Toronto-based Corus Entertainment and marblemedia have named Afzal Huda the first winner of the Innovative Storytellers Award.

Huda, a grad student from Toronto’s Ryerson University, will receive a $20,000 grant towards his master of arts in media production program, and a series of one-on-one sessions with execs from Corus and marblemedia. The award is given to outstanding Ryerson grad students whose theses explore connection between content, new tech and audiences.

Already an award-winning producer, Huda has worked on the Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated Into the West produced by Steven Spielberg. He’s also written, produced and directed the award-winning short film Call Me a Paki, a National Film Board-supported project that premiered on CBC, which was screened at more than 20 festivals and won the Alberta Film and Television Award.