Reelworld Screen Institute and Bell Media Partner for New Program Supporting Emerging Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour Producers
− Reelworld Producers Program Presented by Bell Media to nurture Canadian producers via workshops, networking, and project development –
− First partnership between Bell Media and Reelworld furthers shared commitment to diversity in Canadian media –
− First partnership between Bell Media and Reelworld furthers shared commitment to diversity in Canadian media –
TORONTO (September 10, 2020) – Bell Media and Reelworld Film Festival and Screen Institute announced today the inaugural Reelworld Producers Program, aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging Canadian producers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour to herald a new age of diverse and representative Canadian television.
Through peer-to-peer training, networking, and professional development, a select group of new producers will work with Reelworld to develop projects and opportunities to further diversify the Canadian media landscape. The 12-month program will begin accepting submissions on October 14, 2020 at the kick-off of Reelworld Film Festival’s 20th Anniversary, with selected participants to be announced in early 2021. More details, including the application process, will be available on reelworld.ca following the launch of the festival.
“Reelworld was inspired to create a program like this in partnership with Bell Media. Both organizations understand the lack of representation of Canadian Black, Indigenous, People of Colour who are producers, and how vital creative producers are in the development of content and in nurturing talent,” said Tonya Williams, Founder and Executive Director, Reelworld. “We hope Reelworld’s Class of 2021 will usher in a new age of great television representing the racial diversity the broadcasters have committed to exhibiting.”
“Through ongoing conversations we have heard the need for increased producers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, and the positive effect that can result from increased diversity in these roles,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “Through this partnership and program with Reelworld, we hope to fast-track producer training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour creatives already in the industry who are interested in expanding their skills into producing.”
Bell Media’s partnership with Reelworld is the most recent initiative of its previously announced commitment to increase representation of diverse voices in the content it broadcasts.
About Bell Media
Bell Media is Canada’s leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, digital media, and more. Bell Media owns 35 local television stations led by CTV, Canada’s highest-rated television network, and the French-language V network in Québec; 29 specialty channels, including leading specialty services TSN and RDS. Bell Media is Canada’s largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 109 licensed radio stations in 58 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral, an out-of-home advertising network of 50,000 faces in five provinces. The country’s digital media leader, Bell Media develops and operates websites, apps, and online platforms for its news and entertainment brands; video streaming services Crave, TSN Direct, and RDS Direct; and multi-channel network Much Studios. The company owns a majority stake in Pinewood Toronto Studios; is a partner in Just for Laughs, the live comedy event and TV producer; and jointly owns Dome Productions Partnership., one of North America’s leading production facilities providers. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. Learn more at www.BellMedia.ca.
About Reelworld
Reelworld is the largest national platform dedicated to changing the face of the media landscape by empowering and showcasing Canadian filmmakers and media artists identifying as Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American. Year round, Reelworld draws attention to the lack of racially diverse talent in mainstream media – both in front of and behind the screen. We facilitate multi-seasonal initiatives, programs and events to provide professional development for Canadian artists of colour, to deepen their artistic practice, and to strengthen this creative community and network. We create more opportunities by focusing on the research, advocacy, policy and infrastructure changes needed within our industry and government.
Reelworld’s vision is to positively change the artistic media landscape, to have racially diverse Canadians see themselves reflected in all facets of media art, and to create the real and systemic change needed to do so. Learn more at www.reelworld.ca
Get the latest announcements from Bell Media
Subscribe to our media lists to receive official press releases and alerts from Bell Media PR.