Brian D. Johnson is a Canadian writer and filmmaker. An award-winning journalist, he’s known for his long-time role as film critic and senior arts writer at Maclean’s magazine, where he remains a Contributing Editor. As former President of the Toronto Film Critics Association, he created and produced the annual TFCA Awards Gala with its $100,000 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award, the largest prize for Canadian cinema. 

Johnson has made two short films, Tell Me Everything (2006) and Yesno (2010). He has also produced and directed two documentary features, which both premiered at TIFF, played festivals around the world, and went on to receive a nationally theatrical release and a CBC TV broadcast. Al Purdy Was Here (2015), the story of a Canadian legendary poet, played 70 screens across Canada. The Colour Of Ink (2022), which explores the magic of a primal medium, was shot in seven countries. Produced by Sphinx Productions and the National Film Board, it won various festival prizes and a Canadian Screen Award for Best Cinematography in a Documentary.

Born in England and raised in Toronto, Johnson has written for publications ranging from the Globe & Mail to Rolling Stone. He has worked as a broadcaster in radio and television and spent five years touring and recording full-time as a musician. He has hosted onstage interviews with authors, actors and filmmakers, notably One Night Only, an evening of conversation with Al Pacino at Toronto’s Massey Hall in 2013. He also has published a book of poetry, a novel and four non-fiction books, including a history of the Toronto International Film Festival, Brave Films, Wild Nights: 25 Years of Festival Fever.

Johnson lives in Toronto and is married to writer Marni Jackson.

Nicole Stonyk is a Red River Métis born and raised in Wînipêk (Winnipeg), Manitowapow (Manitoba) located in the heart of Treaty 1 Territory. She is the daughter of a 60’s scoop survivor and comes from the Demeria of Lac du Bonnet/White Mud, Manitoba. She also belongs to the Marchand’s and acknowledges her Polish/Ukrainian family. Stonyk is a classically trained pianist who began training with the Russian School of Music and later the Royal Conservatory of Music, Performers ARCT level. She is a University of Manitoba Alumni and holds a Bachelor of Music from the Desautel Faculty of Music, Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies, a Master’s degree in Indigenous Studies, and is currently a Doctoral student in the Department of Indigenous Studies. Her research culminates her training as a classical pianist and Indigenous scholar in the field of Indigenous Studies to focus on “decolonizing” Western musical performance practices within themes of possessive logics, Indigenous relationality, language and aesthetics. Her most recent engagement was involvement with the November 2023 performance premiere of Indigenous opera Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North as cultural attaché to Dr. Suzanne Steele (librettist), Manitoba Opera Indigenous advisory consultant, and chorus performer. 

Nicole Stonyk is generously supported by Banff Centre Artists' Awards and the Boris Roubakine Memorial Endowment.

anang binesi (he/him), an anishinaabe percussionist and composer from manidoo bawitigong in treaty no.3, ontario. rooted in their indigenous world views, anang binesi challenges the classical music canon through performance, conversations, and compositions. their work moves beyond the mere concept of "inclusion", focusing instead on the creation of new musicking spaces that take on the important anishinaabe values of reciprocity and community. with a passion for education, anang binesi uses their compositions to encourage and guide musicians in this reimagining of musical spaces.

anang binesi is generously supported by banff centre artists' awards and the michael davies scholarship endowment fund.
 

Originally from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario, Anishinaabe flutist Tyler Evans-Knott is currently pursuing a Diploma in Flute Performance through Camosun College and the Victoria Conservatory of Music, studying with Emily Nagelbach and also participating in the Collegium Young Artists program at the VCM. A recipient of several awards and scholarships, Tyler has performed regularly as a soloist and in ensembles such as the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Peterborough Concert Band, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and in joint concerts with the Toronto Symphony and Vancouver Symphony. In April 2022, he performed for “The Path Forward” with the Vancouver Symphony and the VSO Indigenous Arts Council. Recently, Tyler has begun his career as a freelance musician performing as a sub with The Victoria Symphony.

Tyler Evans-Knott is generously supported by Banff Centre Artists' Awards and the Frederick Louis Crosby Memorial Endowment.

Shea Iles is a Métis composer and guitarist from Grande Prairie, Alberta. He graduated from MacEwan University in 2021 and is currently working towards a master’s degree in Composition at the University of Calgary. His compositional process often draws on artistic mediums outside of music such as film, poetry, and visual art. His recent works include “pen and ink” for India Gailey (solo cello), “Two Sonnets for Piano Trio” for Land’s End Ensemble, and “minim” for New Music Edmonton’s Summer Solstice Festival (solo guitar and fixed electronics). He recently began studies with Krista Leddy to learn Métis beadwork and fingerweaving. During his time at the Banff Centre, he will use musical composition as a vehicle to explore his relationship with textile art.

Shea Iles is generously supported by Banff Centre Artists' Awards and the Leo Brouwer Endowment.

Raised in the community of St. Theresa Point, his journey into the realm of music began with the echoes of melodies resonating through his home. Surrounded by siblings who shared a profound passion for music, he was immersed in its captivating allure from a tender age.

As the years unfolded, his musical odyssey led through a kaleidoscope of genres, from the raw energy of rock to the pulsating beats of electronic music. In 2012, a pivotal moment of artistic clarity struck him, prompting the fusion of these diverse influences into a unique sonic tapestry that would come to define his sound.

Central to his creative process is the meticulous manipulation of samples recorded in St. Theresa Point. Each fragment is carefully curated and arranged to form intricate rhythmic structures and textures with an array of tools ranging from tape machines to eurorack modules. 

Harnessing the rich cultural tapestry of his hometown, he embarked on a creative exploration, crafting electro-acoustic compositions that resonated with the spirit of St. Theresa Point. Each composition serves as a testament to his dedication to sonic exploration. From the heart of St. Theresa Point to the far reaches of musical expression, his journey is a symphony of discovery.

Kerey Harper is generously supported by Banff Centre Artists' Awards and the Isobel and Tom Rolston Fellowships in Music Endowment.