The Directors
Joel Etienne
Producer/Writer/Co-Director
Joel Etienne is a Canadian human rights lawyer, producer, director, and screenwriter whose work bridges law, storytelling, and social justice. As co-director, writer, and co-producer of Sisters of Fate, Etienne brings a deeply personal and principled voice to a film that confronts trauma, power, and moral courage.
In parallel with his creative career, Etienne has been a leading Canadian human rights advocate, acting in prominent cases involving abuse of authority, civil liberties, and the protection of vulnerable communities. His legal practice informs his filmmaking—grounding character, conflict, and consequence in lived realities rather than abstraction.
Etienne previously co-created and co-produced the television series Rising Suns, which aired nationally on OMNI in 2020 and featured what was then Canada’s most multicultural cast for an English-language scripted drama, advancing new immigrant narratives with authenticity and scale.
Beyond Rising Suns and Sisters of Fate, Etienne has produced and co-created multiple films and documentary projects for Canadian and international audiences, spanning narrative and non-fiction work focused on justice, identity, and human consequence.
Before and alongside his film pursuits, Etienne has been a respected voice in public discourse, frequently featured on CBC/Radio Canada, Radio and Television as a commentator on legal and societal issues.
Looking ahead, Etienne is currently developing a new dystopian television drama, Freetown, alongside his producing and creative partner Dan D’Or, as the series moves into its final stages of development.
Sisters of Fate reflects Etienne’s lifelong commitment to truth-telling: a convergence of his personal history, his human rights work, and his belief that cinema can catalyze empathy, accountability, and change.
Russell Yuen
Co-Director
Russell Yuen is one of the very first Asian actors in Canada and has amassed over 200 credits since 1990. With memorable roles in Three Body Problem, Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Russell turned his sights to directing with The Rabbi’s Daughter, co-directing with Joel Etienne. This is his English directorial debut. Focusing on the character’s internal motivations and relationships, Russell felt a strong connection to this film and its characters. Half of his family being Jewish, he has witnessed the conflicts and family dynamics found in this film.
Classically trained in theatre as an actor as well as being an acting coach/teacher, Russell has always believed you cannot play a character without knowing their deep motivations, through-line and history. This is how Russell approached directing the Rabbi’s Daughter. Fluently bilingual (French/English) Yuen maintains homes in both Toronto and Montreal.
The Cast
Ahava Spillman
Rebetzin ‘Ima’ Rosen
Ahava Spillman (Rebetzin ‘Ima’ Rosen) brings her warmth, depth, and lifelong passion for storytelling to the cast of Sisters of Fate, marking her first-ever acting role. As a beloved college professor turned motivational speaker, Ahava has spent decades inspiring, educating, and engaging audiences across the globe. Her life’s work — from delivering babies and directing plays to leading workshops and running marathons — reflects a vibrant curiosity and a deep dedication to community building. In Sisters of Fate, Ahava joins a compelling ensemble for a story rich in connection, destiny, and emotional resonance. This exciting new project gives audiences their first glimpse of her on-screen presence — a natural extension of her lifelong gift for heartfelt communication and authentic expression.
Brian Levy
Rabbi Rosen
Brian Levy (Rabbi Rosen) is a renowned Toronto-based casting director. Before transitioning into casting, Brian began his career as an actor after graduating from the acclaimed Vancouver Playhouse Acting School. He has appeared in numerous stage productions, most notably two original works by Tennessee Williams: The Red Devil Battery Sign and the world premier of William’s, The Notebook of Trigorin produced by the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, directed by Roger Hodgman. Most recently Brian can be seen featured as the enigmatic Professor Edmundson in EMERGE, a TLN original series by Azed Majeed. Brian continues to cast television films and features.
Diana Studenberg
Dr. Dhana Rosen
Diana Studenberg (Dr. Dhana Rosen) is a Juno-nominated songwriter, actor and musician in the progressive rock band, Trope, and former mechanical engineer graduate/IT consultant. Together with Trope, she’s toured across all of North America and Europe numerous times, supporting some of the largest known prog rock and metal bands. Their single ‘Pareidolia’ charted at #1 on rock radio in Bulgaria, where they were invited to perform live on Breakfast Television. Trope opened for Iliza Shlesinger, Harland Williams and Bryan Callen at the Hollywood Improv, and for Sevendust at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, where they performed two years in a row on the main stages. They also headlined festivals in Europe and have a double album ‘DYAD’ coming out Fall 2026. As an actor, Diana was the lead voice in the video game ‘Open Country’ (505 Games), the voice announcer for the 2025 Juno Awards, and she recently acted in 12 episodes on a new kids series airing on TLN.
Ivan Hutomo
Dr. Mikael Qi
Ivan Hutomo ( Dr. Mikael Qi) has been in the Entertainment Industry for over 15 years as a producer, director and actor/performer. He found his love for performing through musical theatre which developed into a passion and career after going to school for Film Production at Ryerson University. Some on stage credits include: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Brad), Assassins (Lee Harvey Oswald, Best Actor – THEA Award Nom.), Footloose (Director) and Legally Blonde The Musical (Warner). Some past performing credits on-screen: Netflix’s ‘The Recruit’, Amazon Prime’s ‘Gen V’, CBC’s ‘SkyMed’. Select producing credits include: YTV & The Zone, Big Brother Canada, Mini Pop Kids, Beast Games, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, Cineplex Entertainment and MILF Manor. Outside of acting, Ivan continues to train in dance at Studio XIV, believing that muscle memory, musicality, and commitment doesn’t stop after curtain call or camera wrap. He is fueled primarily by curiosity, collaboration, and a deep appreciation for very good sushi.
Jacquelyn Rosenbaum
Rebecca ‘Rivky’ Rosen Perllemann
Jacquelyn Rosenbaum – (Rebecca ‘Rivky’ Rosen Perllemann) is best known for her role as Beth in Twitches and Twitches Too. She has worked professionally since age 18, with her breakout role as Caitie, a series regular in the Disney series In a Heartbeat.
Her career includes lead roles in animated series such as Girlstuff, Boystuff and Delilah and Julius, as well as guest lead roles on numerous television series filmed in Toronto. After a long hiatus overseas studying her Jewish roots, Jaclyn returned to acting, playing leads in films including Set Me Free, The Flame, Forever One, and Sisters of Fate.
She has recently wrapped production on Game Over, in which she plays the antagonist, with a release scheduled for fall 2026. Jaclyn has also begun focusing more on comedy, studying at Second City in their Improv for Actors program, and is participating in the Canadian Film Festival’s 2026 Comedy Igniter Film Challenge in collaboration with The Firecracker Department.
Outside of acting, Jaclyn volunteers with Chai Lifeline, works in video and book editing, and enjoys competitive Scrabble, billiards, and a variety of other interests. She is grateful to be part of this project and appreciative of the cast and crew.
Moshe Kopstick
Yankel ‘Yanky’ Perllemann
Moshe Kopstick (Yankel ‘Yanky’ Perllemann) was raised in a Torah-observant home while developing a lifelong passion for the arts. Grateful to Hashem for the rare opportunity to live fully in both worlds, he teaches Judaic studies, serves as a chazan and ba’al koreh, works as a mashgiach, DJs Bar Mitzvahs, and performs as an actor. His television credits include playing the rabbinical role in ABC’s Designated Survivor, CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries, and Discovery’s Haunted Museum. Beyond the screen, Moshe runs “Events for Toronto Jews,” a 3,400+ member (and growing – feel free to be added!) WhatsApp group sharing events of interest to Toronto’s Jewish community.
Alexandra Watt Simpson
Claire
Alexandra Watt Simpson (Claire) is an interdisciplinary theatre artist, physical theatre creator, playwright, mask builder, sculptor, and activist. She has been the co-Artistic Director of Animacy Theatre Collective with Morgan Brie Johnson since 2017. Alexandra has a BFA in Performance Acting and an MFA in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. She completed her doctorate in Environmental Studies at York University, researching decolonial approaches to pipeline debates and embodied activism against extractive energy projects. Alexandra has trained in clown, bouffon, and mask with Karen Hines, John Turner, Sonia Norris, Deanna Fleysher, Martha Ross, and Susan Bertoia, among others and is passionate about comedy, satire, and imagination as a way to explore complex and intersectional issues and stories. Her work as an artist reflects her experience in and passion for boundary-blurring art practices and queer narratives.
With Animacy Theatre Collective, which she co-founded, Alexandra has co-created and performed several new works including: Finding Home (nominated for 5 Dora Awards, winning Outstanding New Play, TYA Division, 2023), produced by Theatre Direct and directed by Rebecca Northan (2021) and Adam Paolozza (2022-2024); Pest Me Pet Me, a new horror-comedy using mask and clown about housing precarity in Toronto, directed by Justin Miller with dramaturgical support by Brian Quirt (Undercurrents Festival, 2023); Care (Public Energy’s Erring Festival, 2022); In Search Of (Next Stage Festival Digital Shorts, 2021); Upstream Downtown (Toronto Festival of Clowns, Toronto Fringe, 2018), directed by Martha Ross. Work in-development include: Rhino Lassies, as part of the Tarragon Greenhouse Residency and A Raccoon Solstice, as part of Bad Hats’ Bad New Ideas program. Most recently with Animacy, Alexandra co-designed and performed in Slow As Snails, a performance art piece presented at the Royal Ontario Museum ROM After Dark.
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