Annelise started out as a filmmaker in the late 80’s, specializing in documentary storytelling, partially because she loved the research and learning that went into each new project. She trained at such prestigious institutions as the Banff Centre, the National Screen Institute, the Canadian Film Centre and the University of British Columbia and then fell into the world of digital marketing in1995. She left the film industry in1999 and in the early days of the internet boom in Vancouver was seen as a pioneer, especially in the world of search engine optimization (SEO), working in a wide variety of sectors and driving success for clients like Whistler Blackcomb, Chapters Indigo and HSBC.
Around 2008, more and more filmmakers started to approach her looking for help in understanding YouTube and other online opportunities. Today she works primarily in audience development and strategy for screen media stories (including film, TV, web series, and video games), although she has also worked with organizations and artists in other parts of the culture sector in the past 5 years.
Annelise remains a huge believer in the power of the audience and artist and how the online context presents almost unlimited opportunities to bring people together in strategic and constructive ways. She speaks, teaches and writes extensively on related topics including two studies funded by Telefilm Canada “Thanks COVID! 15 Lessons in Film Distribution from the First Wave” and “Futureproofing Canadian Film: Working Towards a Sustainable Feature Film Ecosystem.” Annelise also created an on-demand course called “Digital Marketing for Media” with the National Screen Institute – Canada and has a podcast with screenwriter Jill Gollick called “STORY + AUDIENCE” that is launching a second season that will focus on feature film case studies from all over the world later in 2025. She has also recently undertaken a yearlong research project funded by Canadian Heritage exploring the current state of film distribution internationally with recommendations for Canada of how to meet this current moment.
