TORONTO – Astral Media and Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) have announced a partnership to create the Astral Media Mentorship Award.
The new program, made possible by a four-year commitment by Astral Media, will provide $100,000 for the mentoring and education of emerging producers who are in need of coaching and development opportunities.
Applications are now being accepted and must be submitted to WIFT-T no later than Monday, April 21 at 12 p.m. EST.
Each year, one producer, male or female, who is of a visible minority, aboriginal or disabled group, will be chosen by a jury to participate in the programme.
The curriculum will involve a mentoring period in advance of the Banff World Television Festival that will include the assignment of an experienced industry mentor, meetings with broadcast executives, and participation in industry events and educational opportunities.
The next phase of the programme will involve the producer’s attendance at the Banff World Television Festival with valuable mentoring, pitching and networking opportunities built into the existing festival schedule.
The final phase of the programme will provide the producer with an opportunity to connect with his/her mentor on important subsequent steps to bring the project into the
next stage of development.
“The Astral Media Mentorship Award is an important programme that will create an opportunity for producers to receive the essential mentoring and practical advice that is needed to bring a project from script to screen,” said Michelle Marion, Director of Canadian Independent Production for Astral Media’s The Movie Network and juror on the Award selection committee.
“This award is a great opportunity for a producer to make connections and learn from the best in the industry,” said Sadia Zaman, Executive Director of WIFT-T. “We thank Astral Media for their support in nurturing under-represented producers across the country and are enthusiastic to begin this exciting new programme.”
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