WHO WE ARE
MEET OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT CPE STUDIOS
Garrick Apollon
Founder & Owner of CPE Studios
Garrick Apollon is a passionate lawyer-entrepreneur and lawyer-filmmaker, as well as the founder of CPE Studios, a company specializing in the research and production of documentary films for visual legal advocacy campaigns and Continuing Professional Education/Development (CPE/CPD) aimed at legal and business professionals.
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Garrick has been a member of the Law Society of Ontario since 2004 and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) since 2022.
As an experienced practicing lawyer-entrepreneur and owner of CPE Studios, he has 20 years of professional experience primarily in the fields of commercial law as in-house counsel and in continuing professional development for legal and business professionals.
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With a background in commercial law and professional development, he holds an LL.B. (civil law) from Université Laval, a Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Ottawa, and two master's degrees in law: an LL.M. in international business law from Université Laval and an LLCM in comparative law from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (Penn Law). Garrick was trained in documentary filmmaking as part of the Penn Program on Documentaries & the Law at Penn Law. As a lawyer-filmmaker, he has eight documentary films in his filmography.
Garrick has also been a part-time professor for nearly 20 years at the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management, where he currently teaches corporate governance and ethics in the Executive MBA program. He also teaches at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law. In addition, he is a legal scholar with 10 peer-reviewed publications in American law journals, primarily on legal ethics, dispute prevention and resolution, negotiation, and visual legal advocacy.
Andrea Ruffini
Chief Filmmaker
Andrea Ruffini serves as the Chief Filmmaker at CPE Studios, where he oversees all visual and multimedia productions, while also acting as Filmmaker-in-Residence and Senior Editor.
​Andrea’s expertise ensures that CPE Studios delivers high-quality, impactful, and visually compelling content.
Andrea Ruffini is an award-winning Italian filmmaker, photographer and multimedia producer recognized for his engaging documentaries that seamlessly blend technical expertise with creative storytelling. Andrea's artistic approach is characterized by his ability to capture authentic moments while employing innovative cinematographic techniques, crafting films that not only entertain but also provoke thought.
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With a degree in Direction of Photography from the prestigious Milan Film School, Andrea has developed a distinctive visual style that enhances the emotional depth of his narratives.
His work has taken him across the globe, collaborating with international television networks and UN agencies.
He's produced a wide range of media, from feature-length documentaries to short films, photo essays, and promotional videos. By involving local communities and encouraging their participation in the filmmaking process, he creates powerful stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.​
Ruffini's portfolio also includes a variety of multimedia projects produced for prominent organizations such as the European Commission, IOM, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID and the Red Cross. These projects often aim to raise awareness about humanitarian issues and engage audiences in meaningful dialogue.
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His work has been recognized at numerous international film festivals, earning awards that underscore both its artistic merit and social relevance, and distributed globally in theaters and on television.
Brett Hendrie
Chief Content Officer (Consultancy)
Brett Hendrie serves as Chief Content Officer (Consultancy), supporting Garrick Apollon, Founder and Owner of CPE Studios, as a strategic advisor and providing guidance on the creation and distribution of CPE Studios' content. Brett Hendrie is an accomplished executive specializing in content strategy, program development, and audience engagement, with extensive experience in professional education and documentary film.
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At the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Canada’s leading business school, Brett leads the curation and editorial direction of thought-leadership programs and events featuring global leaders in business, journalism, academia, and government. Previously, he spent two decades at Hot Docs as a senior executive (Executive Director), transforming it into North America's largest documentary festival and market conference, attracting over 500,000 annual attendees and establishing partnerships with leading global brands like Netflix, Samsung, and CBC.
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Brett has spearheaded the launch of year-round programming platforms, secured multimillion-dollar funding initiatives, and designed innovative programs that advance learning and artistic development. As an executive consultant, he has advised CPE Studios and global clients on strategic content development, audience engagement strategies, and programs that inspire lifelong learning and professional growth.