​Arveen Aujla is an emerging actress recognized for her roles in Whispers on Red Lake (2024) and The New Agent. Beyond her acting career, Arveen is a former competitive gymnast and an award-winning dancer. She is represented by Oldfield Management, where she also serves as a student representative. Known for her petite stature and vibrant personality, Arveen embraces the motto, "Life is short & so am I!

Swathi has always had a passion for acting, dreaming of the stage and screen since childhood. After spending 30 years in the dental field, she decided to pursue her lifelong passion and reignited her acting journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, participating in an online workshop.

This marked the beginning of a new chapter, where she landed the lead role in the regional film “Nivaarya”. Taking her craft seriously, she secured an agent, began appearing in commercials, and continued to hone her skills through acting classes. She later starred in another short film, “Family Values”, further solidifying her dedication to the craft.

Driven by a strong desire to increase South Asian representation in Hollywood, Swathi remains determined and patient, even in the face of limited support. She is committed to making a meaningful impact in the industry and bringing authentic, diverse voices to the forefront.

Shreya Jacob is a hard-working and talented screen and stage actor. Her recent credits include The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia, and Thand which premiered at the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) in 2023. She has also completed a training program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In addition, Shreya has classical voice training and has completed her dance graduation in Bharatanatyam (classical Indian dance) which she loves to incorporate into projects when possible.

Sen Ramanathan has always had a passion for both acting and filmmaking. After spending several years working full-time in IT and other jobs, he recently had the opportunity to graduate with a diploma in Film and TV Production. As a hobby, he decided to pursue acting in short films to hone his skills and deepen his understanding of the craft.

Sen has served as an assistant director on a short film called Chain Link and also acted in a 7-minute sci-fi film for the 48-Hour Short Film Festival. Recently, he directed a short film titled The Taste of Greed, which will be featured in an upcoming film festival.

He is excited to take on the role of Raj in Family Values.

I am an architect by profession and a stage artist by parallel profession, my passion for theatre found few occasional outlets since immigrating to Canada. I have starred in a variety of short and long plays for private as well as commercial shows in Toronto. Additionally, I also have some experience with directing small scale plays of my own. In Ahmedabad, I was trained under Hashmukh Baradi, the living legend of Gujarati Theatre, at the Theatre Media Centre (TMC). I have performed with the TMC team at Darpana Academy of Performing Arts and in street theatre pieces directed by Hashmukh Baradi, Janak Raval and Manvita Baradi. I also did a full-length psychological play in Gujarati called Koi Pan Ek Phool Nu Naam Bolo To by Madhu Ray with SAWITRI theater (Mississauga) as the leading role of 'Pramod Patel' & ' Jagannath Pathak'. I can also play flute in the Hindustani Classical Style, which I learnt under the tutelage of Shri Hemendra Dixit in Ahmedabad, and for which I received a scholarship from the Sangeet Natya Academy. At present actively working with some theatre project with well known Gujarati director Harin Thakar at Toronto.

Jagjeet Kaur is a dynamic and versatile actor known for her captivating performances and deep emotional range. With a passion for storytelling, she brings authenticity and depth to every role, whether on screen or stage.

Her journey in acting is fueled by a strong foundation in performance arts, combined with a keen ability to embody diverse characters with nuance and sincerity. Jagjeet thrives in both dramatic and comedic roles, seamlessly adapting to the demands of each script while bringing a unique presence to her performances.

Beyond acting, Jagjeet is committed to continuous artistic growth, honing her craft through training and collaboration with industry professionals. Whether portraying powerful lead roles or compelling supporting characters, she is dedicated to leaving a lasting impact on audiences with every performance.

Inspired by the works of Andrew Garfield, Robin Williams, and many others, Agasti Kulkarni views acting as a powerful tool to change perspectives. He believes that a dedicated actor can bring a role to life, making it truly flourish. To him, acting is freedom—it offers the chance to step into different shoes and explore new worlds.

Having been part of projects such as Teen Fringe (Toronto Fringe) and Reflections (which placed 3rd in the Barrie Awards), he continues to hone his craft. Embracing the philosophy that there are no small roles, only small actors, he strives to become a great performer while cherishing every step of his journey.

Zen Lenore (he/she/they) is a genderfluid actor based in Toronto. Having graduated from the Acting for Film, TV, and Theatre program at Toronto Film School in 2023 they have been enthusiastic about being a part of projects that amplify queer voices. Zen is grateful for the opportunity to have worked with this amazing team and is excited for everyone to see this film that tells such an important story through comedy.

Pooja began as a self-taught filmmaker in Montreal, doing various set jobs and freelance video work. They are attending Humber College to hone their skills as a DP and Director. Pooja’s experiences as a Queer South Asian filmmaker have led them to a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of social marginalization. They want to create works that advocate QTBIPOC stories, facilitate social change and empower marginalized communities.

Shakailah Allison comes from Vaughan, Ontario. Before embarking on her cinematic journey, she delved into

Journalism, where her affection for storytelling and the art of post-production blossomed. She has woven together a Documentary, a PSA, and a captivating short-drama to date. Among her achievements, she edited a short drama that garnered the esteemed “Best Student Film Canada” title at the Alternative Film Festival Summer 2024. Her passions include creative writing, immersing herself in books, and tinkering with her beloved car.

Samarika Dhiman is a queer South Asian filmmaker at Humber College, committed to creating space for underrepresented voices in the industry. With skills in lighting, sound, cinematography, digital design, screenwriting, and directing, she excels in her craft and editing Passionate about filmmaking since childhood, she tirelessly pursues her vision, as seen in her short film Mary, where she overcame a snowstorm. A quick learner and problem solver, she is dedicated to producing high-quality films efficiently.

Olivia Karlo is a 20-year-old filmmaker from Richmond Hill, Ontario and a film student at Humber College. She is most known for her work as a On Location Sound Mixer for the short dramatic film Divided Dining (2024) which won Best Student Film Canada at the Alternative Film Festival, and the short documentary Kathak: The Dance of Storytellers. Olivia has always had a passion for storytelling, whether that be writing stories or running around the house with a small camera. After taking film electives in high school, Olivia decided to pursue her passion for storytelling as a career. She aspires to make films that people can connect with, and create emotion-packed narratives. Olivia is currently an intern at Brain Power Studio, gaining more on-set and post production knowledge and experience.

Sophie Moreno Kris, an emerging filmmaker, is driven by a passion for storytelling, strong organizational skills, and leadership. Born in Spain, she embraces diverse cultures and thrives on creative challenges.

She wrote and produced Evergreen Avenue (2025) and produced There’s No Place Like Home (2024), which won 1st Prize at the Ottawa Youth Film Festival. Her work as a 1st AD on The Witness (2024), For Vaani (2025), Family Values (2025) and 360Kids (2025) showcases her ability to maintain efficient production schedules while cultivating a positive and inclusive work environment.

While studying Film and Television Production at Humber College (set to graduate in 2025), Sophie is gaining experience through internships at Frank Content Productions and the Toronto Screenwriting Conference. She is a committed planner and problem-solver dedicated to creating a meaningful and impactful presence in the industry. 

Ro Charifa is a 22-year-old Lebanese-Muslim filmmaker from Mississauga, Ontario, whose passion for storytelling knows no bounds. She directed the touching Asian family drama Divided Dining, written by Khoa Tang, drawing inspiration from her upbringing in an immigrant household to deepen character dynamics and emotions. Now serving as the Casting Director and Social Media Manager for Family Values, Ro is dedicated to bringing authentic representation to the screen and engaging audiences through thoughtful storytelling and marketing. She is passionate about showcasing the depth of different cultures through film, believing in its power to unite people. With a keen eye for detail and a strong creative vision, Ro is determined to pursue art direction in the film industry, using her skills to shape immersive and visually compelling stories.

Born in India and raised in the Middle-East, Natasha George has over 6 years of experience working in the Film and Media industry. After completing her undergraduate studies in Media and Communications, she worked for the advertising agency in their post-production team for about 4 years. She is currently a final-year student at Humber Polytechnic’s Film and TV Production program during which she has worked on short films as a Writer, Director, Picture Editor, Script Supervisor and Casting Director. As a fellow South-Asian from a dysfunctional family, Natasha was immediately drawn to the project and hopes audiences appreciate it for its originality, hilarity and beauty.

Lia Lee is the production designer for “Family Values.” Since high school, she has led the film and broadcasting club as president, taking part in a variety of broadcasting activities. She gained experience in directing, scriptwriting, cinematography, and editing through video and short film projects. Currently, she is studying at Humber College in the Film and TV Production program, with a focus on production design and picture editing. Influenced by her experiences with East Asian culture since childhood, she has a close connection not only with North American films but also with Asian films. Also, because of her love for exploring various fields, she is deeply interested in production design and post production, Lia is passionate about bringing colors and visions to life on set and loves seeing how color and production design contribute to the storytelling in films. Now, she is ready to begin the journey toward her dream of becoming a global filmmaker, transcending the borders of Asia and North America!

Chelsea Becerra is the art director for "Family Values," She has always loved art, design, and film so the art department has always been a great fit for her. With a background in various student and external productions, Chelsea has solidified her passion to have a career in the art department and continuing her passion in helping others bringing their ideas to life. Working on "Family Values" was particularly rewarding, as she enjoyed bringing the director's vision to life with vibrant colors and a warm, inviting atmosphere.