2021-22 CBC Actors Conservatory Digital Brochure

CHRISTEF DESIR

JANET-ROSE NGUYEN

KATHERINE FOGLER

LEIGHTON WILLIAMS

ZARA JESTADT

IZAD ETEMADI

2021 / 2022

CBC ACTORS CONSERVATORY

BLESSING ADEDIJO

BLESSING ADEDIJO https://vimeo.com/779741483 (password: blessing)

Blessing is an actor and writer who most recently completed the CBC Actors Conservatory at the Canadian Film Centre. Her training includes the acting conservatory at TMU’s Creative School (formerly the Ryerson School of Performance) and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Her screen credits include The Good Doctor (ABC), Hudson and Rex (CityTv), What We Do in the Shadows (FX),and a recurring role on The Wedding Planners (Citytv). Since graduating from Ryerson, Blessing has performed in Vietnam, Australia and the U.S. She most recently completed filming Caitlin Cronenberg’s debut feature film, Humane.

To watch Blessing’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Julia Schneider, Ambition Talent 416.916.8340 julia@ambitiontalent.com

CHRISTEF DESIR Christef Desir is a talented actor hailing from Haiti and currently based in Toronto.

He received his training at the Soulpepper Academy and the Canadian Film Center and has since appeared in various film, television, and theatre productions, earning a nomination for a Dora Mavor Moore award for The Royale. He appeared in TIFF Official Selection Learn to Swim. Christef is represented by Larissa Giroux at OAZ and is committed to using his talent to make a positive impact on the world. With his dedication and passion for acting, he is an actor to watch out for in the coming years.

To watch Christef’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Larissa Giroux, Oscar Abrams Zimel + Associates Inc 416.860.1790 larissa@oazinc.com

IZAD ETEMADI http://izadetemadi.com

Izad Etemadi is an Iranian-Canadian actor and writer. His onscreen credits include Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC), Ghosts (CBS), Overlord and the Underwoods (CBC/Nickelodeon), and Revenge of the Black Best Friend (CBC Gem). He originated the role of Samuel in the new Canadian musical Grow (from the producers of Come From Away) and most recently played Buddy the Elf in Elf the Musical at The Grand Theatre. In 2017, he won the Emerging Queer Artist Award from Buddies in Bad Times. His comedy special Izad Etemadi: the solo show will premier this spring.

To watch Izad’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Karen Williams-Posival, Characters Talent Agency 416.964.8522 karenwp@thecharacters.com

JANET-ROSE NGUYEN http://janetrosenguyen.com

Janet-Rose Nguyen is an award-winning actress and writer. Her work explores magic, horror, feminism, queerness, and the Asian diaspora. She is the co-chair of the ACTRA Diversity & Inclusion committee, serves on ACTRA council, and is an alumnus of the Reelworld Emerging 20 Program and the CFC’s Actors Conservatory. She’s taught screenwriting to youth for INKSpire, and served on the Bursary committee of Firefly Creative Writing. Her films have been featured with the National Screen Institute and Myseum Toronto. She holds a BA in Creative Writing and BFA in Screenwriting from York University.

You can hear her next in Doomlands.

To watch Janet-Rose’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Emily Klama, Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency 416.925.4255 emily@artagencyinc.com

KATHERINE FOGLER https://bit.ly/3hhaxIV After training in NYC at Atlantic Acting School, Katherine returned to Toronto where she studied and coached at Second City. There she co-founded Not Oasis comedy troupe which has toured and headlined internationally. Following her residencyin the CFC Actors Conservatory, Katherine played supporting roles in two upcoming features: the romantic comedy Loving Every Minute, and The Boy In The Woods (based on the best-selling book). Select credits include Suits, Murdoch Mysteries, and the lead in the award-winning feature The Dancing Dogs of Dombrova (Best Lead Actress, AFMX). Katherine also starred in the shorts Russet Season, directed by Sheila McCarthy, and Play it Again (Best Lead Actress, North Europe International Film Festival).

To watch Katherine’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Nick Saites, Oscars Abrams Zimel & Associates Inc literary@oazinc.com

LEIGHTON WILLIAMS http://imdb.me/LeightonWilliams

Leighton Alexander Williams is an award-winning stage and screen actor, writer, and director based in Toronto. He's a graduate of York University's Acting Conservatory and is most known for his role of 'Satan' in Judas Noir – which gained him his first Dora Nomination, Toronto Critics Pick Nomination, and his first win as Ontario’s Emerging Artist of the Year Award. Leighton is a graduate of the CFC's Actors Conservatory. He has wrapped two feature films slated to be released later this year. Currently, you can watch him as a recurring character in the CSA winning series: Avocado Toast (season 2).

To watch Leighton’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Penny Noble, Noble Caplan Abrams 416.920.5385 pnoble@ncatalent.com

ZARA JESTADT https://vimeo.com/670876273/a0a2c7965c Zara (she/her) is an actor, performer, and recent graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s CBC Actors Conservatory. Film and TV credits include The Discarded, The Wonderful, and Hudson & Rex. Selected theatre credits: Til Then (Eclipse Theatre), An Ideal Husband, Julius Caesar, Timon of Athens (Stratford Festival), Small Mouth Sounds (Segal Centre), A Midsummer Night’s Dreams (Shakespeare BASH’d). She is a graduate of the Etobicoke School of the Arts, George Brown Theatre School, the Birmingham Conservatory, and McGill University. She is currently starring in and co-producing her first short and her singing voice can be heard on the upcoming film project Jusqu’au dernier poil.

To watch Zara’s short CloseUp: CLICK HERE

REPRESENTED BY

Jana Abrams, Jana Abrams Talent Agency 416.784.1314 janaabrams@gmail.com

LEAD SUPPORTER

PROGRAM PARTNERS

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

CFC SPECIAL THANK YOU

Total Two Way

BFL Canada Risk and Insurance Services

Reel Medics in Motion Ltd

Chubb Insurance of Canada

APPRECIATION TO

ORIGINAL MUSIC SUPPORTED THROUGH The CFC / Slaight Family Canadian Music Fund