The Black Screen Office (BSO) and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) have collaborated to create the BSO-DGC Black Women Directors Accelerator Program. This prestigious program offers an exceptional opportunity for Producers, Broadcasters and experienced Black women Directors to establish successful professional partnerships that sustainably diversify the film and television industry. It offers a pre-engagement on-set mentorship, professional development workshops, and ongoing support to help them secure episodic TV series opportunities. The program emphasizes thoughtful connections, meaningful access, and ongoing evaluation to ensure a positive experience for both the accelerator director and the production team. The roles, responsibilities, and requirements of the accelerator director, producer, and the DGC are outlined in a handbook, including the commitment to best efforts such as having the accelerator director direct at least one scene, employing her for an episode in that same season or in later seasons of a show. The BSO covers the costs of the program, including a weekly stipend to the accelerator director, travel and accommodation expenses where applicable.
WIN-WIN
PRODUCERS & BROADCASTERS
Access Directors whose skill level has been vetted by a jury of industry experts
Work with a talented, experienced Black woman Director
Demonstrate your company’s/ organization’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion by employing diverse talent to produce high quality content
Mitigate risk through the Accelerator’s pre-episode engagement format and establish a trusting partnership with the Accelerator
Director prior to their shooting block
Enjoy a “hassle-free” process with BSO and DGC providing Mentor/Mentee and administrative support
Nurture the next great Canadian Director
BLACK WOMEN DIRECTORS
Gain access to a DGC signatory episodic production
Receive direct mentorship from a veteran television Director
Establish connections with Network
Executives, Showrunners and other key industry decision-makers
Direct your first episodic TV show and share your creative excellence
Meaningfully collaborate on all aspects of pre-production, production, and where possible, post-production and Director’s Cut
Access exclusive DGC workshops and benefit from a range of Accelerator supports, including compensation throughout the program.
TALENT ROSTER CRITERIA
Must identify as Black, female, and Canadian
Must meet a minimum of one of the following criteria:
One feature film exhibited at recognized Film Festivals within the past five years. See the list of recognized Academy of Canadian Cinema festivals; or
A combination of the following commercially exhibited content, minimally 75 minutes:
Television movies or episodes in scripted, documentary or reality
Short films exhibited at recognized Academy of Canadian Cinema festivals
Productions that are able to welcome an Accelerator Director to produce high quality content in a respectful environment.
Five Black women Directors who have experience directing in such formats as episodic, shorts, web series or features and are ready to direct half-hour or one- hour episodic television.
Productions and Directors are invited to express their interest in the BSO – DGC Black Women Directors Accelerator Program by contacting Andy Marshall, Manager, Programming and Operations, programming@bso-ben.ca
