Thirty mentees will be taking part in the Canadian Media Producers Association’s (CMPA) mentorship programs for 2024-25.

On Tuesday (Dec. 3), CMPA revealed the participants for six of its mentorship programs including a newly launched initiative for Newfoundland and Labrador producers with PictureNL.

For each of the programs, mentees are paired with established producers at CMPA member companies and participate in 20-week placements. They receive on-the-job training in the world of producing including financing, distribution, development and post-production.

Two mentees are participating in the newly created PictureNL Producer Mentorship Program. They are Shane Mills, paired with Panoramic Pictures; and Yasmine Majchrzak with Sara Fost Pictures.

For the Bob Crowe Mentorship Program for Emerging Indigenous Producers, Barry Bilinsky was paired with Montreal-based Rezolution Pictures.

Five were selected for the CMPA Mentorship Program for Diverse Producers: Alejandro Colmenero, paired with Burnaby, B.C.-based Crawford Filmworks; Kerriann Cardinal with Vancouver-based MCM2 Productions; Layla Bautista with the Toronto and Mexico-based Prowler Pictures; Joseph Sclaspi with Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-based Rusty Halo; and Michelle Godoy Priske with Vancouver-based Screen Siren Pictures.

Another six were selected for the CMPA Production Mentorship Program with three going to Toronto-based production companies: Jigar Thakkar with Accent Aigu Entertainment, Kenneth Mohabir with Blue Ant Media and Danilo Reyes with Cream Productions.

Rounding out the selections for the CMPA Production Mentorship Program is Max Holzberg, paired with Montreal-based Extérieur Jour; Stephanie Duckett with Alberta-based Fenix Film & Television; and Induk Lee with Halifax-based Shut Up & Colour Pictures.

Five were selected for the CMPA British Columbia Production Mentorship Program: Jemma Titheridge, paired with Grand Scheme Productions; Spencer Zimmerman with Oddfellows Pictures; Marissa Wheler with Omnifilm Entertainment; Yaël Carnet with Reign Films; and Sydney Askeland with Timeless Pictures.

Three were selected for the Export Development Mentorship Program, funded by Telefilm Canada: Talia Lewis, paired with Hawekye Pictures; Marlee Druker with LoCo Motion Pictures; and Leah Schulli with Visitor Media. All three production companies are based in Toronto.

Another eight mentees were chosen for the previously announced BSO-CMPA Black Producer Accelerator.

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