Carina Samuels, Eva Thomas and Lakna Edirisinghe
CBC, BIPOC TV & Film and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) announced that Lakna Edirisinghe, Carina Samuels and Eva Thomas will be part of third edition of the CBC-Bipoc TV & Film Showrunner Catalyst, the only accelerator program in Canada that is focused on elevating senior writers who identify as Indigenous, Black or People of Colour.
Designed through an equity-focused lens, the Catalyst provides participants with additional tools and support systems necessary to reach a showrunner level in the Canadian film and television industry.
“In designing this program, we asked ourselves, what could we do in three years that would have real, tangible results in mid-career writers’ careers and push the needle in transforming the industry? The biggest barrier is no longer breaking into entry-level positions, but moving from mid-level to leadership positions and recognizing that BIPOC creatives are skilled, trained and ready,” said Nathalie Younglai, Founder of BIPOC TV & Film. “We are grateful to the mentors, workshop leaders, TV series and production companies who have answered the call with resounding support. I’m so heartened to see the impact the Showrunner Catalyst program has had. It has given alumni and broadcasters alike the confidence to get bumps in credits, to co-showrun and lead. So the answer is yes, by identifying and rallying resources to elevate talent, it is possible to change hearts and minds. And yes, we have BIPOC Showrunners in Canada.”
“From the early stages of our collaboration with BIPOC TV & Film and the CFC, together we have striven to develop a program that would translate into meaningful real-life impact for the participants and the industry as a whole. After two completed years, we are thrilled to see how the talented creators have continued to build on their experiences in the program and further advance in their careers,” said Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, CBC. “We look forward to supporting the final year’s participants in their journey to becoming showrunners, as part of the ongoing evolution of the industry to better represent this country’s wide range of voices and perspectives.”
"The Showrunner Catalyst program was designed to address a critical gap in our industry, and it has been inspiring to witness the remarkable progress made by the participants over the past three years," said Maxine bailey, Executive Director, CFC. "This final cohort exemplifies the strength, vision and leadership that exists within Canada’s BIPOC creative community. In line with the CFC’s mission, we are proud to work alongside our partners at CBC and BIPOC TV & Film to foster these opportunities and create meaningful pathways for diverse storytellers to lead series and shape the future of Canadian content."