OTTAWA, June 15, 2017—The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) today announced the launch of two new CMPA-funded national mentorship programs aimed at fostering a new generation of producers who are reflective of Canada’s diverse social fabric. The two new programs will provide valuable on-the-job training for 15 up-and-coming filmmakers.

“Our decision to independently administer and fund these two new mentorship programs comes at a pivotal time for our industry,” said Susanne Vaas, Vice President of Corporate and International Affairs, CMPA. “The sustained cultivation of new generations of producers with unique perspectives and innovative approaches to content production is essential for Canada to continue thrive in this evolving media landscape.”

The first of the newly announced programs, the Production Mentorship Program, will provide the opportunity for 10 emerging and mid-level producers to receive 20-week placements at independent production companies across Canada. The new Diversity Mentorship Program will provide five placement opportunities to candidates belonging to underrepresented groups that have historically faced barriers to entering the screen-based media industry; this includes indigenous peoples, visible minorities, women, newcomers to Canada, members of the LGBTQ community, and those with disabilities.

This latest initiative represents a continuation of the CMPA’s commitment to achieving greater diversity within the Canadian screen-based industry. In recent months, the CMPA has commissioned a study on the means to remedy the gender gap in the industry and has also renewed its partnership commitment to Women in View’s 2x More initiative, which aims to double the number of women directing television in Canada. Earlier this week the CMPA also announced that it is collaborating in the creation of a Canadian Indigenous Screen Office.

“The Diversity Mentorship Program is a concretization of our longstanding tradition of offering inclusive mentorship programs,” said Sarolta Csete, Director of Development and Corporate Affairs, CMPA.  “We look forward to collaborating with industry partners to create more opportunities for emerging professionals belonging to underrepresented groups in order to achieve greater balance in representation within the industry and on our screens.”

Production companies and mentorship candidates wishing to apply to either the Production Mentorship Program or the Diversity Mentorship Program must do so by July 17, 2017. More information about the application process can be found here.

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