Henry is no stranger to the local festival circuit. Besides being the Founder of Toronto Youth Shorts in 2009, he has also worked with Reel Asian, Canadian Film Fest, and Planet in Focus. Henry produced the Rockie Awards, an international program competition for the Banff World Media Festival, for four years. Outside of his festival work, he has provided event coordination and support to the Canadian Film Centre and the Scarborough Walk of Fame and regularly takes part in community and youth-based initiatives in the arts. Henry is the recipient of a 2016 Legacy Award as well as a 2010 Chinese Canadian Youth Achievement Award for his contributions to the Toronto arts community.
Julia is a Programming Coordinator at Corus Entertainment. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto, and is a self-proclaimed tripster, foodie and film nerd.
Adam is a graduate of York’s MA program in Cinema and Media Studies and McMaster’s Arts and Science program. He has previously worked as an academic researcher, studying the use of documentary film in the classroom. He enjoys trashy reality tv, experimental film, campy film adaptations of stage musicals, and films that embody a DIY ethos.
Sarah is pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University with a deep love for the arts, pop culture and cinema. She has been covering and writing about films for about two years and has worked for institutions like Hot Docs and Cineplex. When she’s not busy watching films, Sarah enjoys playing music on her piano, attempting to survive off movie theatre popcorn, and going on long bike rides.
Hailing from Sarnia, Ontario Ben Whyte developed his love for film starting at a young age watching classic films with his parents. This love of film quickly turned into a passion and he would go on to attend and graduate from the Humber College Film and Television (FMTV) Production program in 2021. He has over three years of experience in the film festival industry and loves promoting diverse storytelling and sharing unique films with the world. He has been a programmer for the Southwestern International Film Festival (SWIFF), Jayu’s Human Rights Film Festival Plus (HRFF+), and Toronto Youth Shorts. He currently works as the Festivals and Special Events Lead at REEL CANADA and continues to watch as many movies as he can.
BRENDAN PAEK - Programmer
Brendan Paek-Mendoza is an 18 year old filmmaker from Toronto who has directed two short narrative films: Take 8! And Koreaboo. He is always looking for opportunities to work on set and meet new people!
RUBY WALKER - Programmer
Ruby Walker is pursuing a Bachelor of Film and Television at Sheridan College. In addition to working on numerous films and commercials, her appreciation for Toronto’s creative communities has led her volunteer at TIFF and the Toronto Fringe Festival. Her short films have been shown at festivals including the 2021 Philadelphia Youth Film Festival, 2025 AltFF Alternative Film Festival, and Toronto Youth Shorts 2025. She is excited to help bring the 2026 festival to life!
CLARE O'BRIEN - Programmer
Clare is thrilled to join the 2026 TYS Programming team! A graduate of NYU's Summer Publishing Institute and the University of Toronto’s Cinema Studies Institute, she has dabbled in all aspects of the industry–from academic analysis, to award show coordination, to background acting and voice acting. In addition to her responsibilities at TYS, she is also a programmer for the 2026 Dufferin Film Festival and is on the Exhibition Sales team for the inaugural TIFF: The Market. She loves horror films, musicals, and Disney Channel Original Movies.
AVERY STACEY - Junior Programmer
Avery Stacey is a junior jury member who loves film, reading, photography, and stories that make you see everyday life a little differently. When she’s not watching or making films, she enjoys thrifting, baking, listening to music, and taking way too many photos of things she finds interesting. She’s excited to be part of Toronto Youth Shorts and to discover the different voices and stories young filmmakers have to share.
TRINITI GWAAN - Junior Programmer
Rishabh is a grade 12 student at SACHS. You can often find him watching movies, listening to music, or playing sports. He is an editor and author for his school paper and has recently started a new branch for the paper that interviews and promotes student entrepreneurship. Apart from school, Rishabh is deeply involved with this community, playing for Markham Cricket Academy’s competitive team and umpiring baseball games with Richmond Hill Baseball Association. Rishabh watches movies from all over the world, his favorite being Taare Zameen Par, A Bollywood tearjerker.