Staff
Saule Olson
Programming & Outreach Coordinator
(Summer 2024)
Saule Olson is a passionate Kazakh Canadian, writer and storyteller who is currently finishing up her degree at UVic in Creative Writing and Digital and Interactive Media in the Arts. She enjoys producing documentary style and interview based videos that focus on personal perspectives. Saule is excited to be a part of the CineVic crew this summer, where she can learn from and engage with independent artists and Victoria’s film community!
Ava Creed
Equipment Assistant
(Summer 2024)
Ava Creed found her love of film in the Reynolds Secondary Film & TV program and hasn't stopped there. She has been lucky enough to meet amazing people that have brought incredible opportunities with them. At the age of 16 she placed 3rd in Canada for her short film Lens on mental health, and won Best Student Film in New York's Body Positivity film festival for Characteristics of a Human Being at 18. Her photography has been published in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper documenting the arrival of three inspiring women fleeing from Afghanistan to Canada and the incredible woman whose strength brought them here. As an aspiring Director and Cinematographer she adores bringing stories to life, no matter how strange. Now she is continuing to learn and grow in the film industry and is loving the incredible community at CineVic.
Daniel Carruthers
Equipment Manager
Daniel has over 15 years of experience and over 50 credits as a Director of Photography. He's had multiple award nominations and received a Leo Award for his work on the short film Encore. Some of his Victoria-shot films include the features All-in Madonna, Open for Submissions, and The Devout. While working as a Director of Photography, Daniel has been the Equipment Manager at CineVic for more than 10 years, where he oversees the expanding equipment inventory and rentals.
David Geiss
Executive Director
David Geiss grew up in the 80s and 90s on a Saskatchewan homestead in Treaty 4 territory, and now lives on Vancouver Island on the traditional and unceded territory of the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations. He holds a Screenwriting MFA from the University of Victoria and a Film & Video Production BFA from the University of Regina. His first post-student film Queen City showcased Regina's drag scene and won the Best Documentary Award at the Canadian National Youth Film Festival in Ottawa, while his followup docudrama Stubblejumper appeared at numerous festivals around the world; both were broadcast on OutTV. He directed the Back to the Land episode of OutTV’s documentary series OutSpoken, and the canine adventure film Bark to the Land. David has taught Screenwriting at UVic, served as programmer for Short Circuit Pacific Rim Film Festival and the Living Skies Student Film Festival, spent nearly a decade as Festival Coordinator for Queer City Cinema Film & Performing Arts Festival, and has worked in various roles with other non-profits such as Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative, U of R Pride Centre, Victoria Car Share Cooperative, and Modo Car Share Cooperative. He is currently the Executive Director at CineVic Society of Independent Filmmakers.