The OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC) has selected 10 participants for its emerging filmmaker program, which has taken on a producer focus for its seventh edition.

The Emerging Filmmakers Producer Incubator Program will support Black filmmakers and creatives in digital media film and television via mentoring, strategic networking, and hands-on-training with industry leaders and experts.

The cohort includes actor-producer Adekunle Samuel Sijuade (Stepfather), producer Ajifa Atuluku (Beyond the Veil), filmmaker Alicia S. Blake, writer-filmmaker Anthony Francis and author-producer Atinuke Victoria Adepoju.

The program is rounded out by director-producer Haui (C’est Moi), lawyer and All-In Media distribution company founder Oyeyinka Oyelowo, production manager Shane Latouche (The 2024 JUNO Awards), director-producer Torrin Blades (The North Star: Finding Black Mecca) and producer Toyin Olaniya (Stay Alone).

“Through our incubator programs, we’re bringing up young artists that are currently and will continue to represent the future of Canadian filmmaking with unique, creative and passionate perspectives and skills,” said OBAC co-founder Alison Duke in a statement.

Toronto-based OBAC is supported through a $3-million contribution from the federal government’s Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The not-for-profit organization is dedicated to supporting Black artists, creators and entrepreneurs within Canada’s entertainment sector.

OYA Emerging Filmmakers Program is financially supported by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism under the Black Youth Action Plan (BYAP), Corus Entertainment and xoTO.

Image courtesy of OBAC; pictured (L-R): (Top) Adekunle Samuel Sijuade, Ajifa Atuluku, Alicia S. Blake, Anthony Francis, Atinuke Victoria Adepoju (Bottom) Haui, Oyeyinka Oyelowo, Shane Latouche, Torrin Blades, Toyin Olaniya