Kaitlin Manalili is a director and editor based in the GTA. She graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Film and Television program at Sheridan College in 2024, and is most passionate about telling stories that emotionally impact and inspire audiences to think outside the box. She gained a love for the arts as a former competitive dancer who trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, acro, lyrical, and contemporary. Through movement and music, she found a sense of escapism and later turned that passion into one for filmmaking.

 

Kaitlin's directorial thesis film, "Colourblind," recently won Best Student Short at the Valkyrie International Film Festival in Buffalo, NY. Her other projects have also been screened at other festivals within the GTA, for her work as a director, as well as an editor. She is proficient with Avid Media Composer and Premiere Pro, and enjoys learning about all aspects of filmmaking from development to production to distribution. Directing and editing has given her a great sense of perspective as she approaches how all visual and auditorial elements create the tone and nuances of a story.

 

As a female Filipino filmmaker in the industry, Kaitlin strives to always be attentive and share stories that bring diversity on and off camera. She values collaboration and loves seeing projects come to life that really represent the passion and creativity that each and every person brings to the table.