Filmmakers - How She Dares Film

Meet the Filmmakers

Click on each member below to read more about them:

Zoonie Nguyen

Executive Producer & Co-Director

Zoonie Nguyen

Executive Producer & Co-Director

Zoonie Nguyen is an inspirational coach and entrepreneur with an unshakeable faith in women entrepreneurship. With a rich background in supporting female business leaders, she founded Talentelle in 2006 to help women express their talents and achieve their goals. As the visionary behind the documentary "How She Dares," Zoonie showcases the resilient stories of women entrepreneurs from Vietnam and Canada, highlighting their determination and strength. Her engaging seminars have inspired countless professionals, while her role as Quebec Ambassador for WEDO Canada amplifies her impact in supporting women across the country. A Canadian of Vietnamese heritage, Zoonie's journey began with her return to Vietnam in 1995, transforming her life and fueling her passion to uplift others. As a role model for many women entrepreneurs, Zoonie is encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace their identities and step beyond their comfort zones. Through this film, she aims to inspire future generations of women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams fearlessly!"

Rhiannon Murray-Leung

Producer/Graphic Designer

Rhiannon Murray-Leung

Producer/Graphic Designer

Rhiannon Murray-Leung is a passionate Canadian freelance filmmaker known for her commitment to authentic human storytelling. Her creative journey has been shaped by her unwavering belief in the power of storytelling to bridge cultures, spark conversations, and inspire change. A graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Film and Television program she has quickly established herself in the film industry, contributing to a range of successful short films, an audio drama series, and various collaborative projects. In addition to her producing role, Rhiannon serves as the primary graphic designer for the film and all of its associated events and premieres.

Victoria Bacani

Co-Director

Victoria Bacani

Co-Director

Victoria Bacani is an emerging Filipino-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto, known for her compelling storytelling and dedication to diverse narratives. A proud graduate of Sheridan College with a Bachelor’s in Film and Television, Victoria is passionate about amplifying women’s and Asian-centered stories through her work. Her films aim to challenge conventional representation in media, offering fresh perspectives and nuanced portrayals that reflect the richness of her heritage and the experiences of underrepresented communities. As she continues to hone her craft, Victoria remains committed to exploring and expanding the boundaries of storytelling in the film industry.

John Compuesto

Cinematographer, Assistant Editor & Creative Director

John Compuesto

Cinematographer, Assistant Editor & Creative Director

John Compuesto began his journey with How She Dares as a cinematographer, later taking on the role of assistant editor and now serving as the project’s creative director. With a background in Digital Media and Communications from NYU, John combines creative storytelling with strategic digital engagement. He is also the founder of Core Vizuals, a marketing agency dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs realize their dreams and achieve lasting impact through powerful media.

Ivana Strajin

Picture Editor

Ivana Strajin

Picture Editor

Ivana Strajin is a corporate renegade turned filmmaker. She writes, directs, and edits films, web series, and short form content for a variety of platforms. Her latest dark comedy short "Unhinged," premiered at Toronto Shorts in December 2023.

Rachel Ng

Assistant Editor

Rachel Ng

Assistant Editor

Graduated from the Toronto Film School, Rachel Ng is a Hong Kong-Canadian film editor based in Toronto. Being active in the short film field, she recently began her journey in feature films as an assistant editor, and continues to learn and explore different genres of film as much as she can.

Xander Pham

Assistant Editor & Assistant Story-Editor

Xander Pham

Assistant Editor & Assistant Story-Editor

Xander Pham is a Vietnamese-Canadian filmmaker based in Montreal, Quebec. As a first-generation immigrant and a transman, he advocates for Asian-immigrating and LGBTQIA+ stories in his works. With experience working on narrative films, documentaries and commercials in various production stages as Writer, Producer, Script Supervisor and Picture Editor. His experiences in the Honours Bachelor of Film and Television program at Sheridan College has prepared him with the pandemic protocols to provide quality storytelling through writing, producing and editing.

Sarah Saunders

Sound Editor/Designer

Sarah Saunders

Sound Editor/Designer

Sarah Saunders is a highly passionate sound designer and re-recording mixer with experience in film, television, podcast, short film, and more. Following her graduation from Sheridan College’s Honors Bachelor of Film and Television program, Saunders has worked on a variety of projects spanning genres. She is dedicated to bringing depths of emotion to the auditory soundscape in every project she works on; promising high fidelity mixes that compliment the themes of the media they are a part of, and elevate them to the next level.

Patience Bradford

Sound Editor/Designer

Patience Bradford

Sound Editor/Designer

Patience Bradford is a Re-Recording Mixer based in Toronto, Ontario Canada. She believes sound is an integral tool to enhance and contribute to storytelling in TV and film. After completing her Bachelor's Degree in Music (Majoring in Saxophone) at the University of Western Ontario she received a Graduate Certificate from Humber College in Post-Production. Her passion, drive and creative workflow landed her in Toronto's documentary film and TV scene just before she graduated from Humber College. Since then, she has contributed to the Canadian Film and TV industry by bringing scenes to life with her detailed and balanced mixes, as well as giving a creative edge to stories with her intricate sound designs.

Joseph Chiu

Co-Composer

Joseph Chiu

Co-Composer

Joseph Chiu is a Canadian composer known for his colourful and organic use of sound. Named by Ludwig van Toronto as one of “six emerging Canadian composers to keep an eye on,” his music has been recorded by artists throughout North America and Europe. He brings his musical voice to the world of film and video games, having scored a number of projects in a variety of genres such as drama, documentary, and horror. Joseph has held residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and was invited to participate in the SOCAN Screen Music Lab presented in partnership with Ubisoft.

Diane Vallesteros

Co-Composer

Diane Vallesteros

Co-Composer

Diane Vallesteros is a Canadian film and media composer known for her ability to weave emotional resonant melodies through music to enhance the narrative power of visual storytelling. With a passion for bridging the two worlds of music and visual media, she creates immersive compositions that blend ambient, atmospheric soundscapes, with the elegant sound of classical instrumentation. Her ongoing growth as a composer is reflected in her involvement with authentic, emotionally compelling stories.

Nino Lovell

Social Media Marketing

Nino Lovell

Social Media Marketing

Nino Lovell is a versatile creative with a passion for capturing raw, candid moments across all digital media & visual art mediums. Never confined to a single style, Nino thrives on pushing creative boundaries and exploring new challenges. What sets her apart is her deep, genuine connection to her craft—multimedia production isn’t just a passion; it’s a calling that fuels her soul. With a mind that never rests and an insatiable drive to master new skills, Nino approaches every project with care, curiosity, and an unwavering dedication to storytelling.

Andrew Lea

Colorist

Andrew Lea

Colorist

Andrew Lea is a freelance colorist and DIT based in Toronto. He brings a collaborative approach to each new project, drawing from his experience interning at post houses and grading dailies on set for series and features. Driven to support stories that expand creative boundaries while remaining evocative and naturalistic, he enjoys working across a wide variety of formats including short form narrative, spec, and commercial work.