Guests of Honour
Katarina Ziervogel – Film Guest of Honour
Katarina Ziervogel is an Anishinaabe/Mohawk/German Deaf woman from the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. She was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, but moved to Winnipeg at age ten. She graduated from TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University) with a Bachelor’s in Media Production. Katarina is known for her acting debut in Marvel Studio’s Echo and co-wrote her first feature film, Finality of Dusk, with Emmy award winning director Madison Thomas, which had its Canadian premiere at the Whistler Film Festival. She was part of the 2022 Accessible Writers’ Lab and Whistler Film Festival’s Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship Lab. Her passion is to increase the visibility of Deaf and Indigenous representation on screen.
C. S. Friedman – Author Guest of Honour
Born in New York City in 1957, Celia inherited the writing bug from her father, technical writer Herbert Friedman. She discovered science fiction at the age of 12, and has been creating her own worlds ever since. Celia’s original career as a costume designer left little time for writing, but she managed to squeeze in enough time between dress rehearsals to complete her first novel, In Conquest Born, making her a finalist for the John Campbell Award. She has published many novels for DAW Books, including her best-selling Coldfire Trilogy (Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls, Crown of Shadows). In August 2022, Deadline reported that Bohemia Group, a global management firm, was shopping a potential television series based on The Coldfire Trilogy, which was a finalist for NPR’s Science Fiction and Fantasy Vote in 2011. Her SF novel This Alien Shore was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and its sequel This Virtual Night was on the Washington Post’s list of “25 Must-Read Books” of 2020. She has also published a collection of short stories (The Dreaming Kind) and a sourcebook for White Wolf’s Vampire game. In 2011 she launched Tridac Publishing, to reprint historical works of interest to writers and designers. She lives in Virginia with one very spoiled cat who likes to help with the typing.
Bear Sailor Moon – Media Guest of Honour
Bear Sailor Moon is a Master level cosplayer from Toronto. His love for the classic anime and iconic take on the character has made him a cosplay staple in the Toronto cosplay scene! Bear Sailor Moon sends a message of love and body positivity through his cosplay and always wants his cub scouts to “Let their star seeds shine bright”. He is known for hosting “Bear Sailor Moon’s Lip Sync Extravaganza” at conventions and has crowned over 13 winners! Bear Sailor Moon is also known for his vocal talent and you can catch him singing live at a convention or just hang around Disney karaoke long enough! Keep up to date with BSM by following him on all social media platforms @Bearsailormoon
Jennifer Llewellyn – Artist Guest of Honour
Jenn was born and raised in Winnipeg. Jenn Graduated from John Taylor Collegiate, Go Pipers! Jenn moved to Vancouver in 2000 to attend Vanarts (Vancouver Institute of Media Arts) During College Jenn started working in hand drawn animation on the Christmas Orange, followed by Sinbad. Jenn has worked for Disney, Warner Brothers, Nickelodeon, Chorus, Nelvana, TLC, Treehouse, Peacock, Blizzard, Big Fish Games, Pop Cap Games, Apple, Amazon TV, Netflicks, Telus, Westjet, App Lovin, and many more. Jenn has worked on properties such as Firebuds, Super Natural Academy, Hotel Transylvania, Pete the Cat, Alpha Beta, DnAce, Mysticons, Strawberry Short Cake, Skunk Fu, Ed Edd and Eddie, World of War Craft and many more. Jenn is looking forward to connecting with fans and local artist’s, to encourage them on their journeys. It’s these moments that we can learn and grow.
