Our Team
Jocelyn Piirainen
Jocelyn Piirainen is an emerging Inuk curator and analog photography artist. Having a Bachelor's degree in Film Studies from Carleton University, she is passionate about all aspects of film and videography and has recently completed Wapikoni Mobile's cross-Canada tour as a projectionist, showcasing short films made by indigenous filmmakers and in their communities. She thoroughly enjoys film programming and seeing audiences’ reactions to stories being unfolded right before their eyes. While not working, she can be found at home, crocheting away and binging tv shows and movies.
Erika Keleher
Erika Keleher is a recent graduate from Carleton University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree. Though she started her schooling solely as a Communications and Media Studies student, she fell in love with her film electives and decided to pursue Film Studies as her second major. She enjoys watching and studying international films, and has a soft spot particularly for French and Japanese cinema. As one of Eve Film Festival's Programming Coordinators, Erika watches and analyzes hundreds of submissions each year (and loves every moment of it)!
Allison Smith
Allison Smith is a recent Communication and Film studies graduate from Carleton University. She currently lives in Sudbury, Ontario, and is excited to be surrounded by a growing film industry in the north. This is Allison’s second year with the Eve Film Festival team, and she can’t wait to help organize another successful festival filled with talented, wonderful people. She is passionate about all hardworking filmmakers receiving equal opportunities, and right now that means advocating for women and women-identifying representation within the industry.
Patrick Murray
Patrick Murray's focus with EFF is primarily on programming. He is a public servant by day, and cinephile/occasional filmmaker by night. He has volunteered his time in various capacities for many different film festivals, including: Sundance, Slamdance, Fantasia, EU Film Festival Ottawa, and several more. He is also a co-founder of the Irish Film Festival Ottawa. He has directed a couple of short films and is currently working on an ultra low budget feature film. His extensive experience with film festivals has helped him to appreciate both the unique female perspective in filmmaking as well as the lack of opportunities for women to make and showcase their films. He hopes that Eve Film Festival will play a part in correcting that imbalance.
Maissa Houri - Director of industry events & Mentorship Program
Maissa Houri is an Ottawa-based actress and filmmaker. She is very passionate about the local film community and very vocal about women’s rights. She joined the Eve Film Festival as the Industry Coordinator to get women in the Entertainment industry to share their stories and empower one another. When she’s not working on films or the festival, she’s at home raising her two young girls to be the best future leaders that they could be.
"Women are leaders everywhere you look—from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes." —Nancy Pelosi
Isabelle Moroni - Sponsorship Manager
Isabelle Moroni joined the Eve Film Festival to help with fundraising and sponsorship. She is a seasoned marketing professional with over 15 years’ experience in marketing activities, including branding, promotion, graphic design, sponsorships, communications and social media and 10 years' experience working in the festival business. Isabelle has a background in the arts and music having studied at both Ottawa University and Concordia University. She is a creative person with a passion for working on various types of projects and events from conception to execution. She has also worked in various capacities for several Ottawa-based Festivals such as Bluesfest, CityFolk, Italian Week Festival and Beau's Oktoberfest. She brings over 10 years of Festival experience with her. She hopes to bring fresh ideas and new fundraising concepts to this women-focused festival that is now part of Ottawa’s large scope of festivals.
