ACTING FOR FILM & TELEVISION
VFS Faculty consists of the most highly trained professionals in the creative industries. While our full-time instructors provide more one-on-one time with students than any other school, our part-time instructors are pulled right from the heart of the industry, equipped with the most current, relevant industry experience and credits.
We call this THE VFS ADVANTAGE.
Omari
Newton
Head of Department
Omari is an award-winning professional actor, writer, director, producer, and TedX speaker. Omari’s most-recent credits include a recurring role as Black Panther in various Marvel animated projects and as Corvus in Netflix’s The Dragon Prince.
Bart
Anderson
Senior Instructor
Bart is a Ryerson Theater School graduate who has worked extensively in film, television, and theater since graduating in 1985. One of Vancouver's most respected acting coaches, Bart is celebrating his 20th year at Vancouver Film School.
Kurt
Evans
Instructor
Kurt has over 100 film and TV credits including recurring roles on iZombie, The Man In The High Castle, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, and Level Up. He has been an acting coach and teacher for more than 15 years and is the founder of Artist2Artist.
Adam
Henderson
Instructor
Adam trained at The Bristol Old Vic and has acted in theatres, films, and sound booths around the world. He is a dialect coach, most-notably on Tomorrowland, Nancy Drew, Turner & Hooch, Harry and Meghan, Altered Carbon, Arrow, and The Magicians.
Sam
Jeffery
Instructor
Sam Jeffery is an intimacy director and coordinator (certified with IDC), actor, educator, and award-nominated fight director. She was born and raised in ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory.
Bill
Marchant
Creative Specialist
Bill's feature film Everyone won Best Canadian Film at the Montreal World Film Festival and was nominated for four Leo Awards. Along with numerous roles in Canadian television, Bill has written and directed short films and plays.
Chloe
Payne
Instructor
Chloe is an actor, director, theatre creator, and educator based in Vancouver. She specializes in movement and physical comedy. She has performed and created work for theatre companies across Canada and is a graduate of École Philippe Gaulier.
Veenu
Sandhu
Instructor
Veenu is a VFS Acting alumna. Working on stage and screen since 2007, her recent credits include a recurring role on Netflix's Lost in Space and a fantastic death scene on Supernatural.
Nancy
Sivak
Senior Instructor
Nancy has been a professional actor in Vancouver for over 25 years. She currently works on the stage, as well as in television and film. Her involvement in the world of independent film has taken her to film festivals around the world.
Andrés
Soto
Project Manager/Instructor
An actor from Costa Rica, Andrés began his career as an Engineer and TV Producer. He studied Communications at The University of Costa Rica and is a Vancouver Film School graduate. He is known for The Flash, Far Cry 6, and Yellowjackets.
Nevada
Banks
Instructor
Kim
Tough
Program Manager
Kim has worn many hats in her career, including actor and director. She is a graduate of the VFS Writing for Film & Television program and continues her writing journey as a freelance writer for games, as well as pursuing her solo fiction projects.
Cesar
Erba
Production Coordinator
Cesar Erba is a Chilean-Canadian performer and filmmaker with over 10 years of experience in the arts. Cesar is always looking to use his creative voice to exemplify his Latino roots and proudly represent his LGBTQIA2S+ community as a proud queer artist.
William
Vaughan
Mentor
William is an actor, voice artist, teacher, and improviser originally from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Will graduated from VFS in 2007 and has appeared in CBC’s Men With Brooms, Netflix’s The Package, and The CW’s Supernatural, among others.
Denise
Jones
Instructor
Frank
Cassini
Instructor
Frank is an award-winning actor and a lifetime member of the Actor’s Studio in New York and Los Angeles. A produced screenwriter, his acting career spans over 40 years. With over 25 years of teaching experience, he is pleased to share his passion with VFS students.
Sergio
Osuna Lopez
Mentor
Sergio is an Actor and Writer, originally from Mexico, with a career spanning 15 years. In Canada, he has landed recurring roles on 'The Magicians', 'Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency', 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' and, most recently, Netflix’s 'Slumberland'.
Moya
O'connell
Senior Instructor
Moya is an award-winning Actor & Director, with an MFA in Directing from UBC. Her extensive 25+ year career includes leading roles in major theatres across the country. The only thing she loves more than acting & directing is teaching the craft to emerging artists.
Justin Anthony
Instructor
Justin has trained extensively in film and theatre, particularly studying the Warner Loughlin technique. He acts, writes, produces, and sometimes directs. In 2021, he sold dark-comedy Death of the Party, which he wrote, co-produced and starred in, for syndication.
Tahina Awan
Instructor
Tahina has trained extensively in physical theatre, clown, and mask before teaching at VFS, and has since delved into voice acting and writing. She was last seen onstage in a comedy show which she wrote and is currently working on an ensemble screenplay.
Jennifer Clement
Instructor
Jen has acted in over 100 theatre, film, and TV projects in the course of her professional career. She has been teaching for seventeen years, sharing her years of experience and passion for acting with her students.
Missy Cross
Instructor
Missy is an actor, director, and theatre producer. She sings in a touring blues rock band called Wooden Horsemen and spearheads her own company Mindful Actor Workshops. A VFS alumna, she has taught camera, voice, singing, and has also directed student work.
Kathleen Duborg
Instructor
Kathleen is a director, actor, producer, and educator. She is also a Co-Artistic Director of Dirt Road Theatre. Artistic collaboration between film and theatre communities have enhanced her study into the embodiment of actors to character, image, text, and audiences.
Ryan Gladstone
Instructor
Ryan is an award-winning director, playwright, actor, producer, and improvisor. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Monster Theatre.
Roger Harris
instructor
Roger is one of Canada’s premiere voice directors. He has discovered many exceptional voice actors and has directed numerous celebrities. Roger is also a Partner and Creative Director at Murmur Music and Sound. His work has been recognized in various award shows.
Marÿke Hendrikse
Instructor
Marÿke has acted professionally for over 30 years, beginning her career in film, television, and theatre. She has lent her voice to thousands of animated episodes, and considers voiceover work her specialty. Her credits include Johnny Test and Black Lagoon.
Alison Kelly
Instructor
A graduate of Studio 58, Alison is an award-winning playwright and actor. She is part of the creative team that wrote the internationally acclaimed hit Mom's The Word series of plays. Alison has taught ages 3 to 86 and currently teaches at VFS and Studio 58.
Emma Love
Instructor
Emma is an actor, singer, and voice teacher with over 20 years training and experience. After many years in NYC, she is pleased to be settled on the West Coast and bringing industry context to practical voice work for students beginning their journeys.
Pippa Mackie
Instructor
Pippa is an award-winning actor, writer, director, and producer with close to 20 years of experience working in both theatre and film/tv. Her work has been featured and performed on stages across Canada. Pippa is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada Acting Program.
Lauren McGibbon
Instructor
Lauren McGibbon is an actor, writer and improviser from Vancouver. Lauren received acting training at UBC and Railtown Actors Studio. Her film and TV credits include Trial and Error (NBC), A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix), and Scaredy Cats (Netflix).
Karyn Mott
Instructor
Karyn (they/them) is a Queer, non-binary, intimacy director and coordinator, award-winning actor, and artistic mental health practitioner. Karyn’s worked in theatre, film, and TV for over 15 years. Recent credits include Shogun, Resident Alien, and Grease.
Savonna Spracklin
Instructor
Savonna (Heeḵ’al) is an award-winning actor, an editor, and a director. She is a member of the Nisg̱a’a Nation. Her credits include Wildhood, Hold the Dark, and Tribal. She recently joined the cast of Departure Season 3, premiering in 2022.
Nikolai Witschl
Instructor
Nikolai Witschl has a BFA in Acting from the University of Alberta, and has performed with Rapid Fire Theatre, Sin Peaks, and Instant Theatre. He has been in many film and TV projects, including Deadpool 2, Riverdale, Yellowjackets, and The X-Files, among others.