Selection Committee

Meet the 19th Annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival Selection Committee!

The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival (VISFF) is excited to introduce the talented individuals who lent their expertise to the selection process for the 19th annual VISFF.

Vivian Cheung

Vivian Cheung is a Chinese-Canadian filmmaker born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. She stepped onto her first film set with her award-winning MAMM17 film, For Roy, which won Best Film and People’s Choice at VISFF in 2023. Vivian also was a finalist in Regent Park Film Festival’s 2022 Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition, was one of the fifteen selected BIPOC science filmmakers to workshop with CBC’s  The Nature of Things, and was one of the fifteen emerging filmmakers selected for VIFF’s 2023 Catalyst Mentorship program.

Lesley Mirza

Lesley Mirza is a Canadian/British actor based in Vancouver, BC. Her TV debut was in the 1993, British mini-series Lipstick on Your Collar (starring Ewan McGregor). But it wasn’t until 2015, that she really focused on acting, booking several commercials and working on popular shows such as Chesapeake Shores, The Twilight Zone, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Most recently, Lesley worked on the incredible Lifetime movie, Murdaugh Murders (starring Bill Pullman).

When not working, Lesley enjoys watching British Crime mini-series, visiting local restaurants, and traveling.

Stephanie Joan

Stephanie Joan is an independent film producer and writer best known for her work on the viral, award winning short film, En Dehors de Toi (2022). Originally from small town Alberta, her background includes a Bachelor of Commerce degree (University of Alberta) and a Film Diploma (Vancouver Film School). With extensive training in theater and dance, Stephanie has always loved storytelling, and now finds herself thriving in the fast-paced world of film. Stephanie is part of the Business Affairs team at Front Street Pictures, an esteemed production company located in Vancouver, BC. She also directs and choreographs interpretive movement and dance for stage and screen.

Olivia Popp

Based in Berlin, Olivia Popp is a Taiwanese American film writer and graduate student exploring transnationalism, critical theory, and queer imagination. She is a master’s student of Global Studies at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University (California, USA). Most recently, she was a member of the New Asian Cinema competition jury of the 17th annual Five Flavours Film Festival in Warsaw, Poland.

Trina Brubaker

Trina Brubaker is a lawyer practicing in Nanaimo, and is a lifelong Vancouver Island resident. She studied English and Creative Writing at Vancouver Island University and enjoys exploring different genres of film and literature.

Trina has loved attending the VISFF in past years and is excited to participate on the Selection Committee this year.