Joshua "Classic Roots" DePerry
Joshua “Classic Roots” DePerry is an award-winning producer and DJ who is impacting the music community with his fresh sound and meaningful collaborations with diverse artists. His beats tell a story that embodies the bold spirit of the North. Through the inclusion of First Nations drumming and singing in his electronic compositions, he acknowledges the continued resilience of his nation.
He believes in the importance of community building and is excited to share his passion through upbeat workshops for the soul, which include dance, cultural dance, fitness and DJ workshops. His workshops are largely offered throughout the Greater Toronto Area but extend throughout the country, including Northern communities. Classic Roots weaves optimism into his music and workshops, using it as a tool to inspire a greater sense of self-confidence in First Nations youth. Specifically, Classic Roots has delivered workshops through MikwChiyâm, which is a program that emphasizes skill-sharing to empower youth through mentoring and support, to reinforce a sense of cultural pride and encourage self-expression.
Chrisann Hessing, Director
Chrisann is a documentary filmmaker and digital media producer based in Toronto, dedicated to storytelling through fresh perspectives and new mediums. She has combined her love of travel and storytelling to produce award-winning short films that have screened around the world.
Chrisann was one of eight Canadian participants in the Corus Diverse Voices fellowship through Hot Docs and was one of twenty emerging Canadian filmmakers selected for RIDM’s Talent Lab. She is an alumni of the CMPA’s Screen Based Media Production Program as well as DOC Institute’s New Visions Incubator. In addition to producing her own independent films, her screen credits include Nicholas de Pencier’s BLACK CODE, SHATNER’S WORLD, a television special commissioned by The Movie Network, and I LOST MY TALK, a multimedia dance film for the National Arts Centre.
Tanya Hoshi, Producer
Tanya Hoshi is a film and web series producer based in Toronto. She is an alumni of CMPA's Screen Based Media Production Program as well as the Hot Docs Accelerator Program. Tanya loves producing stories that normally are not told on screen - Turning Tables gave her the opportunity to shine light on one of many positive stories about Indigenous mentors like Classic Roots.
Tanya is currently producing the web series "Blackout", which she financed through the Independent Production Fund and OMDC's Interactive Digital Media Fund. She is also the Studio Coordinator at Shopify Media, where she coordinates national and international documentary films.