Colombian-Canadian filmmaker, executive and programmer Luisa Alvarez Restrepo has joined the Toronto branch of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists as its manager of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Alvarez Restrepo (pictured) will oversee ACTRA Toronto’s ongoing initiatives to tackle anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in the industry. She’ll also support the objectives of the union’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

ACTRA National created a similar role —  director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging — in November 2020. Olivia Nuamah was originally appointed to the position but left in April 2021 to join PwC Canada as its national inclusion, diversity and belonging leader.

Jenn Paul is now ACTRA National’s director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Alvarez Restrepo was previously a project manager at WarnerMedia Access Canada, where she led all film festival initiatives and the launched Access Festivals international program for filmmakers from underrepresented communities.

Prior to WarnerMedia Access Canada, Luisa was at the Toronto International Film Festival, where she launched the Amplify Voices Award to honour Canadian, Black, Indigenous and people of colour filmmakers.

Alvarez Restrepo co-wrote and was associate producer on the 2018 short film Forbidden Tikka Masala (Raincatcher Media), which won seven awards internationally, including Audience Choice at the Toronto Short Film Festival. Rahul Chaturvedi directed and co-produced the story of a devoutly religious vegetarian who finds a new lease on life after mistakenly eating chicken, which was licensed by TIFF and CBC.