BRIDGING BEYOND BORDERS

Igniting the next generation of global storytellers

July 24-26, 2026 Vancouver, Canada

Presented by:

EXNW is a global next-generation creative summit designed to highlight, elevate, and empower equity-deserving creatives in and across film, TV, streaming, gaming, and animation.

Congratulations to EXNW 2025 Global Connector Award Honourees!

These awards spotlight individual and organizations whose work transcends boundaries, connecting cultures, communities, and industries through storytelling, mentorship, and innovation. Our honorees build bridges that enable underrepresented creators to Thrive and drive structural change in global entertainment.

EXNW 2025 Global Connector Award Honorees:

  • Grace Park, Actor / Producer, Battlestar Galactica, Hawaii 5-0, Million Little Things

  • 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, S. Korea

  • Ins Choi, Creator of Kim’s Convenience, Playwright, Actor

Nominations for EXNW2026 Global Connector Awards open April 2026.

2025 Highlighted Speakers

  • Summit Keynote Speaker/ Director

    Creator of KIM'S CONVENIENCE

    Ins Choi was born in Korea but grew up and currently lives in Toronto with his wife and two kids. He recently played the part of Appa in the stage production of his play, Kim’s Convenience, in the UK and at soulpepper in Toronto. It’ll tour this fall to various U.S. theatres including A.C.T in San Francisco. He’s also written the plays, Son of a Preacherman, Bad Parent and has taught writing through various organizations.

  • Summit Keynote Speaker

    Grace Park is a Korean Canadian actor and producer who first gained national attention in the Canadian teen drama Edgemont, where she became a standout presence and an early example of authentic Asian Canadian representation on screen. She rose to international prominence in the critically acclaimed BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, portraying the dual roles of Boomer and Athena with emotional depth and complexity, an achievement that solidified her as a sci-fi icon. She went on to star as a lead in network hits like HAWAII FIVE-0 and A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, becoming one of the few Asian women to consistently headline primetime television in North America and across the globe. Throughout her career, Park has used her platform to advocate for equity and inclusion in the industry, earning her recognition as a role model for Asian diasporic actors, a global connector and a trailblazer for Asian representation in mainstream media.

Cultivating a Global Creative Network

Access to Funding

EXNW's programming is purposefully structured to bridge connections between creators and investors seeking cutting-edge opportunities to shape the future narrative of film, content, television, gaming and animation.

Professional Development

Through networking with peers, mentors, and notable innovators, creators will bolster their toolkit while gaining essential knowledge about the inner workings of film, tv, streaming, gaming, and animation.

Community

Arrive as individuals; depart as a collective! Cultivate bonds with fellow visionaries to collaboratively influence the trajectory of film and television storytelling. Shifting to an  abundance mindset requires active collaboration.

“Many of us have deep roots that grow between continents creating unique identities and stories that need to be acknowledged, elevated and celebrated. We feel at home everywhere, anywhere, and nowhere, constantly questioning - and being questioned on - what it means to belong.”

- Barbara Lee, EXNW Creator

Everywhere.Anywhere.Nowhere.

Experience Vancouver

Nestled between the Northshore mountains and the serenity of the Pacific ocean,  Vancouver offers an abundance of natural beauty and scenic inspiration. It’s also home to hundreds of world-class companies in tech, digital media, gaming, and film production.

  • Renowned as the third-largest film and TV production hotspot in North America.

  • Home to a vibrant mix of domestic and international companies 

  • Home of the world's largest cluster of domestic and foreign-owned production houses, including 60 studios and over 200 companies