This year’s 75-person cohort for the Banff World Media Festival’s (BANFF) Diversity of Voices (DOV) initiative has been announced ahead of the 46th edition of the festival in June.

The eighth annual program provides underrepresented professionals who are Black, Indigenous or people of colour with a full pass to the festival, and access to networking and professional development, industry execs and potential strategic partners while there. Twenty-five individuals were selected as Pitch Program participants, receiving additional one-on-one pitch meeting opportunities and a travel stipend.

The program, which this year focuses on established and mid-career professionals is competitive with hundreds of applications adjudicated annually. It has provided over 775 opportunities since its inception in 2018 and is run in partnership with Netflix and with the support of the Black Screen Office (BSO), the Indigenous Screen Office, Reelworld Screen Institute and for the first time, the Disability Screen Office (DSO).

Lindsay Doyle, Netflix director of public policy, Canada said “[previous participants] have shared the positive impact the program has had on their careers,” and that the company is looking forward to seeing what comes next for this group of creators.

The 25 Pitch Program participants include Susan Bayani (Anahita Arts), Lewis Cardinal (Red Earth Blue Sky Productions), Rohan Fernando (Sutram Pictures), Sandy Hudson (Motion & Memory), Patrice Jecrois (Les Productions Provado), Reamonn Joshee (HBHWRH Show Corp) and Rosie Johnnie-Mills (House of Copper Films).

The cohort also includes Seydou Kane (Seyka Productions), Naunzanin Knight (1844 Studios), Tania Koenig-Gauchier (Wapanatahk Media), Jessica Landry (Familiar Films), Alexander Lasheras (Soler Pictures), Gunjan Menon (Beyond Premieres), Motion (MotionLive Entertainment), Milton Ng (Dear Hero Studios), Raj Panikkar (Fifth Ground Entertainment), Kamala Parel-Nuttall (Floating Lotus Films), and Kenya Jade Pinto (Compy Films).

Rounding out the Pitch Program cohort is Tamiko Potts (Unicorn Power Media), Mahsa Razavi (Mehr Film),Tim Riedel (Michif Koonteur), Christina Saliba (Misfit Films), Patricia Scarlett (Media Business Institute), Sandro Silva (Dona Ana Films & Multimedia) and Sid Santiago Zanforlin (Goggle Boy Films).

The full list of DOV participants can be found here.

ISO CEO Kerry Swanson noted the initiative aligns with its commitment to “amplifying Indigenous-led productions and perspectives” within the media industry.

“As part of our commitment to equity and access, we are providing financial support to our alumni in the program, helping more creators participate in key industry markets,” said Tonya Williams, Reelworld founder and executive director.

BSO CEO Joan Jenkinson said she has seen firsthand the impact the connections made at BANFF have had on Black creators. “I look forward to seeing how this year’s cohort seizes the moment and contributes to the ongoing transformation of our screen industries,” she said.

“Ensuring disabled talent and creatives have equitable access to industry connections and resources is essential for a truly inclusive media landscape. We look forward to engaging with this year’s cohort and working closely with BANFF to champion accessibility and representation in the industry,” said Winnie Luk, DSO executive director in a statement.

BANFF runs from June 8 to 11 in Alberta.

Image of the 2025 Diversity of Voices cohort, courtesy of Banff World Media Festival