the Netflix feature Fear Street: Prom Queen 1988, and the upcoming independent feature Tuner, starring Dustin Hoffman.
Her dedication to fostering positive change extends beyond her film work. In 2020, Mary Anne co-founded the Bloor West Food Bank in Toronto. Passionate about sustainability, she also plays a key role in greening the film industry, serving on the the CMPA Sustainability Committee, as co-chair of Ontario Green Screen as well as co-chair of the DGC Ontario Green Committee.
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Melina Laboucan-Massimo (Executive Director, Sacred Earth)
Melina Laboucan-Massimo is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta with more than 25 years of experience advancing climate justice, media literacy and Indigenous sovereignty. She is the founder of Sacred Earth and co-founder of Indigenous Climate Action. Melina was the inaugural Indigenous Research Fellow at the David Suzuki Foundation, focusing on climate change, Indigenous Knowledge, and renewable energy. She is the host of the TV docuseries “Power to the People”, highlighting Indigenous-led climate solutions. Melina holds a Master’s in Indigenous Governance from the University of Victoria.
Photography Credit: Nick Demeris
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Olivia Marie Golosky (Producer, Writer, Director)
Hailing from nistawâyâw, Olivia is a Two-Spirit Michif Producer, Writer and Director. Olivia’s passion is to empower Two-Spirit & Indigi-Queer voices through a lens of radical joy. Their work includes; In Alaska (Associate Producer), SEVENTEEN (Producer), pîķîwî (Director/Producer/Writer), AKASHI (Associate Producer & Production Coordinator), Kimmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy (Producing/Directing Mentee), homecoming (Director/Producer), The Runner (Line Producer), Nite Ride (Co-Director/Writer/Co-Producer), and The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open (Producing Mentee). They are an alumni; of the Cannes Film Festival’s impACT Lab, National Screen Institute’s IndigiDocs Program, GEMS’ Tricksters & Writers’ Program and Audible's Indigenous Writers' Circle program. Currently, they are in post-production on their erotic short film, binding, in development for their feature film, Rhinestone Cowboi, and are an Associate Producer with Experimental Forest Films.
Photographer Credit: Celina Koops (IG: @celinamedia)
IG @0liv3_Mari3
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Samantha Leigh (Sustainability Consultant & Production Team Lead, Green Spark Group)
Samantha leads sustainability programs for the entertainment and advertising sectors at Green Spark Group, guiding studios and agencies toward sustainable transformation. Since 2023, she has overseen sustainability efforts for 9 film/TV productions and more than 70 advertising projects. Recognized as the 2024 "Rising Star" by the Corporate Star Awards, Samantha brings a strong data-driven approach to her work, contributing to key industry research. She serves on the City of Toronto’s Film, Television and Digital Media Board and holds an MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex.
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Tanis Parenteau (Producer)
Tanis Parenteau (Métis) is an Alberta based producer. Her debut short film, 'A Big Black Space' premiered on ARTÉ, her short form series ‘Jason’ premiered on APTN lumi, and her latest short 'Glen Reige 20 WP', will premiere on PBS. She has been funded by ISO, Bell Fund, CCA, AMF, and AMAAS. She is an alum of Reelworld Amazon MGM Line Producer Lab, Banff Spark, NSI Art of Business Management - Indigenous Edition, Whistler Film Festival Producers Lab, Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices, and Alberta Producer Accelerator. Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The New School for Drama.
