Organized by the Racial Equity Screen Office (RESO), East by Northwest (EXNW) is an annual summit held in Vancouver, British Columbia. EXNW is designed to highlight, elevate, and empower the next generation of creatives across film, television, streaming, gaming, and animation. It is where the creative world comes together to catalyze the development of original content and thoughtful storytelling, while cultivating an inclusive and equitable future in media and entertainment.
At its core, EXNW is creating infrastructure cultivating new space for funders and stakeholders across multiple sectors to engage with racialized visionaries and the innately unique possibilities for sharing and telling their stories to the world.
The EXNW Global Connector Award is a prestigious accolade that celebrates individuals and organizations for their exceptional contributions to advancing creative talent in the global entertainment industry. This award was established with the purpose of acknowledging exemplary and sustained leadership, innovation, and trailblazing efforts within various sectors of the Global Entertainment industry that promote greater equity for underrepresented communities. By acknowledging and amplifying their achievements, organizers hope to motivate and inspire others to embrace their ability to be role models and actively contribute to creating a more equitable and representative future for creatives from Indigenous, Black and racialized communities worldwide.
Congratulations to the 2025 EXNW Global Connector Award recipients:
Grace Park, Actor / Producer
Ella Cooper, Founder, Black Women Film and Media
Robert Wong, VP, Creative BC
Doreen Manuel, Director, Bosa Centre for Film & Animation & Inclusive Community Projects
Joonsuh Park, CEO, SLL Studios
Ins Choi, Creator of Kim’s Convenience
To learn more about EXNW and RESO, visit their websites.
Image credit: John White.
