Evolution of the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative

Originally launched in 2018, Diversity of Voices has helped to take down barriers at scale, providing 800 opportunities to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Canadian producers and creatives. The program has played a vital role in supporting mainly emerging and early-career Canadian writers, directors and producers from racialized communities, helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable industry. As the program and its alumni have matured, BANFF and DOV partners identified a critical next gap: ensuring diverse producers and creators at established levels have the promotion, marketing and strategic access opportunities to advance their companies and projects on a national and global scale.

Diversity of Voices: Elevate

For 2026, the program has now been reimagined as Diversity of Voices: Elevate, designed to deepen career momentum, prestige and industry visibility for participants. This next evolution focuses on amplifying recognition at a pivotal stage in the participants’ professional trajectory, when meaningful global exposure, access to high-level decision-makers, and strategic industry connectivity can have the greatest impact.

This year’s cohort will serve 10 (ten) mid-career to established producers, directors and writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and those from intersectional communities within these groups.

Program Focus and Impact

This reimagined initiative shifts from broad support to a more concentrated approach offering:

• Deeper Impact and Increased Prestige: Elevating a select cohort of exceptional professionals
• Intentional Career Acceleration: Bespoke access to the global industry through the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF)
• Elevated Industry Profile: Powerful promotion, marketing and PR value across the Canadian and international industry via Playback + BANFF channels

Attendance at Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) will provide participants with unparallelled access to the Canadian and international industry, giving them a platform to pitch their projects, gain insight into the key issues and trends affecting the industry today, and network with senior decision-makers with the power to move their projects and careers forward. Over the long term, the festival aims to foster a legacy of greenlights and international sales for the program participants and the partners who work with them.

The Diversity of Voices Initiative is open to candidates of all genders and abilities who identify as being from one or more racially diverse groups, such as African, Black, Caribbean, East Asian, First Nations, Inuit, Latinx, Métis, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Western Asian. The program has a key intersectional mandate to increase accurate and meaningful disability representation on and off screen throughout the Canadian media landscape. It is also designed to support Canada’s francophone production community.

Learn more about program Eligibility and Submission Guidelines.

SUPPORTING PARTNERS