What’s New at BSO?

 

Join the Black Screen Office during TIFF: The Market for an afternoon of connection, conversation, and community at the Canada Pavilion.

 

Tuesday, September 15
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Canada Pavilion at TIFF: The Market

 

We're looking forward to welcoming Black screen professionals, partners, and friends for an afternoon together during TIFF.

 

More details, including programming and registration information, will be announced soon.

 

We can't wait to see you in September!

 

 

 

The impact of anti-racism training isn't measured by what happens in the workshops. It's measured by what happens next.

 

For Kate Ziegler, President of ACTRA Toronto and a participant in BSO’s 2026 Winter Foundational Anti-Black Racism Training, the experience sparked action.

 

"It was in participating during BSO's Anti-Black Racism Training with Natasha Tony that I was inspired to reach out to Arnold Pinnock and cast members of The Porter to see what we could put together... As Arnold put it, we were able to 'link arms and show through our art, the ways in which Black workers organizing and Black artists creating are forever entwined.' I'm proud to have had the experience I had with [BSO] in the spring and now have this wonderful event to continue building an equitable, inclusive union."

 

We’re proud to have been a catalyst for what came next: a special screening and discussion of The Porter at Mayworks Festival. Kate's story is a powerful reminder that meaningful leadership begins with learning, and grows through action.

 

Designed for leaders, employers, mentors and decision-makers across Canada's screen industry, BSO's "Disrupting Anti-Black Racism: Foundational Training for non-Black Industry Leaders and Mentors" combines research, lived experience and practical strategies to help participants recognize systemic barriers, strengthen equitable leadership practices and create workplaces where Black professionals can thrive.

 

Join a growing network of screen industry leaders like Kate, committed to turning intention into meaningful action.

 

Registration is now open. Reserve your spot today.

 

 

 

After more than 20 years in Canada's screen industry, Vanessa Mitchell knew she was ready for more.

 

She had spent years of her career creating opportunities for others, but stepping into the role of Producer, Special Programs at the Banff World Media Festival required more than experience. It required the right support, strategic exposure, and the confidence to lead at a new level.

 

Through the Black Screen Office's Executive Pathways Accelerator, Vanessa is building an executive mindset while navigating leadership in real time. Her story is an honest reflection on growth, mentorship, and why seeking support isn't a weakness, it's one of the smartest leadership strategies you can have.

 

 

Read Vanessa's story and discover what leadership development looks like in action.
 

 

 

 

BSO congratulates Kelly-Ann Jones on her promotion to Director, Audience Research at the Canada Media Fund. After more than 18 years with CMF, Kelly-Ann's journey to senior leadership reflects the impact of expertise, perseverance, and intentional leadership development. As a participant in the Black Screen Office's Executive Pathways Accelerator, she gained the mentorship, coaching, and confidence to step into executive leadership.

 

 

 

As Emancipation Day (August 1) approaches, take time to explore stories that celebrate Black resilience, creativity, and the enduring pursuit of freedom. These three powerful Canadian films invite us to reflect on the legacy of emancipation while honouring the traditions, artistry, and resistance that continue to shape Black communities today.

 

 

1. Carnival: They Can't Steal Our Joy
Follow filmmaker Ian Mark Kimanje as he uncovers Carnival's origins as an act of resistance by newly emancipated people and traces its evolution across Trinidad, Toronto, and London's Notting Hill. It's a vibrant reminder that Carnival is far more than celebration—it's a living expression of freedom, joy, and cultural survival.

 

 

2. Superbloom: An Emancipation Story
Set against the backdrop of Toronto's hidden history of enslavement, this visually stunning short film follows a young boy on a dream-like journey guided by a Moko Jumbie ancestor. Blending Carnival traditions with themes of memory, healing, and liberation, Superbloom offers a powerful vision of Black futures rooted in ancestral strength.

 

 

3. Bomber's Dream: The Music of the Mighty Bomber
This moving documentary celebrates the life and legacy of calypso icon Clifton "The Mighty Bomber" Ryan. Tracing Bomber's journey from Grenada to Trinidad and onto international stages, including Canada’s Expo 67, Bomber's Dream reveals how Calypso shaped collective memory across the Black diaspora. The film challenges familiar perceptions of the genre as mere party music, illuminating its role as an enduring archive of resistance, identity, and social critique.

 

 

Special Mention: CBC's FreeUp! Television Special
Every Emancipation Day, FreeUp! brings together music, dance, spoken word, theatre, and comedy in a national celebration of Black excellence. Curated by Ngozi Paul, the annual special honours the abolition of slavery across the British Empire while amplifying the voices and artistry of Black Canadians today. 

 

 

Whether you're discovering these stories for the first time or revisiting them, each offers a meaningful way to reflect, learn, and celebrate the ongoing journey toward freedom this Emancipation Day.

 

 

For more information: Black Screen Office | info@bso-ben.ca