The BIPOC TV & Film Insider

Get ready for the lowdown on all things BIPOC TV & Film with our new, no-nonsense newsletter – the BIPOC TV & Film Insider: your passport to staying connected, informed, and empowered.

 

What to expect in our new, bi-monthly newsletter: upcoming events, ongoing programs and partnerships, upcoming programs, advocacy and outreach initiatives, industry news and a little bit of that BIPOC TV & Film charm. 

In case you missed it, here are a few initiatives and events we’ve had going on.

BIPOC TV & Film at TIFF and Content Canada: As part of our Festival and Market Access Initiative and through the support of our sponsors and partners, we proudly sent delegations to two previous industry events. A delegation of BIPOC filmmakers from Ontario, BC and Alberta were selected to attend TIFF (September 7-17), and five kids’ content producers attended Content Canada (September 11-13). 

 

You also probably spotted us at a few events + panels:

Not to mention we held our annual TIFF Gathering! 

Islamic Heritage Month Panel (October 25). To join in the October celebration of Islamic Heritage, BIPOC TV & Film hosted an intimate panel and gathering with Muslim creatives Shazia Javed and Yusuf Zine. The space allowed for the uninhibited discussion of how these creators navigate the industry in all its complexities. 

Perspectives on France's Streaming Regulation (October 24, Ottawa, ON). In late October, our ED Kadon travelled to the French Embassy in Ottawa for an all-day conference to discuss the successful implementation of France's streaming regulation, and how Canada's Online Streaming Act can learn from their success.

Indeed Rising Voices Canada with Hillman Grad and TIFF. During TIFF, we announced the new mentorship program, a career accelerator for emerging Canadian Black, Indigenous and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) filmmakers.

 

The EFM 2024 Toolbox is a program run by the European Film Market for underrepresented emerging to mid-career producers with a narrative feature film or documentary in development. BIPOC TV & Film is overseeing the selection of two participants to join the program. 

 

Between the launch of two exciting new programs, the return of our Unscripted Producers program, our active participation in industry conferences, and the hosting of various events and initiatives – it's safe to say that we've been busy here at BIPOC TV & Film!

BIPOC TV & Film strives for a film and television industry that tells the stories of all Canadian communities without exemption. We do this by advocating for respectful and equitable workplace policies and fair hiring practices at all experience levels, by centering solidarity and community in our advocacy work and by advising and consulting with broadcasters, major institutions, unions and guilds to inform and support their EDI policy development initiatives.

Modernizing the Canadian Broadcasting Sector. From November 20 onwards, BIPOC TV & Film along with our partner organizations will be heading to Gatineau to attend and fully participate in the public hearings held by the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) that will address the role and responsibility of streamers in financially supporting productions in Canada. Our presence there is to make sure that the needs of the BIPOC TV & Film community are addressed and fulfilled. Our main goals are as follows:

 

Earlier this fall, WGC and IATSE signed a deal to represent script coordinators working in Canada. This comes 3 years after BIPOC TV & Film spearheaded a petition calling on the WGC to give the entry-level position guild status. Read more about the new deal at Playback Online. 

 

 

In 2023, we joined the Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) to strengthen our government relations and policy engagement and build solidarities with cultural leaders and organizations across Canada. 

Modernizing Copyright Policy for AI. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada has opened a consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence. “The Consultation will focus on the impacts of recent developments in AI on the creative industries and the economic impacts that these technologies have, or could have, on Canadians, and it will look at whether change is required to further improve or reinforce copyright policy for a modern, evolving Canadian economy.”

 

BIPOC TV & Film is planning to submit comments through the online consultation form by December 4, 2023. If you would like to share your thoughts or participate in a community consultation on the week of November 27th, please get in touch with us.

ELEVATE is a 13-month, part-time business development incubator designed to provide targeted financial, marketing, operational and entrepreneurial resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to enhance the growth and success of BIPOC-owned production companies in Canada.

 

Apply here by November 30 at midnight.

The CineCares Workforce Training Program trains and provides paid work placement for crew members in the film and TV sector. Trainees will receive hands-on training on signatory productions for Set Decorators, Props, Grip, Lighting and General Labour for up to twelve weeks. 

 

Apply here to be considered for placement.

Reel Asian International Film Festival is taking place November 8 to 19 with multiple events and screenings celebrating Asian cinema and stories from Asian and Asian Diaspora. 

 

Visit reelasian.com to learn more about features like SEAGRASS by Meredith Hama-Brown and the Reel Ideas panel series including TO THE WRITERS’ ROOM and a live podcast recording of Backstory with featured guests Jeff Yang and RepresentAsian's Madelyn Chung. 

 

 

Regent Park Film Festival is taking place November 23 to  26 with various screenings, panels, community events and more, provided for free. 

 

Living with an Arts Wage Panel | November 25 at 12pm. This year, BIPOC TV & Film will be co-presenting a panel that will focus on creatives who hustle by day and work their passions by night. We'll be discussing how these workers sustain themselves financially, mentally and creatively in pursuit of their goals.  

 

 

TVO union workers are back to work after ending their 11-week long strike. The newly accepted collective agreement will see a wage increase over the next 3 years. Learn more about the current status of the broadcaster's employees, and stay in the loop through the TVO-CMG socials. 

The National Screen Institute and The Shine Network Institute have partnered to build PACT (Pledge-Activate-Cultivate-Thrive), an online certificate course designed to provide non-Indigenous stakeholders within the screen sector an Indigenous-framed, culturally informed, awareness and competency course to prepare them when working with Indigenous productions and content.

Documentary Organization of Canada released their 7th edition of the Getting Real report that reveals trends in Canadian documentary production

The Canada Media Fund recently released New Futures for Canadian Content: What You Said, a collection of diverse viewpoints from industry professionals and the public across Canada. The CMF also recently released their Annual Report: Future Focused which explores the growth and areas of potential growth of the Canadian media landscape. 

Women in View’s 7th On Screen Report documents women’s employment in Canada’s publicly funded film, television and documentary from 2019 to 2021 with data on Black women, Indigenous Women, Women of Colour and Gender Diverse people who identify beyond the binary of cisgender men and cisgender women throughout.

Want first-hand access to our news sources? Visit our Resource page to stay connected and informed within the same network as BIPOC TV & Film. We highly recommend subscribing to these organizations to stay up-to-date on upcoming and ongoing initiatives, programs and events! 

Your contribution to BIPOC TV & Film empowers emerging talent, fuels accessible workshops, and amplifies diverse stories, fostering an inclusive screen industry. Donate your time or become a donor today!

“BIPOC TV and Film provided me with the nuts and bolts knowledge of what it means to work in kids’ TV and introduced me to a wonderful, supportive, network of peers and mentors. Thanks so much!” 

— Ananya Ohri, writer-producer | Kids' TV Writing Alum 2021