Netflix now principal partner of Canadian Academy’s women directors program

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (the Canadian Academy) has announced that its Apprenticeship for Women Directors program is returning for its second year, with Netflix serving as the principal partner of the initiative.

Netflix will now support the program in addition to last year’s returning partners RBC Emerging Artists Project and Canada Media Fund.

The Apprenticeship for Women Directors aims to further develop the careers of emerging female directors from across the country. The program is set to run from September 2018 to March 2019 and will match each apprentice with an established director currently working on a project.

Once partnered with a mentor, apprentices will receive “one-on-one professional development and on-the-job training, access to virtual discussions with industry and filmmaker guests, two-day summit meeting with industry executives during TIFF, as well as a conference pass to the festival, and a one-year membership to the Canadian Academy.”

This year’s program will welcome up to eight applicants, with Netflix specifically sponsoring two Francophone participants. Last year’s program did not include French language participants.

Those interested in applying can do so between Friday, May 18th and Friday, June 15th, 2018 at no additional cost.

Applications will then be reviewed by an assortment of established directors, producers and executives, who will identify a short list of 12 by August 6, 2018. Shortlisted applicants will participate in interviews, with finalists selected in late August.

More information of applicant requirements and the program as a whole can be found here.

“At a time when all aspects of our industry are finally recognizing that female directors have traditionally been underrepresented, we’re thrilled to offer the Apprenticeship for Women Directors for another year,” said Beth Janson, CEO of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, in a press statement. “It’s also very exciting to have the support of our new partners at Netflix that will allow us to expand our work to include women working in Quebec.”

“At Netflix, we’re always looking for the best stories which is why we are excited to partner with the Canadian Academy to expand its Apprenticeship for Women Directors program to include French language participants,” added Dominique Bazay, ‎director of Kids & Family Content at Netflix.

“We’ve made a commitment to the Canadian creative community because we believe in the talent here and are happy to invest in programs like the Apprenticeship for Women Directors which help enhance the skills of the next generation of female filmmakers to create stories for Canada and the world.”

Last year’s inaugural program allowed six women into TIFF, in addition to mentoring opportunities with directors who have worked on The Handmaid’s Tale, Designated Survivor and Mary Kills People, among other properties.