MONTREAL – Telefilm Canada is aiming for a balanced production portfolio (at all budget levels) by 2020 that reflects gender parity in the roles of director, writer and producer.
The new gender parity measures for feature film production financing were developed in collaboration with the industry, and executive director Carolle Brabant said that the organization is also moving to ensure that its feature film portfolio also better reflects cultural diversity and Indigenous communities.
"Our goal is to level the playing field for Canadian female talent, and we encourage creators to submit projects directed and/or written by women”, Brabant said in the news release. “This can only benefit the industry as whole; increased competition can lead to better quality projects that connect with audiences whose tastes and interests are changing along with the cultural landscape."
Based on consultations by a pan-industry working group tasked with identifying areas where collective efforts should be placed in priority, Telefilm said that its first goal in 2017 will be to favour projects directed or written by women, while continuing to support the works of Indigenous creators and members of communities representing Canada's cultural diversity.
