VIFF Labs

Andrew DeYoung is a writer and director known for his work in television and short form. He has directed episodes of PEN15, Shrill, Dave, and Our Flag Means Death, and co-created the Vimeo series 555. His shorts have been Vimeo Staff Picks and widely covered online. Most recently, he directed episodes of Netflix’s Decameron and his debut feature The Friendship, which premiered at TIFF and was acquired by A24.

Brian McGinn is a director, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. He co-created the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Chef’s Table, where he has served as director, executive producer, and showrunner. His work also includes the feature documentary Amanda Knox (TIFF 2016), Street Food, and Trial by Media. He has produced projects for Marvel, Pixar, LucasFilm, and FX’s The Bear through his company Supper Club.

Justin Li is a Vancouver-based film and television editor known for his collaborative spirit and genre fluency. He brings a precise, story-first approach to shaping narratives across drama, thriller, comedy, and horror. His work on high-profile productions — including Heretic (2024), Under the Bridge (2024), and Apple TV+’s Silo (2025) — has earned industry recognition for its clarity, rhythm, and emotional impact. Justin believes deeply in the power of editing to reveal “the why of what we are,” with a belief that great art comes from unifying the work of many into a singular, human-centered vision. Whether shaping narrative tension or balancing performance and pacing, his editorial voice is both precise and purpose-driven, helping elevate story and character with every frame.

Katina Danabassis is a Canadian-born costume designer known for her work with A24 and her “radical realism” approach to authentic, character-driven wardrobes. She first gained notice for her work on C’mon C’mon and Bodies Bodies Bodies, which established her as a distinctive voice in contemporary costume design. She has since collaborated with directors including Celine Song on Past Lives, with additional credits such as The Materialists and The Curse.

Maceo Bishop is an American cinematographer. Winner of the BSC Operator of the Year Award for Uncut Gems and winner of an Emmy in 2021 for his work on Hamilton (Disney+). Recent work includes The Smashing Machine — Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt (A24, Release Oct. 3, 2025); The Curse — Emma Stone, Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie (A24, 2023). Recent projects include a film with director Philippe Parreno starring Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vicky Krieps and Zoe Saldana.

Born in 1982, Swiss screenwriter and director Ramon Zürcher studied visual arts at the Bern Academy of the Arts and film directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin. His debut feature, The Strange Little Cat premiered at Berlinale Forum in 2013 and was selected at over 80 festivals. In 2021, his second film, The Girl and the Spider, also premiered at Berlinale where it was awarded Best Director and the FIPRESCI prize in the Encounters section. The Sparrow in the Chimney is his third feature.

Silvan Zürcher was born in 1982. From 2002 to 2008 he studied philosophy, film studies and German studies at the Universities of Bern and Zurich. Simultaneously, he worked as a projectionist at a cinema in Bern. From 2009 to 2014 he studied film production at the German Film and TV Academy Berlin (DFFB). During his degree, he produced a series of short and medium-length films. On the side, he works as a director’s assistant and develops his own material for fiction films. In 2013 he completed his degree with his first feature-length fiction film The Strange Little Cat, which went on to receive several awards.