Juan Manuel Huerta Galicia didn’t imagine himself paddling a canoe on the choppy St. Lawrence River to retrieve an object from a floating buoy when he joined the Producer Accelerator Program.
But later, on his program placement as assistant locations manager with The Amazing Race, he was responsible for pre-planning. How could he ensure everything was ready and safe for the racers paddling to gather ingredients for Thousand Islands dressing? “I tried the challenge,” he says, “and it was really fun.”
Huerta Galicia was one of 15 participants accepted for the Producer Accelerator Program offered by Kingston Film and Media. “It was a huge opportunity,” he says. Launched in early 2025 and designed to fast-track junior to mid-career producers, the program provides practical experience, resources, and mentorship to further their careers. Funded by the Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates and Tourism Kingston.
Huerta Galicia’s passion for film sparked into a career after he moved to Canada from Mexico in his teens. “I did a co-op at an Ottawa TV station, which reminded me I love movies, stories, animations.” That’s when he decided to study filmmaking. A 2024 graduate of Queen’s University’s Media and Performance Productions program, Huerta Galicia volunteered at TV Kingston and the Reelout Film Festival during his studies.
Over the past five years, his credits have included a short film for which he received a grant from Digi60, a professional development festival for new and emerging filmmakers in Ottawa. And he produced and co-directed a documentary that premiered 2025 through the Kingston Canadian Film Festival Doc Factory mentorship initiative.
In demand as a freelancer, Huerta Galicia works as a film operations assistant for the Ottawa International Animation Festival, among other clients. He’s currently participating in the Directors Guild of Canada’s Guild Apprenticeship Program, working as a set production assistant.
Huerta Galicia is clear about his career direction.
My main goal is to direct and produce. I’m also eager to collaborate with peers and take on active roles in projects that inspire me. I hope to give back to my community and support the next generation of filmmakers.
The Producer Accelerator Program supported his goals through its workshops on production management, pitching, financing, and business and legal affairs. “I’m fascinated by the world of producing, and this really helped me connect the dots. As well I gained a better understanding of the importance of intellectual property and having a good lawyer to protect your interests.”
Placements were another program highlight for Huerta Galicia, among four aspiring producers selected for two-week paid placements with production companies in Kingston and area. On The Amazing Race, which he describes as “stressful, but manageable,” he saw firsthand the producer’s role: to get the job done on budget, and to protect the company from liabilities. “That’s why we had lifejackets, and a professional who could jump in if anyone fell into the water. Security matters,” he says. “That’s knowledge I’ll carry through all my productions and through my career.”
Then he was an assistant director helping with logistics for 11 days on an independent film in Ottawa. “I’d never done this before, but I learned a lot. It was my job to catch any problems before they happened, to predict what was going to be needed in coming days. I helped coordinate the cast, ensuring they were ready on time, and collaborated closely with hair, makeup, and other departments. Something important I learned is time is money, so you must be as efficient as possible.”
The program provided “many beneficial insights that will mark my career forever,” he adds. “Because I’m very creative, I see I’ve got to be more balanced between creativity and the business mindset.” As well, he gained a great respect for production, and learned how heavily the industry is based on reputations—producers are sought out if they can deliver on time and budget.
“To move me toward my dream of making my first feature film, I plan now to work on building my reputation,” Huerta Galicia says. “Also, I realized the greatest directors and producers reached their positions not only through talent but also through the strength of the teams supporting them. In the program I saw that to reach my goals and dreams, I’ll need to build my own team while also giving back to those who have supported me.”
Asked for advice for future participants, Huerta Galicia replies:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don't understand something, just ask, because you're there to learn and have experts to advise you. Also, be curious and talk with all the participants in your group – the people you meet there could be great collaborators in the future.
