Few people understand the importance of the arts and culture sector as well as Cameron Bailey. He is CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) - the world's largest public film festival and one of Canada's premier cultural brands. Under his strategic direction, the festival continues to grow in size and significance each year.

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Bailey began his career as a film critic. He also curated films for Cinematheque Ontario, The National Gallery of Canada, The National Film Board of Canada, and Australia’s Sydney International Film Festival before joining TIFF in 1990. He began as a programmer selecting Canadian films before moving on to African and South Asian cinema. He’s responsible for TIFF’s highly successful subscription series, Reel Talk, and also headed TIFF’s Perspective Canada series and founded its Planet Africa section.

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Bailey has taught film curation at the University of Toronto and holds an honorary doctorate from Western University. He is a Chevalier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters, member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, and for 12 consecutive years been named one of “Toronto’s 50 Most Influential People” by Toronto Life.

James Oscar is a writer, art critic, and exhibition curator whose work lies at the intersection of experimental critique and anthropological inquiry. As a researcher at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, his work has focused on cultural policy. His academic journey has been deeply influenced by his mentorship under Martinican philosopher Édouard Glissant and his collaboration with Ato Sekyi-Otu on the works of Frantz Fanon. <span>With 25 years of experience in contemporary art, Oscar has worked at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and served as Curator-in-Residence at Fonderie Darling (2022-2023). He currently leads the Musée des Arts Libres des Amériques et du Monde (MALAM), home to a significant collection of Caribbean art. His recent exhibitions include "Illuminations" (2024), "Le Langage Secret de l'Univers" (2023), and "Music for the World of Tomorrow".<br></span>

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As a civic researcher, he has engaged in dialogues with figures such as Cornel West and has contributed to major institutions, including Radio-Canada, the Canadian Museums Association, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture. As the founder of Montréal en Action, he spearheaded North America's first public consultation on systemic racism.

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His research explores artistic practices through the lens of critical anthropology across the Americas. His publication, "Imperial Amphitheatres", was launched at the Venice Biennale.

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Born in Côte d'Ivoire, raised in Morocco and now living in Montreal, Djamilla Toure defines herself as a product of the diaspora. Passionate about women's empowerment and the media, she is a media founder, content creator and social entrepreneur.

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She holds a bachelor's degree in international relations and international law, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in sustainable development, where she is exploring solutions to the structural barriers faced by women around the world.

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In 2015, convinced that change begins at her own scale, Djamilla set herself the mission of rethinking the world through concrete action. And so, with four other women, she founded Sayaspora, a media outlet dedicated to young women from the African diaspora. Through this platform, she aims to amplify the voices of these women, highlight their ideas and offer them a space where they can not only express themselves and build their capacities, but also find a community that understands and values them.

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Between leadership, innovation and commitment, Djamilla continues to explore new avenues to strengthen the influence of women in the media, social and economic spheres.

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