Program Creator: Kyle Schmalenberg

Kyle is a filmmaker whose unique (ethnic/cultural) background has informed a lot of his story-telling interests. By being Canadian, but with parents from Austria and Bermuda, and being raised in mainland China, Kyle has seen dozens of countries and cultures which have all taught him new perspectives on what it means to be a human being. These overarching themes–of family, community, fellowship, etc–are what motivate Kyle to bring to his projects.He has worked on TV shows in the U.S. and Canada on channel such as Bravo and CBC, as well as broadcast and online commercials for brands like Air Miles, RBC, Tim Hortons, Air Jordan, and AMEX. Where he most proudly uses his skills is in community–based and humanitarian films, such as serving as facilitator, writer, director, and editor for Illumine Media Projects‘ How We Grow web series, human rights documentary work on behalf of the Baha‘i Faith and for the United Nations, and documentary work for Special Olympics Canada. He was a co–creator and facilitator at NFSI and is also pursuing a Master‘s in counselling and psychotherapy. After spending over 5 years in commercial content and media-creation for various international humanitarian campaigns, Kyle is in pre-production on his first feature–a film he wrote and will direct.