Eight talented actors from across Canada will join the renowned onscreen acting intensive

Toronto, August 24, 2022 – The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and CBC are pleased to announce the 2022 cohort of the CBC Actors Conservatory, an immersive onscreen acting program designed to equip residents with the tools, network and experience they need to build and navigate successful careers in the screen industry.

Eight unique and gifted actors with an exciting array of experience in writing, film, TV, theatre and more have been selected to participate in the 2022 program, which gets underway on CFC’s campus in Toronto on September 6, 2022 and runs until March 3, 2023. Throughout the course of the six-month program, these actors will receive tailored mentorship and participate in a series of intensive workshops, industry sessions and on-camera opportunities to strengthen their skills and expand their business knowledge of the screen industry.

“This program has proven to be instrumental in changing the face of the Canadian screen industry, and we’re so proud to continue to be a part of it alongside our partners at the CFC,” said Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, CBC. “CBC remains committed to the development of diverse Canadian talent, and the Actors Conservatory has an unmatched track record in nurturing and elevating extraordinary emerging performers – this year is no exception! We extend our congratulations to this year’s residents, and look forward to seeing what they do next.”

Thanks to the generous support of program partners CBC, the RBC Emerging Artists Project and the Government of Ontario, the CBC Actors Conservatory has launched 90 actors to date who are landing impactful roles and are breaking out internationally, like Thomas Antony Olajide in feature drama Learn to Swim (TIFF ’21), Devery Jacobs in Reservation Dogs, Supinder Wraich in CBC’s groundbreaking and Peabody Award-winning series Sort Of,  Humberly González in Ginny & Georgia, Jade Hassouné in Shadowhunters, and more.

“We are so grateful to the CBC for their incredible partnership on this program and their deep and steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities for Canadian talent,” added Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “We are excited about what the future holds for these talented actors and look forward to welcoming them into our CFC community.”

Meet the 2022 Actors Conservatory residents:

AUGUSTO BITTER (he/she/they) is a Venezuelan-born, Tkaronto-based Dora Award-winning actor, writer and producer for stage and screen. Their select film/TV credits include Ezra (OUTtv), Coroner (CBC/CW), True Dating Stories (CBC Gem), CHICHO, and So Much Tenderness (TIFF ‘22). Augusto’s previous residencies include Canadian Stage, Factory Theatre, Aluna Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, and hub14, and they recently completed BIPOC TV & Film’s Kids TV Writing Intensive.

KAT KHAN (she/her) is an actor and filmmaker. She graduated from York University’s Acting Conservatory and made her feature film debut as the lead in Verona. Her additional select credits include The Handmaid’s Tale, Fear Thy Roommate, TallBoyz, Better At Texting, TOKA, and Gay Mean Girls. Kat won the 2022 IPF for her series Fan Club, where she works as the creator, director, showrunner, and executive story editor alongside Jahnelle Jones.

ISABELLA SHIBUTA (she/her) is a Japanese-Brazilian and Polish first-generation Canadian actor. She is an alumna of the drama program at Canterbury High School in Ottawa and George Brown Theatre School. Isabella has worked onstage with companies like Tarragon Theatre, and recently workshopped a new Brazilian-Canadian play, CHEW. Isabella can be seen in the upcoming film Designing Christmas on Discovery+.

LEISHE MEYBOOM (she/her) is an actor and writer from Toronto. She has trained at The Lee Strasberg Institute in New York, as well as the Pro Actors Lab and the Dirt Underneath in Toronto. Her credits include two seasons as Abby on Netflix’s Locke and Key.

RILEY DAVIS (he/him) is a Vancouver-based actor, writer and filmmaker originally from Toronto. His select credits include N’xaxaitkw (TIFF ’22), The Last of US (HBO), Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman (CW), Personals (VIFF ’21) and Sniper: Assassin’s End (Netflix). His first feature film is currently in development. He holds a BFA in Acting from the University of British Columbia.

ALSSENY CAMARA (he/him) is a Black Guinea-Canadian bilingual (English/French) actor best known for his role as Anton in the feature film Brother (TIFF ’22). After graduating from the Screen Acting Academy, Alsseny continued to hone his skills at the Armstrong Studio, Developed Script Analysis, LB Acting Studio, and The Lighthouse Studio with Angela Besharah.

RACHAEL DOLAN (she/her) is a Toronto-based actor and writer. Her select film and TV credits include Hairspray!, Workin’ Moms, and Schitt’s Creek. Rachael studied comedy writing and performance at Humber College.

IVY MILLER (she/her) is an actor and writer from Calgary. Her select credits include series lead in the webseries Summer’s Monster, a recurring role in Ming’s Dynasty (CBC Gem), and a supporting role in the feature Events Transpiring Before, During, and After a High School Basketball Game. She also wrote, directed, and starred in a short film called Phone Call, which won an award for Best Comedy at Toronto’s Alternative Film Festival.

Learn more about the CBC Actors Conservatory here.

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About the CFC
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is a charitable cultural organization that drives the future of Canadian storytelling. Our intensive, hands-on programs in film, television, and entertainment technologies empower, shape and advance opportunities for Canadian creators and entrepreneurs working in screen-based industries. Learn more at cfccreates.com.

@cfccreates

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

Media Relations

Cory Angeletti-Szasz
Director, Marketing & Communications, CFC
647.273.2795
cangeletti@cfccreates.com

Tanya Koivusalo
Senior Communications Officer, Industry & Trade Lead, CBC
647.649.6067
tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca

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