Alan Wong is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary performing artist and arts leader of Chinese heritage, born in Canada. Until recently, Alan was the Executive Director of the Gimli International Film Festival, Manitoba’s premier festival of film and media arts. Alan is also an advocate for equity and fair working conditions, and serves as the council President of ACTRA Manitoba, the local branch of the union for film and television performers.

Judy is an active member of the Calgary community and supporting the arts by volunteering and encouraging others to get involved. She is an advocate for entrepreneurship and business mixed with her passion for advancing opportunities for youth and Asian talent. She is excited to support the mandate of FascinAsian as a board member and support the festival offerings in Calgary.

Shawn Tse (he/him) is a ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (amiskwacîwâskahikan) / Edmonton based father, multi-disciplinary artist, educator, and organizer practicing primarily in film/video and theatre. He is passionate about art because it has opened up vital spaces for him to navigate cultural identity and BIPoC solidarity as a Cantonese Canadian settler.

A firm believer in the saying “life imitates art,” Jié devotes his efforts to uplifting the Asian diaspora through media and the arts. Blending technical skill with artistic vision, his career focuses on web design and digital media. Beyond his professional life, he’s an aspiring stand-up comedian and a board member of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba, where he also serves as event planner and “everything IT.” Jié is passionate about using storytelling, narrative, and humor to spark connection, provoke thought, inspire reflection, and celebrate authentic, diverse, and unapologetic expressions of Asian identity in media.

Ray is a curious, adventurous free spirited engineer who has lived and worked around the globe and is constantly instilling a travel bug in his family and friends. He is an active volunteer and mentor in organizations supporting youth and immigrants. As a relationship builder, a connector, and an advocate for the underdog, his passion for teaching personal finance to the underserved keeps him busy. Ray is an active ACTRA Alberta member. When he’s not busy with his passion, he enjoys being on sets for background roles on different projects including most recently, The Last of Us, Heartland Season 16, and Fargo Season 5.

Iris is a Senior Advisor with Content Development for CBC News, where she spends most of her time helping creative teams lean into change. She’s an award-winning programmer with decades of experience in launching, refreshing and sustaining shows. You might have caught her name in the credits of shows like Now or Never, DNTO, Absolutely Manitoba and Recovering Filipino. She’s committed to championing underrepresented voices and mentoring the next generation of leaders and storytellers.

Justin Sugita is an IT professional and a passionate individual about multiculturalism in our growing society. While volunteering with the community since 2010, to help promote the art and cuisine of a wide range of cultures and events. Justin will be helping out with the team by sharing his passion with everyone.

Jessica is a manager of programs and development at the National Screen Institute. Prior to that she spent the last decade building a successful career as a film and television producer and production manager.

Max developed a love for film, culture, and storytelling from a young age. At 14, he got his first DSLR camera, and despite all his initial photos being overexposed or blurry, he persevered. Through mastering ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, Max not only learned the technical aspects of photography but also discovered his passion for visual storytelling. Overcoming the early challenges with his camera, Max has grown to appreciate the nuanced interplay of light and timing in crafting compelling narratives. He is delighted to contribute to an initiative intended to shine a light on the rich narratives and beauty of Asian culture and cinema, enriching the cultural fabric of Calgary.

Yenny is corporate commercial lawyer at Mercado Trinh Law LLP. She is a passionate leader in her community, and she believes in representation, equitable access, and inclusion. Over the years, Yenny has been a board member of various non-profit and charitable organizations in Winnipeg. She is presently the President of the Asian Heritage Society of Manitoba.

Sean is a tax lawyer and Chartered Accountant at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He is an ardent supporter of local community initiatives and advocate for diverse voices and inclusivity in the professions. Sean also currently serves as Treasurer of the Federation of Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter.

Tommy Inthirath is an award-winning Producer and Post-Production Editor based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After receiving his Broadcast Media Diploma, Tommy began to dedicate his time in the film industry and online content creation. He is the co-founder and Technical Coordinator of FascinAsian Film Festival. A film festival dedicated to promoting and celebrating Asian perspectives, culture and integrity in film and media.

Alex Wong is a creative superhero with an artist’s eye and a programmer’s acuity. Alex has helped businesses large and small reach their marketing potential with creative direction, graphic design and web development. When not generating pixels or wrangling code, Alex enjoys fitness, science, technology and where they intersect with current events. Learn more at Creative Superhero.

Karen Allardice is a project manager in tech for higher education who is passionate about giving back to her community. She has volunteered in the non-profit and public sectors for nearly 20 years. Karen currently sits on the board of Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) Manitoba as Vice Chair.

Adnan is a highly skilled IT specialist and web developer with extensive experience in creating dynamic, standards-compliant websites. Having managed end-to-end digital projects as a freelancer, he now brings his technical expertise to the University of Manitoba. In his current role, Adnan focuses on audio-visual technologies and XR (Extended Reality) innovation, where he develops experiential learning solutions for students, faculty, and staff.

Beng Reyes Ong is a community connector, event alchemist, and program strategist who brings over 20 years of experience to the art of gathering. Whether she’s orchestrating large-scale festivals, hosting intercultural dialogues, or designing equity-driven programs, Beng infuses strategic leadership with deep cultural fluency and a love for shared stories—especially those told through food, art, and celebration. As a DEI strategist, program facilitator, and current Board Director with Filipinos Rising and Asian Heritage Foundation, Beng continues to advocate for inclusive spaces where heritage shines and communities thrive. She believes that storytelling is a powerful tool for connection, healing, and transformation. At FascinAsian, she’s thrilled to uplift Asian voices and help create experiences that linger long after the credits roll.

Leo is a newcomer when it comes to film and arts but when the opportunity to join the amazing FascinAsian team came up, he couldn’t say no. As his second year supporting the festival, Leo looks forward to helping grow and improve the festival in any way he can!

Caitlyn Kwong is a fourth-generation Chinese Canadian working in the non-profit sector with a background in education and business. Passionate about equity, community engagement, and diverse representation, she is dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices. As a volunteer with FascinAsian, she is excited to support the festival’s mission and celebrate Asian talent in media.

Kefira Mok (she/her) is a Calgary-born, Chinese-Canadian film & theatre actor and interdisciplinary artist based in Mohkinstsis, Treaty 7 Territory. Kefira holds authenticity & accurate representation of told stories at the forefront of her craft as a proud Asian Creative, and works to nurture the creative pursuits of fellow artists, both in her work in the performing arts and in digital media through advocacy of amplifying the voices of artists in the disabled community & BIPOC Creatives. She is excited to join the 2024 FascinAsian team in sharing these unique and needed stories with film lovers in Calgary.

Julia Zhu is a CPA candidate and working as Accounting Professional for couple years. Beside her daily work, she’s also a dance instructor and tea event planner. She is honoured to have participated in various local cultural events such as Asian Heritage Festival and Folklorama. Culture sharing is where Julia’s passionate about. Joining FascinAisan Film Festival is one of the best things she experienced in Calgary.

Vicky Xingyu Gu is a Chinese animator who explores narrative, documentary, and experimental forms of animation. Her works draw inspiration from cultural conflicts, emotional struggles, and societal issues, while experimenting with both digital and traditional media to create layered, hybrid, and provocative forms of storytelling. She has directed and produced several animated short films that have been screened at film festivals worldwide. Since relocating to Calgary, she has become an active participant in the local arts community.