Six writers are set to participate in the second year of the CBC-BIPOC TV & Film Showrunner Catalyst program.

CBC, BIPOC TV & Film and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) announced the latest cohort on Wednesday (Feb. 1),  noting the first part of the program began last month and the second half will run through the fall.

Designed through an anti-racist and equity-focused lens, the accelerator program for senior-level writers who identify as Indigenous, Black, or People of Colour provides hands-on and personally tailored on-set experience, additional tools and support systems to help participants become showrunners in the Canadian film and television industry, according to a news release.

The participants include Edmonton-born, Toronto-based Saulteaux/Cree comedian, actor, and writer Vance Banzo, who is a member of sketch comedy troupe and former CBC series TallBoyz; Toronto-based Nelu Handa, whose writing credits include Jann, The Odd Squad, The Beaverton, TallBoyz, A Little Late With Lilly Singh, and Run the Burbs, on which she also served as a co-executive producer on season two; and Toronto screenwriter and performer Amanda Joy, who co-created the Citytv and OMNI original series Second Jen, with writing credits including Son of a Critch season two, TallBoyz, and Overlord and the Underwoods, among others.

Other participants include Toronto-based television writer and producer JP Larocque, who is the creator and executive producer of OUTtv’s digital comedy series Gay Nerds with other credits including Sort Of, Jann, Coroner, Diggstown and Home Sweet Rome!; Toronto-based historian, feminist and screenwriter Robina Lord-Stafford, whose recent credits include co-executive producer and writer on Macy Murdoch, a coproducer and writer on season three of Pretty Hard Cases, and a writer on Hudson & Rex; and Saskatchewan-raised Cree Métis and Ukrainian film and television writer Shannon Masters, whose work includes Empire of Dirt, Mohawk Girls, Cardinal, Private Eyes and Burden of Truth and Coroner.

The first part of the program features hands-on masterclasses on topics related to the role and responsibilities of a showrunner, with participating speakers including Floyd Kane, Morwyn Brebner, Noelle Carbone, and Jennifer Podemski.

The second part will see the participants working alongside an experienced showrunner and participating in all key elements of production.

Trish Williams, executive director of scripted content at CBC, said in a statement that “the past year of collaboration has further demonstrated the importance and impact of elevating senior-level Black, Indigenous and racialized creative talent and setting up these future leaders for success.”

CFC executive director maxine bailey added that “this unique program brings us one step closer to a more just and equitable Canadian film and TV landscape, where equity, access and authentic representation are the standard, not the exception.”

Images courtesy of CBC. From left to right (top): Vance Banzo, Shannon Masters, Robina Lord-Stafford; (bottom): Nelu Handa, JP Larocque, Amanda Joy.