Tito Guillen

Cinephile is a word Tito Guillen uses to describe himself, but it falls short. He watches it, enjoys it, champions it, and supports it where he can. His life is film.

“There’s rarely a moment that I don’t spend writing, shooting, or editing film projects,” Tito shares. “When I’m not doing that, I take joy in helping someone else develop or finish their own film project.”

The owner of Hyperphotonic Media, and president of M’Guphynn Media, Tito is an independent filmmaker who has served as producer on a number of independent productions, and is best known for his fan films. He was one of the founding members of both the Fort McMurray Filmmakers Association (YMMFMA), and the Fort McMurray International Film Festival (YMMIFF), and has served as a member of the Arts Council Wood Buffalo board of directors as the first board member to represent film/photography.

Tito was raised in Fort McMurray, and returned here after university. Growing up in the region, he had always wished that there were more resources and programs to support filmmakers in Fort McMurray, and that’s what prompted him to become one of the founders of the YMMFMA and YMMIFF. The connections made during this period became the seeds of his newest venture, M’Guphynn Media.

“I’ve always been a cinephile,” says Tito, “but after making a few short films for fun in University, I really got a sense of belonging and purpose among the film geeks. It became my favourite hobby and my passion.”

Together with the team at M’Guphynn Media, Tito continues to make films and collaborates with other groups in the community to run workshops on film education.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with a few exceptional people that enjoy the work as much as I do, and we’ve told — and continue to tell — stories we are all very proud of,” he says.

It’s those collaborations that are forming the legacy Tito is working to create. “I hope people will say there was, and is, a really supportive and talented film community in Fort McMurray.”