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.

Steve Daniel is a content creator, creative entrepreneur, and social media strategist known for his innovative approach and significant influence in the Canadian industry. Collaborating with top brands such as Hyundai, Canadian Tire, McDonald's, and DoorDash, he designs high-impact campaigns that blend compelling storytelling with strategic digital marketing.

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As the co-founder of Archetype Studio alongside Pavel Morillo, Steve has built an innovative space for creators, offering professional solutions in photography and podcasting, fostering inspiration and creativity.

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Throughout his career, he has guided emerging talents, helping them secure strategic brand collaborations. Valued for his authenticity, vision, and strategic mindset, Steve excels at transforming ambitious ideas into tangible success.

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Both inspiring and approachable, Steve Daniel represents a new generation of entrepreneurs, where creativity, innovation, and community engagement intertwine to create lasting impact.

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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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