People

Brandon (he/him) has collaborated with the Ministry of Education, BC Teachers’ Federation, UBC Faculty of Education, and the ARC Foundation to address the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth through policies and practices that foster inclusive and more supportive school environments. Growing up as a mixed-race queer kid in Langley, he never saw role models who looked like him on TV or in film, and if he did they were never queer. If they were queer, they were never Asian. Brandon understands that representation of diverse and complex intersecting identities is important, and it is this conviction and his experience as an activist, advocate, and educator that led him to run for Vancouver city council in 2018. Though he didn’t win, it brought forward important conversations on representation, race, sexuality, and politics.

Charlie Hidalgo (he/him) is a Colombian-Canadian film curator, trans media consultant, filmmaker, and a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Producer Lab. He is committed to combatting the erasure of 2SLGBTQIA+ BIPOC identities in the media by curating and creating stories that question culture and empower queer and trans BIPOC communities. His work has screened at TIFF, SXSW, Slamdance, BFI, VIFF, Inside Out, Outfest, and NewFest Film Festivals. He has programmed for Urbanworld, Slamdance, Cucalorus, Tribeca, Inside Out, Outfest, NewFest, and Athena Film Festivals.

Sarah-Tai (they/them) is a film programmer, arts curator, and critic born and (mostly) raised in Treaty 13 Territory/Toronto. They are a multi-racial Black non-binary femme of Afro-Brazilian, Chinese, and European settler ancestry who works to center embodied Black, queer, trans, and crip futurities. They are interested in spaces and moments that inspire immediate, all-encompassing feeling; speak back to conventional ways of seeing and being seen; and experiment with presupposed boundaries of form and narrative. Most importantly, their Boxer pup Ben (Gemini sun/Pisces moon) is the main character of their life.

Eva Grant (she/her) is a bilingual filmmaker operating at the intersection of queer and BIPOC storytelling, and the founder of Tooth & Nail Pictures. She is the creator of the dark comedy web series Degrees of Separation, a guest director on Couleurs du Nord, and in pre-production on her short film as an ImagineNATIVE Screenwriting Shorts Fellow. The CMF, IPF, BIPOC TV and Film, ISO, RWSI, BANFF Spark, and AGO have supported her work. Eva is a graduate of Stanford University, where she studied literature and philosophy. Her work is influenced by fantasy, futurism, mythology, death, love, and her mixed St’at’imc Indigenous, South and West Asian, and European heritage.

Jasmine Monton (they/she), who also goes by the stage name Audder, is an artist of multiple genres and multiple feelings. They are a self-defined “gate-reaper”, combating industry gatekeeping and growing healthy arts leadership. Jasmine values storytelling that brings dignity, depth, and wonder to the queer community. Once acknowledged at a film festival as “the overly enthusiastic volunteer”, they believe film and media are powerful sources of connection to personal identity and each other. Jasmine’s background is in community outreach, youth mentorship, event coordination, and music. They are co-producer of the Filipino Fridays Podcast.

They are roughly the size of an otter and are now acknowledged at film festival bars with “I’m sorry can I get your ID?”

김새로미 Romi Kim (they/them), also known as SKIM in drag, is a genderfluid, second-generation Korean lesbian. They identify themselves in recognizing the words they describe themselves with are verbs rather than nouns or adjectives—constantly in action and in flux. Kim is an interdisciplinary artist that works in video, performance, installation, and photography. Their work has been exhibited in South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Canada, most recently at SUM Gallery and Polygon Art Gallery in Vancouver. They have performed internationally in South Korea, Vietnam, Berlin, San Francisco and Vancouver (Cultch Theatre, Upintheair Theatre, and Transform Cabaret Festival). SKIM is also a co-producer of the all-drag king and thing show Magic Dykes.

SKIM loves eating crunchy foods with their community to nourish themselves and build relationships.

Piper (they/them) is a queer agender femme currently living on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. They thrive on any opportunity to organize the thing and the people. Having a background in technical theatre and the arts, Piper has always dabbled in their own artistic practice and helped support others in creating meaningful, connective, and unapologetically expressive art.

Outside of work Piper can be found doting over their dog, Maven, on the trail, at the beach, or doing an extensive training session.

Muhan (she/her) is a retired band-geek, soft-data spreadsheet wiz, and quadruple Gemini. She grew up as a child of Chinese immigrants on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nations. She studied Art History and East Asian Studies at McGill University and received a Master of Arts in Visual Arts Administration from New York University. As a career arts administrator, Muhan believes strongly in the administrator’s power to advocate and propel change from within institutions. She also writes sometimes, predominantly works of cultural criticism and creative nonfiction, which you can track down in C Mag, The McGill Daily, and SAD MAG. You can find her chaotic self-published book reviews on readwithmu.com.

Madeline Taylor (they/she) is a queer, non-binary, and femme, of white settler heritage, living and working on the unceded territory of the qiqéyt peoples.

Madeline comes from a background in radio, podcasting, writing, and event organizing. They are passionate about justice focused community building, sound art, punk rock, the decolonial potential of reimagining institutions, and procrastibaking.

Madeline holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Simon Fraser University, and spent the last five years working in campus/community radio as Programming Manager at CiTR 101.9FM. Madeline has done freelance work with organizations ranging from the BBC to VIVO Media Arts Centre, and won national recognition for their audio storytelling.

Maria has over a decade of fundraising and non-profit experience. She is regularly asked to speak on issues related to innovative stewardship, building relationships, and Community-Centric Fundraising. Her op-eds have been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ magazine. She presented at the annual conference of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, was a finalist for the national 2022 Charity Village Best Individual Fundraiser Award, and has a deep passion for non-profit work. Maria also sits on the Board of Living Wage Canada and is often asked to speak on issues related to poverty.

Percy is a bite-sized non-binary queer born and raised in Vietnam. They are currently in their last term of a Hospitality Management degree. Passionate about art but lacking the talent, they are very excited to be a part of Out On Screen so that they can support the artists from behind the scenes.

Percy is a Muay Thai and gym fanatic. In their free time you can find them getting beat up in sparring or struggling to lift the tiniest weights.

Avery (they/them) is a multiply disabled, wheelchair user queer youth of colour who is primarily an activist. Avery joined Out On Screen as an Out In Schools Facilitator in 2017. They are very excited to have moved into the role of Program Coordinator.

Born and raised on unceded Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Musqueam lands, Avery is a passionate and over-committed grassroots community organizer. Over the past couple of years, their focus has ranged from Indigenous sovereignty to sex work advocacy. In 2018, Avery was one of the core organizers of Protect The Inlet, the Indigenous-led resistance against the Trans Mountain Pipeline. In 2019, Avery helped start Our Time, a cross-country youth-led intersectional climate justice group pushing to bring a Green New Deal to Canada. They co-founded the local hub, Our Time – Vancouver.

Be it when they’re playing music, nålbinding, or swimming, Avery strives to bring an intersectional lens to all that they do.

Danny (he/they) is a queer, non-binary, Nice Jewish Boy. He loves to play with gender/expression through clothing, makeup, nails, and especially platform shoes. They have been an enthusiastic member of the OOS team since 2017, starting out as a Facilitator and moving into the role of Program Coordinator in 2021. He is committed to an intersectional, decolonial approach to education and has a passion for pursuing justice and equity. Alongside their work with Out on Screen, Danny has been involved in leading children’s classes and afterschool programs, and is currently completing a BA with a double minor in History and Legal Studies from SFU. They strive to bring compassion, dedication, and his unique brand of Dad humor to everything he does.

When not working or studying, Danny enjoys handicrafts like crochet and embroidery, watching 80s movies, and doting over their kitty.

Gavin (they/them) joined the Out In Schools team first as a facilitator in 2014. In supporting organizational growth, Gavin has stepped into many roles including Program Coordinator, Out In Schools Program Manager and now Education Director.

Passionate about the power of storytelling, Gavin is a writer, musician and artist.

Gavin captivates audiences with humour and kindness; compelling others to engage in the act of self-reflection for communal growth with the goal of moving towards social equity.

In their spare time, Gavin escapes the city, and nourishes new/old relationships.