THE BANFF WORLD MEDIA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NETFLIX TITLE PARTNERSHIP FOR DIVERSITY OF VOICES INITIATIVE
Program extends over a 5-year period bringing up to 100 Indigenous, Francophone and Women Creative Producers to the festival including 25 Mentorship & Pitch Program Beneficiaries per year
– The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is proud to announce that Netflix has formalized a five-year commitment as Title Partner of the BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, a training and development program for underrepresented emerging and mid-career creative producers of commercial Television and/or Digital Media content, with a specific focus on Indigenous, Francophone and women industry professionals.
The partnership was announced today as part of the inaugural Diversity of Voices Initiative currently underway at the 2018 Banff World Media Festival (June 10-13, 2018). The program investment is part of Netflix’s commitment to support market development opportunities for Francophone and other Canadian screen-based creator groups.
The Diversity of Voices Initiative was launched with the support of Netflix as well as the Canada Media Fund – Fonds des médias du Canada (CMF/FMC), the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), and Canada’s Indigenous Screen Office. It brings up to 100 emerging and established producer/creators to the festival each year.
“Netflix’s new commitment to the Diversity of Voices Initiative is a pledge of confidence in BANFF’s ability to mentor, train and develop emerging creators in Canada,” said Chris Regina, Netflix director of global television.
Participants of the program receive full registration to the festival, a curated professional development curriculum plus access to networking opportunities with senior creative and executive leaders. In addition, a sub-group of twenty-five (25) of the program applicants take part in the Diversity of Voices Pitch Program where they receive personalized advice from industry mentors and take pitch meetings with international buyers at BANFF in addition to receiving a stipend to defray travel costs.
“It’s imperative to address the fact that there are systemic gender and cultural barriers that exist within the media industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. “Netflix’s meaningful commitment to turn this program into a multi-year initiative, coupled with the support of our partners will ensure that hundreds of participants gain the industry access, information and relationships they need to navigate the global content market and ultimately get their projects produced as a direct result.”
BANFF serves as a crucial lifeline for many in the Canadian content industry offering world-class education, networking and business development opportunities. The festival provides a platform for the evolving media industry to collaborate and advance its creative and business objectives, while serving as the leading destination for the genesis of new projects, and one of the most effective marketplaces for co-production and co-venture partners.
