Reelworld Film Institute has named 12 recipients to its Reelworld Producer Program, including eOne’s Mansa Chintoh and independent producers Umang Antariksh Sagar and Vanessa Caceres.

The inaugural edition of the program, for which Bell Media is a partner, will see participants take part in a year-long course focusing on mentorship, skill-building, identifying projects with market potential and making industry connections.

Participants in this year’s program include Yusuf Alvi, account manager at Deluxe Entertainment, ON; Sagar, independent producer, ON; Caceres, independent film producer, QC; Chintoh, director of legal and business affairs at eOne, ON; Jose Holder, illustrator and film director, QC; and Sonya Lee, science producer at Ocean School, NS.

Also taking part are: Margaret Lewis, commercial account manager, trainee (media and entertainment) at RBC, ON; Thea Loo, emerging producer, BC; Leena Minifie, digital strategist, Impact producer and founder of Stories First, BC; Dilani Rabindran, founder and managing director at Viewfinder Film Consulting, ON; Omatta Udalor, independent producer and actor, AB; and Rignam Wangkhang, multimedia producer at CBC, ON.

The program, which is open to Black, Indigenous, and people of colour candidates, aims to address the lack of diversity within the Canadian production community.

“We believe there has been a lack of racially diverse producers in Canada. We have noticed our alumni who are actors, writers, and directors producing out of necessity rather than for the passion and desire to be outstanding producers. It is our hope this program will bear the fruit of outstanding Canadian producers who can turn new and imaginative ideas into reality,” said Reelworld founder and executive director Tonya Williams in a statement.

The program was first unveiled in September, coinciding with the 20th anniversary edition of Reelworld Film Festival. The program will begin virtually at CMPA’s 2021 edition of Prime Time, which starts later this month.