John G. Burke, Vancouver, B.C.
Screenplay: MASTERPIECE
At the end of World War 2, a Canadian soldier tasked with returning looted art to Holland finds a unknown Vermeer masterpiece. His investigation leads him to a respected citizen of Amsterdam who is either a Nazi collaborator or the most courageous fraud in history.
John Glenn Burke was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1960. An artist and writer, he began writing short stories and plays in high school. John began working in the film industry in Calgary in 1993 and currently works in feature films in Vancouver.
Kevin Doree, Calgary, AB
Screenplay: HIDING IN PLAINVIEW
A troubled ex-cop and his estranged wife, living in a small town under Witness Protection, are pursued by his recently-released-from-prison former partner.
Kevin Doree is a screenwriter and actor based in Calgary, Alberta. He has written a number of feature-length screenplays, teleplays and short screenplays, and has appeared in film and television in lead, supporting and background roles. His training includes workshops with Jason Long ("Walk All Over Me") and Gordy Hoffman ("Love Liza").
Jonathon Dunning, Burnaby, B.C.
Screenplay: JANESSA AND THE KNIGHT
A seven year old boy uses his imagination to transform himself into a noble knight as he escapes from his foster home and sets out on an epic adventure in search of his parents.
Jonathon Dunning is graduate of the Victoria Motion Picture School and has directed short films that have been screened at the Victoria Youth Film Festival and the Victoria Independent Film Festival. He currently resides in Vancouver where he writes and directs short films and works as a videographer producing wedding and corporate videos.
Andre Harden, Caronport, SK
Screenplay: NUMB
A young couple in financial crisis, and a pair of hitchhikers in search of a new life, learn of a large cache of stolen gold hidden in the winter wilderness, and risk their lives in an attempt to find it.
Andre is an award winning screenwriter who has worked as a playwright, director, lyricist, producer, editor and consultant. Recent projects include: NUMB (Hope of Glory Pictures, 2011), RUN RUN FAST AS YOU CAN (Forty Below Films, 2007, 2010), and LAST CONCESSION (Annunciation Pictures 2010). In addition to telling his own stories, he loves to collaborate with other artists.
Jesse Heffring, Montreal, QC
Screenplay: STUNT CLUB
Julian, a grade twelve student living in poverty, escapes the reality of his fractured home-life by joining a group of stunt-junkies pushing their limits in an elaborate, international, competitive, street-stunt website.
Jesse is a writer/director who works and lives in Montreal, Quebec. His award winning underground films have played in festivals all over the world. Jesse continues to develop screenplays, produce theatre and documentaries.
Jessica Marsh, Halifax, N.S.
Screenplay: HOUSE OF MATCHES
Thrown out by her own father, Zoe, a rebellious teenage mom with two kids, needs her own troubled sister to believe in her and fight for her before she can win the soccer scholarship that will change both their lives.
Jessica Marsh wrote the screenplay for the 2010 CBC Short Film Face Off award-winning short film ‘Wake’, directed and produced by Jeremy Webb. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she writes screenplays and short stories and plays soccer. House of Matches is her first feature script.
Geoff Redknap, Vancouver, B.C.
Screenplay: HEAVEN’S DOOR
A broken-down lawman must protect his small town from the return of the notorious murderer who nearly destroyed it many years ago.
Geoff has worked as a performer, puppeteer and special make-up effects artist on shows like The X-Files, I, Robot and Watchmen. He attended the National Screen Institute's Features First Program with his script Heaven's Door and just finished his latest short film Last Christmas, funded by Bravo!FACT and the CFC screenplay prize.
Norman Wexler, Vancouver, B.C.
Screenplay: THE GOLDEN HOUR
The interwoven and ultimately tragic stories of two extraordinary brothers – one a photojournalist who went missing during the Vietnam War and the other a loner who has walked around the world. Inspired by actual events.
Norman Wexler was educated at McGill, the University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall Law School. His first screenplay, The Living Room Hour, was a Praxis selection during the early years of the competition, was subsequently optioned multiple times and received development funding from Telefilm and B.C. Film. He practices law in Vancouver.