Evaluation Juries

The CMF routinely employs external experts to aid in decision-making for selective programs through an evaluation-based jury process. To provide an external perspective on the application materials submitted, the juries are comprised of working industry professionals who are experts in their field or genre. You can use the filters below to review who has served as a jury member in the past, and on which juries.

Evaluation Process

Following an initial review for eligibility conducted by internal staff, jury members are tasked with scoring each project against a set evaluation criteria. Each program has its own evaluation grid, specific to the needs and objectives of that program, but generally they include:

  • experience of the production or creative teams and their capacity to deliver;
  • an assessment of the creative content and/or innovation in the space;
  • narrative positioning statement;
  • business materials, including viability of the project and financial stability; and
  • a distribution and/or marketing strategy.

The highest scoring projects are compared against the available funding allocation for the program to determine the recipients for that round of funding.

If you wish to be considered to serve on a jury, please contact [email protected]. Prospective jurors are strongly encouraged to create a PERSONA-ID profile. The CMF uses self-identification information from PERSONA-ID to help select a diverse group that is reflective of the community served by the program. By providing your self-identification information to the CMF, you are deemed to consent to its use for such purposes, subject to the terms of the CMF’s Privacy Policy.

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Benoît Gagnon
Montréal, Canada

Benoit Gagnon is a visionary leader based in Montreal, Quebec with has a passion for technology. With extensive experience in cybersecurity, strategic management, and IT, he has spearheaded major technological transformations and redefined strategies for organizations like KPMG Canada and Forensik. As an educator and researcher, Benoit shares his cybersecurity expertise at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Université de Montréal, contributing to the field's advancement. His achievements include establishing strategic intelligence services and co-editing the book Repenser le terrorisme.

Versatile and self-taught, Benoit holds numerous professional certifications and an MBA from UQAM's École des sciences de la gestion. Known for his innovative approach and enthusiasm for cutting-edge technologies, he excels at integrating emerging tech into business strategies, making him a valuable consultant and inspirational leader. Benoit values organizational learning and views mistakes as opportunities for improvement, reinforcing his commitment to strategic management focused on people and innovation.

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Juries
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 2
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Innovation & Experimentation - Round 2
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 1
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Chad Greenway
Burnaby, Canada

Chad Greenway is a friendly and approachable video game entrepreneur, and generalist with a passion for learning and helping others grow. With 22 years of experience in both the video game and animation industries, he has founded multiple companies and spent 10 years in C-suite roles, along with 12 years of management experience.

Currently, Chad is the founder of Snug Games Ltd., where he is producing and self-publishing Santa Swipe Match-3, a free-to-play puzzle game aimed at casual players who love Christmas. He also shares his expertise by teaching a Live Operations course in the Game Design department at Vancouver Film School.

Previously, Chad co-founded Nightmarket Games, a mobile game development studio that focuses on branded free-to-play games. As Product Owner and Creative Director, he has led the development of over 20 games across mobile, PC, and web platforms, with a portfolio that has been downloaded more than 100 million times.

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Juries
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 2
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Elise Trinh
Montréal, Canada

Elise (she/her or they/them) is a seasoned narrative designer/writer who has worked for a wide range of projects and studios over the past decade (Ubisoft, ZA/UM). She's also written for cartoons, books and TV shows. Elise is currently researching and creating interactive projects related to narrative games and character relationships at Concordia University.

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Juries
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 2
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Marc Anthony Rodriguez
New York, USA

With a robust career spanning nearly two decades in the interactive entertainment industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise that encompasses every facet of product development. My journey began in 2005, when I first entered the industry with a deep passion for creating immersive experiences. I have honed my skills in various areas, including game design, production, project management, & executive team leadership making me the versatile and seasoned professional I am today. My experience includes leading & collaborating on a wide range of projects, from indie games to AAA titles, across multiple platforms such as consoles, PC, and mobile. This diversity has equipped me with a unique perspective on the industry's evolving landscape and the ability to adapt to its rapid changes. I have a proven track record of bringing innovative ideas to life, from the initial concept phase through to post-launch support. My deep understanding of player behavior and market trends has been instrumental in guiding projects that not only meet but exceed player expectations, resulting in strong critical and commercial success.

As an evergreen game designer, I have been responsible for crafting compelling narratives, designing engaging gameplay mechanics, and ensuring that every element of a game contributes to a cohesive and enjoyable player experience. I am particularly skilled at balancing creative vision with practical constraints, ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within budget while maintaining the highest quality standards. My commitment to excellence is reflected in the numerous accolades and positive reviews my projects have received over the years. As a producer and project manager, I have led cross-functional teams through all stages of development, from pre-production to launch.

My leadership style is collaborative and empowering, fostering an environment where creativity can thrive while also ensuring that everyone is aligned with the project's goals. I have successfully managed teams of varying sizes, both large scale and indie darlings, alongside teams in-house and remotely, effectively overcoming the challenges of distributed development.

My experience also includes managing relationships with key stakeholders, including publishers, and marketing teams, to ensure that all aspects of a project align with strategic objectives. I am so very eager to bring my extensive experience, creative vision, and passion for innovation where I can contribute to the development of groundbreaking games that captivate and inspire players worldwide.

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Juries
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 2
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Mélissandre Monatus
Paris, France

Mélissandre Monatus is a professional in marketing, communication, and event management in the international video game industry. She worked for eight years in London for major publishers and then for independent studios.

In 2018 and 2019, she promoted African studios and their video games through Africa Corner at Paradise Game, in addition to working on the largest video game and esports event in West Africa (FEJA).

Since 2018, she has been a guest lecturer at higher education institutions specializing in video games, esports, and business management. She is also a speaker or mediator at international events in the video game industry.

In 2021, she co-organized the first edition of the « Koumbit du jeu vidéo » with Muriel Tramis and Mickaël Newton, aimed at promoting Afro-Creole professionals in the video game industry.

In 2022, she co-founded INGWAZ Studio, a WEB3 (GameFi) video game company, and launched the TOKOU project as CMO.

In 2024, she directed her first documentary short film, selected for the PanAfrican Festival of Cannes in 2024. The film explores themes of skin color, mixed heritage, and intergenerational stories through the lens of history and personal experiences of both famous and non-famous individuals, professionals, and associations.

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Juries
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 2
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Victoria Evans
Toronto, Canada
Victoria has nearly two decades of experience leading and supporting successful indies and multinational digital studios across North America. She specializes in storytelling across multiple platforms, including digital media, video games, and emerging creative technologies. Often contributing to the Executive and leadership team, she is usually involved at the inception of the story. She leads strategic initiatives and program design on industry programs, workshops, and masterclasses for nurturing emerging talent and supporting executives during times of growth and transition. In her career, she has analyzed and evaluated hundreds of IDM proposals for major Canadian funding agencies and investors.
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Juries
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Commercial Projects Program - Round 2
  • Fiscal 2024 - 2025: Innovation & Experimentation - Round 1