Telus Storyhive is launching a new program titled the Pan-Asian Storyteller Edition to support B.C. and Alberta filmmakers of Asian descent with the production of a narrative short film or documentary.

To that end, the Pan-Asian Storyteller Edition offers each successful applicant $20,000 in production funding grants, one-on-one mentorship from the National Screen Institute, tailored online training and distribution support across Telus Optik TV, Stream+ and Storyhive’s 162,000-subscriber YouTube channel.

B.C.-based projects will also receive $5,000 in top-up funding from Creative BC.

Previously, Telus Storyhive had launched focused editions, such as ones for Indigenous storytellers and VR projects, both in 2018, as well as one for Black creators.

Applications for the program open on April 1 and will be open until May 8.

While Telus Storyhive is not currently releasing the number of grants for this specific program, previously the organization granted 80 applications for its anniversary edition and 30 for its Indigenous storyteller edition, a Telus spokesperson told Playback Daily. The selected applicants will be announced September 10.

With files from Nicholas Sokic

Image: Unsplash