Black Women Film! (BWF!) Canada has launched the national program Reel Change for Black Women in Film & Media, taking place in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Halifax and Montreal.

Funded by the federal Ministry of Women and Gender Equality Canada, the bilingual program launched stage one in Montreal on Jan. 16 and is free to apply. The aim is to support producers who identify as Black women, non-binary or trans and work with industry leaders to create more inclusive work environments.

BWF! Canada hired producer Sabine Daniel (Sunny’s Quest, pictured) as its national program manager, effective Dec. 5, 2024, to lead the Reel Change program. The organization has also opened up a new space in Montreal to be used for Reel Change program activities, a networking and resource centre and a co-working space for producer residency participants.

BWF! Canada will utilize their existing Toronto space for the program. Locations in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax have yet to be determined.

The first stage is a series of ‘visioning sessions,’ which are public consultations on what industry members in each city need to succeed. These ongoing sessions run until March 31.

“We want to see, what’s the gap? We’ve talked to a few participants in Montreal that [say] they have camera experience, but they don’t have on-set experience, and mostly in French,” Daniel tells Playback Daily.

Other stages are equity and innovation classes for industry mentors from March to December, regional producer residencies from April to February 2026, creating educational industry videos starting in March and a national gathering and presentation in June 2026 at a yet-to-be-determined location. These activities will take place in all participating cities.

There will be 15 applicants chosen per city, per stage, for a total of 60 across the program. An application form will be made public after the visioning sessions. There is currently no deadline for other activities in the program as plans are still being finalized.

According to Daniel, the program is also accepting Indigenous women in Winnipeg. This program marks the first time BWF! Canada has worked in Winnipeg and Halifax.

Participants will be given two months accommodation, travel and a stipend to participate in Reel Change programming in the province of their choice. Childcare will also be provided for mothers or single parents that would otherwise be unable to attend. Other stipends can be offered on a case-by-case basis.

“There’s a lot of intentional thought to make sure that we’re really catering to these women who want to showcase Canada or stories on film and television, but don’t necessarily have all the resources or all the training in their city,” says Daniel.

Image courtesy of Black Women Film! Canada