ABOUT KFS

Kelowna Film Studios is led by film producers James Alton & Marie Ashwood, who are focused on building film and commercial production in the Okanagan.

James
Alton

OWNER & AWARD-WINNING
DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

James Alton is a Canadian director, producer, and cinematographer based in British Columbia, and the founder of Kelowna Film Studios. His work spans narrative film, documentary, commercials, and broadcast content, with credits across Netflix, Disney/ABC, Amazon Studios, CTV/Bell Media, Global News, and major digital platforms.

James has produced and directed award-winning films including The Keepers, Mabel, Blood Brothers, and Because She’s Adopted, screening internationally and earning multiple jury and festival awards. His projects range from intimate character-driven shorts to feature-length documentaries and national commercial campaigns.

Through Kelowna Film Studios, James has led productions from lean three-person documentary crews to 80+ person narrative sets, collaborating with union crews (IATSE 891, ICG 669), international VFX teams, and broadcast partners. His approach is practical, story-first, and execution-driven, with a focus on keeping schedules tight, budgets disciplined, and visuals uncompromising.

James is also actively involved in developing and packaging new scripted projects, positioning productions for Canadian and international financing while advocating for British Columbia and the Okanagan as a competitive production centre.

James Alton on IMDB
James Alton on LinkedIn
James Alton on Instagram
James Alton on Youtube

Marie Ashwood

AWARD WINNING ACTRESS & CO-PRODUCER

Marie Ashwood is an award-winning actress, writer, and co-producer working across film, television, and digital media. In addition to her on-screen work, she is deeply involved in development, creative strategy, and producing, with a strong focus on story, performance, and audience positioning.

Marie has collaborated closely with James Alton and Kelowna Film Studios on multiple projects, including commercial campaigns, the narrative short The Letter, and several upcoming feature and scripted projects in active development. As a co-producer, she plays a hands-on role in shaping creative direction, refining scripts, and aligning projects with financing, talent, and market strategy.

Her background as a working actor gives her a distinct advantage in development and production, bridging performance, writing, and producing with clarity and intention. Marie is particularly strong at identifying character-driven material with commercial viability, and at building cohesive creative teams around emerging projects.

Marie Ashwood on IMDB
Marie Ashwood on Instagram
Marie Ashwood on Youtube
Marie Ashwood on TikTok