The Banff World Media Festival Announces 2019 Diversity Of Voices Initiative Participants

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF), in partnership with Netflix, the Canada Media Fund - Fonds des médias du Canada (CMF/FMC), the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), and Canada's Indigenous Screen Office, is pleased to announce the recipients of the second edition of the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative.

Diversity of Voices will give up to one hundred (100) producers the opportunity to attend the 40th Banff World Media Festival (June 9th -12th, 2019) where they will gain access to bespoke training and networking opportunities with senior industry decision makers.

In addition, 25 of this year's participants will also be invited to take part in the Diversity of Voices Pitch Program, where they will receive individual mentorship from media leaders, as well as the opportunity to take facilitated private pitch meetings with international buyers at the festival.

"We received nearly 500 applications to the program this year, a sizeable increase over 2018, and a testament to the fact that initiatives like this are truly needed." said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. "The results of the last year's program were impressive with new development deals struck for the participants and strong professional connections made that have super charged careers. This initiative can truly move the dial as the impetus for new high quality programming with diverse points of view while helping to diminish systemic barriers within the industry."

"Following the success of last year's inaugural program, Netflix is thrilled to continue to support the 2019 Diversity of Voices Initiative," said Chris Regina, Director, Global Television, Content Acquisition at Netflix. "We congratulate the emerging and established francophone, Indigenous and women finalists from across Canada and look forward to the success this year's program will bring."

"Fostering diversity in all its forms is a guiding principle for the Canada Media Fund," said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF. "One of several partnerships we've established to improve access by underrepresented communities in our industry, the Diversity of Voices initiative has proven a resounding success. Participants have demonstrated successful development deals and rewarding business connections that have boosted their careers. We're thrilled to renew this partnership that creates new opportunities for Indigenous, francophone and women creators. Congratulations to all those who were chosen to participate this year."

The 25 participants selected to take part in the Diversity of Voices Pitch Program are:

· Sonya Ballantyne

· Eric Baril

· Caitlin Benton

· Leah Cameron

· Jesse Cardianl

· Catherine Chagnon

· Andree-Anne Frenette

· Caitlin Fryers

· Chantale Galimi

· Sarah Goodman

· Monique Hurteau

· Joadie Jurgova

· Beatrice King

· Jonathan Lawrence

· Judith MacInnes

· Dianne Mahoney

· Moniquea Marion

· Sara Martins

· Denis Paquette

· Emily Pickering

· Fanny Rainville

· Lea Rondot

· Kelly Saxberg

· Marion Transetti

· Roxann Whitebean

The full list of the 2019 Diversity of Voices participants can be found here:

http://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2019/banffdov/