From a media release:
The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF), in partnership with Netflix, is pleased to announce the 10 selected participants for the 2026 Diversity of Voices: Elevate, who will be attending the 47th edition of the Festival on June 14-17, 2026, at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Originally launched in 2018, Diversity of Voices has helped to take down barriers at scale, providing 800 opportunities to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Canadian producers and creatives. The program has played a vital role in supporting mainly emerging and early-career Canadian writers, directors and producers from racialized communities, helping to build a more inclusive and sustainable industry. As the program and its alumni have matured, BANFF and DOV partners identified a critical next gap: ensuring diverse producers and creators at established levels have the promotion, marketing and strategic access opportunities to advance their companies and projects on a national and global scale.
For 2026, the program has now been reimagined as Diversity of Voices: Elevate, designed to deepen career momentum, prestige and industry visibility for participants. This next evolution focuses on amplifying recognition at a pivotal stage in the participants’ professional trajectory, when meaningful global exposure, access to high-level decision-makers, and strategic industry connectivity can have the greatest impact. As one of the world’s leading media marketplaces, BANFF provides a unique platform for the industry to connect directly with domestic and international buyers, partners, and financiers, making it an ideal environment to scale careers and secure financing and partnerships for new projects. Following consultation with stakeholders, partners, and past DOV Initiative alumni, this year’s cohort will serve 10 mid-career and established industry participants, providing a tailored experience that will promote and shine a global light on some of Canada’s most exciting producers, directors and writers. Supporting partners of the program include: Reelworld, the Black Screen Office (BSO), the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), and the Disability Screen Office (DSO).
The 2026 Diversity of Voices: Elevate participants are (listed alphabetically):
Brishkay Ahmed, Digital Warriors Productions Inc.
Jamie Bourque-Blyan, Infinity Studio 8
Karen Chapman, Smallaxx Motion Pictures
Sean Devlin, Beb Bingo Entertainment
Damon D’Oliveira, Conquering Lion Pictures
JP Larocque, JP Larocque Productions
Jessica Tatum Meya, Gut Punch Productions
Kaveh Mohebbi, d’scribe Pictures
Arnold Pinnock
Ann Shin, Fathom Films
A key new component of the 2026 program is the launch of the DOV: Elevate Podcast, spotlighting the participants and their current projects while exploring the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s screen industry.
“Over the past eight years, Diversity of Voices has helped cultivate an extraordinary pipeline of talent, and I know firsthand the difference that nuanced and tangible support makes,” said Vanessa Mitchell (featured image above), Producer, Fellowship Programs at the Banff World Media Festival. “With Elevate, we’ve poured that insight into a new direction, ensuring producers and creatives of colour don’t just enter the industry, but have sustainable careers within it. We are building in togetherness and ensuring there are always seats ready at the highest levels. This format allows us to champion our participants via a concerted marketing campaign, strategic visibility, and celebrating the recognition they’ve earned, helping them reach the next defining milestone in their careers.”
Diversity of Voices supports established Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour professionals who are Canadian residents and working on Canadian film and TV projects with third-party development funding already attached. In response to direct feedback from past participants and industry stakeholders, the 2026 program significantly increases financial support, including an enhanced travel stipend designed to help remove economic barriers and ensure participants can fully access the opportunities the Festival provides. The program also provides participants with a robust marketing and promotional campaign, complimentary full-access Festival pass as well as advance access to BANFF’s networking programs enabling meaningful engagement with Canadian and global buyers, partners and decision-makers.
