// OUR BOARD OF ADVISORS

Our Board of Advisors is made up of dedicated, passionate, professional, and diverse individuals who have one common goal: to inspire participation in social change through film!

MARYAM MEHRTASH // Boundless Films (President, Founder)

Maryam Mehrtash is a multi-tasking machine! Actress, host, writer, and producer are just some credits to her varied resume. With a keen eye to business, she is the VP of Sales & Marketing at Blink Media Works, a video and television production agency, and also the President and Founder of Boundless Films.

Maryam founded Boundless in January 2009, with the hope to create truthful inspiring stories that will bring light to issues in our everyday lives. She is currently developing her first feature length documentary film, The Millennials Networking Change, and recently released a dramatic comedy webseries called Mismated. Maryam’s other credits include writing multiple short films (No Vacancies, Misconduct, Next); and appearing on television (Honda, CBC, Global, CityTV), film (Ratz), and stage (Madonna In My Mind). Currently, she is developing and hosting a new TV show called AppTV, that airs on TheCave (formerly known as MenTV) in the Fall, and just finished shooting her first lead in the independent feature film Eyes of a Beginner (Seriphim Features).

With a First Class Honors Degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and a passion for filmmaking and social change she hopes to blend her skills together to raise awareness through film and new media.

LEAH NELSON // GiantAntMedia (Director, Producer)

Vancouver-based filmmaker Leah Nelson is a graduate of the Film and Media program at Emily Carr University. Leah has quickly established herself as an accomplished New Media producer with web content that has seen audiences of over 35 million. The success of their short films, comedy and documentary work has led to contracts for original series with companies such as Myspace and inspired them to found Giant Ant Media, a web-focused video studio that creates unique campaigns and shows for online audiences. Nelson’s short documentary, Kaka’win, travelled to numerous festivals and was awarded Best Canadian Short at Toronto’s Planet in Focus Film Festival.

LAUREN GRANT // Clique Pictures Inc (Principal)

The principal of Clique Pictures Inc, Lauren Grant established this Vancouver based company in 2006 to focus on developing new talent in feature film, television drama and documentary production. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s of Arts from UBC with a double major in Film Production and History. In 2006, she attended the Canadian Film Centre’s Producers Lab. She recently completed producing Lisa Jackson’s dramatic short film Savage and executive producing the Knowledge Network project, A Window Looking In, with writers/directors Tara Hungerford and Eric Hogan. She is currently in development with Telefilm Canada, the Harold Greenberg Fund, Corus Made with Pay and British Columbia Film on the feature films Get Happy and Jenny Two Bears. In 2009, she won the CBC Digital Development Lab with the interactive comedy web series she co-created Sex with John.

Lauren currently volunteers as the Vice President - Events for the UBC Film Production Alumni Association.

JENNIFER MALONEY // SIP Publicity (Founder)

Jennifer Maloney started her career as a newspaper reporter, covering everything from business and politics to arts and entertainment. Her talent was quickly discovered by the greater journalism community, which recognized her with both provincial and national awards. In 2006, she was quickly snapped up by one of Canada’s Best Companies to Work for, franchise company – 1800-GOT-JUNK?. There, Jennifer lead her team in media hits landing hundreds of stories about the company including coverage in the NY Times, New York Daily News, Newsday, NBC, BBC World Radio, and the Associated Press. In 2007, her team accepted the Stevie Award for Best International Communications Department. Jennifer left 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to help start-up Spark PR, one of Vancouver’s leading boutique PR firms.

A trip to Seattle in late 2009 changed Jennifer’s perspective on PR. After meeting an inspiring group of individuals who were committed to serving the global community, Jennifer realized she too had an opportunity and responsibility to positively impact the planet. Sip Publicity was born. Sip stands for: sustainability, integrity and philanthropy. Today, Jennifer draws on her journalism background, creative mind and business training to communicate for positive change.

LEAH HOLLOWAY // AVEDA Academies and Experience Centres (Western Regional Manager, Canada)

Leah Holloway “suits” up for her day job as the Western Regional Manager of Aveda Academies & Experience Centres. This role has allowed her to explore her love for the environment and more recently showcase her abilities as a ‘fundraiser extraordinaire’ through the involvement in charity fundraising and management.

Her recent charity-of-choice is WaterCan, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting global poverty by helping the world’s poorest people gain access to clean water, basic sanitation and hygiene. Over the past three years she has lead her team to raise more than $30,000 dollars for the charity. Leah is excited to be working with Boundless Films to lead a fundraising team that brings you empowering events that obtain enough funds to bring their films to your screen.

JAY BASSAN // Atomic Eye Design (Partner)

Jay Bassan is a graduate of SFU with a BA in Communications and Visual Arts. He also attended Emily Carr College of Art and Design, graduating in photography and printmaking. He is often invited as a Guest Lecturer to speak about design and advertising strategies by various schools and local colleges.

Jay began working as a Junior Art Director at Leo Burnett in the UK in 1993-94.  Having gained valuable experience working on international campaigns abroad, the desire to start his own company led him back to Vancouver.

After returning to Canada in 1994, Jay worked as a consulting Art Director for a number of companies in various industries from film, fashion, high-tech, start-ups and government.  It was during this period he met with his current partners, Ada Leung and Nick Leung, forming Atomic Eye Design in 1996.

AUBREY SMETHURST // Marketing Consultant

With an education in marketing and commerce, Aubrey Smethurst is an experienced relationship builder that passionately promotes causes that sit close to her heart.

While embarking on this project, Aubrey will utilize the marketing expertise she has garnered while working with numerous ‘for-profit’ and ‘not-for-profit organizations’. This experience provided her with a set of unique skills to not only market tangible products, but also experiences, lifestyles and social and political points of view. All of which will assist in communicating the important messaging around the social change movement that will be brought to life in this film.

Aubrey thrives on culture and raising awareness around social change. Having recently founded Inspire the Change International, she hopes to encourage public witness around global issues and empower ordinary people to make the world a better place.

JAY GRANDIN // GiantAntMedia (Director, Producer)

Jay Grandin is a partner at Giant Ant Media, a Vancouver-based film, video production, and social media marketing studio founded in 2007. He is Creative Director of Watch for Change, a start-up non-profit devoted to using video and social media to raise money for charity, and a Director at Urban Project, a charity created to facilitate opportunities through youth-led projects in the arts.

Jay will be working with Leah Nelson and the Giant Ant Media team to oversee direction and cinematography of this Boundless Films project.

FARZAD FOROOGHIAN // LLP

Farzad Forooghian is a lawyer at Lang Michener LLP, with a practice focused on securities and corporate finance. He is also active with a number of organizations dedicated to community development and social change, providing advice on a range of issues from legal to fundraising.