RYAN LA VIA 

WRITER / CO-PRODUCER / DIRECTOR

Ryan La Via is an award-winning writer, producer, and director based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Known for his compelling storytelling and cinematic vision, Ryan’s last feature documentary, A SOBERING STORY, was a critical and box office success—selling out screenings and earning praise for its emotional depth. He credits much of that success to his talented production team, many of whom return for his latest project, DISCERNMENT.

RYAN HILL

CO-PRODUCER / DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Ryan got his start in filmmaking as part of the team behind A SOBERING STORY where he learned a tremendous amount and developed his cinematic instincts. His keen eye for detail and strong sense of composition helped shape the look of that acclaimed film and is set to make DISCERNMENT just as visually compelling.

JESSICA GRAHAM

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Jessica played a key role in A SOBERING STORY, bringing her multi-skilled production talents to the screen—skills she’s bringing once again to DISCERNMENT. Her passion for helping people tell their stories has shaped her work as a director, camera operator, and sound recordist on projects focused on mental health, reconciliation, and women’s empowerment. She also shares that passion with students as a part-time film professor at Confederation College.

ADDITIONAL CREW

Production Designer
​PANDORA RPENCZSKI

Camera Operators
CHAD KIRVAN
SCOTT MCKAY
CURTIS JENSEN
TOMMY MILLARD

Gaffer / Grip
KAY LEE

​Script Supervisors
LYDIA ROCCO
MATTHEW REARDON

Production Assistant
ANDREW PAULSEN

Sound Mixer / Recordist
ALEXIS HOXAR

Boom Operator
KOLE WIKANDER

Film Editor
​MATTHEW KING