Open Door Pitch

The Innoversity Creative Summit is accepting applications for their second annual Open Door Pitch competition, open to new and experienced TV and radio producers.

All projects submitted must appeal to a diverse audience and all production teams require a minimum of one person who is an Aboriginal, a person of color or a person with a disability.

One winner from each of the six categories will receive development money from sponsor broadcasters ranging from $500 to $5,000 to help further their project.

Each winner also receives a scholarship to attend the Innoversity Creative Summit 2003 in Toronto May 22-23.

-www.innoversitysummit.com

Banff Television Foundation assumes ownership of INMF

The Banff Television Foundation has announced a new deal whereby the company acquires full ownership of the annual International New Media Festival. Technology PEI, the Prince Edward Island government’s lead agency in the development of IT and media production, resumes its role as lead sponsor, with a five-year commitment to the Festival. The deal was announced Feb. 6. The Atlantic Digital Media Society has dropped out of the festival.

The festival will continue to operate in PEI, with the seventh edition taking place October 2003.

In other Banff news, broadcaster and filmmaker Sir David Attenborough will be the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award, at the 24th Banff Television Festival.

-www.btvf.com

-www.banff2003.com

NFB commits $1M to Reel Diversity comp

The National Film Board’s Reel Diversity Competition has upped the ante to $1 million in its second year. The competition allows five budding filmmakers of visible minority groups a chance to make a 40-minute, English language NFB documentary. The deadline for all applications is April 4, 2003.

One filmmaker will be chosen from each of B.C., Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic region and given $200,000 to create his or her doc.

-www.nfb.ca/reeldiversity

Leo entries jump 14%

The number of B.C. resident film and television production workers vying for the annual Leo Awards jumped 14% compared to last year.  At the close of the application deadline, 166 program entries and 687 craft award entries were collected, says event president Walter Daroshin.

New program categories include best sports program or series, music video and talk series. New craft categories include best guest performance male and female.

The fifth annual Leo Awards take place May 9 and 10 at the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina. Nominees will be announced the week of Apr. 14.

-www.leoawards.com