Deadline: June 12, 2026
Applications are open for the BSO-CMPA Black Producer Accelerator Program 2026. The Black Screen Office (BSO) has partnered with the CMPA on the Black Producer Accelerator Program to increase representation and support the career advancement of Black Canadian producers in the Canadian Screen industry.
This initiative focuses on supporting the career acceleration of Black Canadian producers in the coming year, ultimately equipping them to be hired by the Mentor Producer’s production company or another production company.
Black candidates who have demonstrated interest in working in production, with the ultimate goal of becoming a producer, may apply with any CMPA member company in good standing. Areas of interest can be explored in any aspect of production, including (but not limited to) research, pre-development, development, on-set and office production, business affairs, marketing, and promotion. These activities can take place in any genre – narrative, documentary, factual, game shows, etc.
Benefits
- Each mentee receives a minimum of $20,000 for their placement, based on a 20-week, 40-hour per week work schedule.
- Mentor companies owned and operated by Black producers will receive a contribution of $15,000 towards the producer participant’s wages and must contribute a minimum of $5,000.
- All other mentor companies will receive a contribution of $10,000 towards the producer participant’s wages and must contribute a minimum of $10,000.
Eligibility
Mentee Eligibility
- Open to candidates who self-identify as Black (African, Canadian, Caribbean, European, American, South/Central American, Mixed Race, Other)
- Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee status has been conferred
- Must be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations
- Cannot be an employee or family member of the mentor company
- Must be co-applying with a mentor company. The CMPA will, on a case-by-case basis, endeavour to pair candidates with limited or no access to suitable mentor companies, with its qualifying members. This does not guarantee that an application will be successful given the limited number of spots available. You may also create a profile that will be accessible to mentor companies seeking a candidate.
Mentor Company Eligibility
- Must be a member of the CMPA.
- Must be co-applying with a producer candidate. The CMPA will, on a case-by-case basis, endeavour to pair mentor companies with suitable candidates. This does not guarantee that an application will be successful, given the limited number of spots available. You may also post a mentorship opportunity that will be accessible to candidates seeking a mentor.
- Must contribute toward the program participant stipend
- A mentor applicant cannot be an employer or family member of the producer applicant with whom they are submitting a joint application
Application
Complete both mentor and mentee applications. During the application process, you will be asked to provide the following information and supporting documentation:
- Mentor letter of intent describing why your company is interested in mentoring, how your company would mentor, and what the mentee would accomplish during the placement with your company. You will be asked to paste this letter directly into the form.
- Mentee letter of intent describing how this placement would help further your career in the screen-based content production industry. Please describe relevant knowledge, experience and interest in screen-based content production. You will be asked to paste this letter directly into the form.
- Mentee resumé.
- Completed work plan, outlining the projects/activities, tasks, skills development objectives and mentoring plan. You will be asked to paste this letter directly into the form.
For more information, visit BSO-CMPA Black Producer Accelerator Program.
