Date: Friday, October 30, 2026 (3:00 PM)
Location: RBC Convention Centre – Pan Am Room (Second Floor – North Building)
For tickets and to view the full schedule, visit Comiccon’s website!
About the Panel:
This Film Training Manitoba (FTM) panel brings together industry professionals to share their experiences working on film productions and explore the wide range of jobs and career opportunities available in Manitoba’s film industry.
The session will conclude with an open Q&A, giving audience members the opportunity to ask questions and connect directly with the panelists. Whether you’re an emerging filmmaker, an aspiring crew member, or a film enthusiast ready to turn your passion into a career, this session is designed to inform, inspire, and help you take your next step in the industry.
About the Panelists:
Aaron Graham is a full member of the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and serves on the executive of the DGC Manitoba’s district council. He has served as a Production Coordinator and Assistant Production Coordinator on such Winnipeg-based productions as “Midnight Sun”, “Breakthrough”, “The Parts You Lose”, and “Burden of Truth” Seasons 1 and 2. Aaron also has an extensive background in freelance film writing including the publications Screem Magazine and Art Decades. A partial list of his interview subjects include Terry Gilliam, John Landis, James Gray, Richard Franklin, Charles B. Griffith, Stuart Gordon and Richard Linklater. Graham was also selected to the Berlinale Talent Campus at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.
Stephan Recksiedler (Commercial Director, Cinematographer, Filmmaker, Storyboard Artist, Comic Book Illustrator, and Production Service Manager at Frank Digital) Stephan began his career in the film industry in 1994 through the Winnipeg Film Group’s Basic Film Workshop. After a brief period working in the comic book industry, he attended Vancouver Film School to further develop his passion for filmmaking. Over the years, Stephan has created numerous short films and worked as a cinematographer on feature films, shorts, and music videos. He spent eight years at PS Production Services, managing all camera rentals for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Today, Stephan works with Frank Digital, where he provides production services and rentals, while also directing and shooting commercials and documentaries. In addition, he continues to apply his artistic talents as a storyboard artist, most recently completing work on the third season of APTN’s CHUMS.As an illustrator, Stephan has collaborated with Marvel Comics for Upper Deck trading cards, worked with Image Comics, and contributed to several independent comic book projects.
Aaron Merke is an actor/comedian from and living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Aaron started his career training with the late Del Close at the Improv Olympic in Chicago. Returning to Canada, Aaron became part of the Second City Touring Company and the Artistic Director of the False Idle Factory Theatre Company. Aaron again left Canada, this time for New York City, where he performed with People Improv Theatre. Returning to Toronto, Aaron founded KUNG-FU, the 2006 Canadian Cage Match Champions, and competed as the Canadian Team at the 2006 Chicago Improv Festival. Aaron was the writer and director of False Idle Factory’s Shobu Show/World Supremacy Wrestling, and was featured on Much Music and in The Globe & Mail. Aaron has been on Much Music’s top-rated show Video on Trial and was the host and sketch writer for Much Music’s comedy special LOL. Aaron was also a regular on the Showcase television show Retail, was in the Comedy Network series House Party, has appeared in the films Make it Happen and Foodland, and can be seen in an upcoming episode of HBO Canada’s critically acclaimed comedy series Less Than Kind.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program funded through the Department of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film industry to identify training needs to support workforce development.