CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Fabienne Colas Foundation’s
BEING BLACK IN CANADA Program

Article 1 – Respecting the mission of the Foundation

The mission of the Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF), a professional, artistic, not-for profit organization, is to promote and showcase art, culture, and cinema both nationally and internationally. The FCF focuses on Black culture (in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, New York City, Salvador – Bahia, Brazil) and Québécois culture (in Port-au-Prince). It wants to continue creating a space for discussion and debate about important current cultural, social and socio-economic issues through film talks, panel discussions, conferences, and other events. In addition to showcasing and giving a voice to artists who otherwise wouldn’t be seen or heard, the FCF participates in the development of different artistic disciplines through education by offering training and professional development workshops, as well as artist awards and grants. www.fondationfabiennecolas.org

Article 2 – Join the “Youth and Diversity” program

The Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Youth and Diversity Program: Being Black in Canada offers training, professional mentors, and a visibility platform in the audiovisual field up to 21 promising filmmakers from Black communities in 6 Canadian cities (Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver, and Montreal: Francophones & Anglophones). The Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada Program is proud to be back with another edition. Its goal is to cultivate future audiovisual talent in Black communities, to those who have not had the chance to receive in-depth professional training in the field. The Films are produced by Zaza Production (The Producer).

Article 3 – Eligibility 

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Be from a Black community or from a  visible minority who identifies as Black.
• Have demonstrated an interest in the audiovisual field and documentary filmmaking.
• Have concrete career-oriented plans in the audiovisual field. 
• Demonstrate motivation for the program.
• Be available a few times a week for activities related to the program from June to December 2026 for all workshops, mentoring sessions, meetings, shooting, editing, follow-up, etc. (equivalent to a part-time commitment with 2x3h workshops per week and/or weekend, personal work, and regular 1-on-1 or team meetings)
• Be available throughout 2027 to participate in the Black Film Festivals  of the Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF) – with physical presence required only in my city for BBIC/ENAC film screenings, press, promotion, etc.
• Live in the Greater Area of either: Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, or Vancouver.
• Submit a documentary project idea that fits the program theme (300 words).
• OPTIONAL: Submit 1 or 2 videos or films you made in a semi-professional or non-professional setting (short film, clip, video, etc.).

*People who have already created, completed, or directed professional videos or films are NOT eligible.

**Applicants should understand that they will be supported in writing and directing a non-fiction short film. This work will be carried out in collaboration with BBIC, as well as with a designated team responsible for the production and editing of their project.

***The films can be made in English and/or French (and potentially in other languages, if the participant is able to provide a translation).

HOWEVER, participants from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax must be able to speak, understand, and write English fluently in order to follow the courses and fully benefit from the guidance provided. In Montreal, training and mentoring will be in French for French-speaking participants, and in English for English-speaking participants.

Article 4 – Application

• Deadline: April 25th, 2026.
• Fill out the online Application Form.
  *Please note that all incomplete forms are automatically disqualified.

Article 5 – Selection

• The Organization will make a pre-selection of all completed applications received according to the previously outlined criteria.
• Pre-selected applications will be submitted to a selection committee who will choose up to the 21 program participants.
• The choice of the Organization and the selection committee will be made at their discretion. They will not have to provide justification or motivation for their decisions and cannot under any circumstance be the subject of a complaint.
• The Organization reserves the right to select fewer or more participants than expected.

Article 6 – Schedule and conditions

1. Overall schedule of the 2026 edition of the FFC’s Youth and Diversity Program: Being Black in Canada program.

NB: A detailed schedule will be given to selected participants. Filmmakers participating in the program are required to participate in scheduled events.

1. Filmmakers may be deemed ineligible to complete the program if they miss a deadline. This is especially strict with production and post-production deadlines. 
2. Filmmakers must make their film on the idea that they submitted in their application. 
3. Participating filmmakers agree to follow technical guidelines (length, format, location, etc.) and the program’s “Being Black in Canada” theme.
4. Participating filmmakers have full creative and editorial license over their films and will be the writers and directors. However, they agree to fully assign the national and international / worldwide rights for an unlimited time to the organization and/or producer (and their designated partners), who could, in whole or in part, subtitle the films, distribute the films through any existing medium (VOD, Web, TV licensing and/or other), submit them to different festivals, make them available for free and/or sell it through broadcasting platforms, if applicable.
5. Filmmakers must work with the team (mentor, editor, etc)  that has been supplied to them and cannot swap them out unless a matter of safety has been demonstrated. 
6. Filmmakers cannot receive extra funds for their films. 
7. Filmmakers cannot add changes after the final cut of their films.
8. Each filmmaker is responsible for their transportation fees and meals throughout the program.
9. Each filmmaker is responsible for speaking on their own behalf. Due to consent and confidentiality concerns, BBIC representatives will not discuss any one filmmaker or their film with another other at any time. 

Article 7 – Participation agreement

All the selected participants must sign a participation agreement stipulating an authorization to distribute, transfer rights as well as clauses relating to the use of their images by sponsors, financial partners, the organizer, the producer, and the show’s broadcasters, compliance with the program rules, all without any fee or payment. Any refusal by a participant to sign the documents on time will result in the competitor’s disqualification or ineligibility to participate. 

Article 8 – Benefits and award

• Individual guidance, in the form of a mentorship, is offered throughout the creation of the films.
• Professional equipment is made available for film production.
• Participants’ completed films will be screened at:
  • World Premiere at the Toronto Black Film Festival – February 2027
  • Premiere at the Halifax Black Film Festival – February 2027
  • Premiere at the Ottawa Black Film Festival – March 2027
  • Premiere at the Calgary Black Film Festival – May 2027
  • Premiere at the Montreal Intl Black Film Festival – September 2027
  • Premiere at the Vancouver Intl Black Film Festival – December 2027
  • Potential screenings at other festivals/events in 2027 and beyond (TBD)
• The organization reserves the right to change the schedule of festivals and/or add or remove festivals from the list without notice.
• Filmmakers will be invited to share their experience with the public during the festivals in the form of a question and answer session.
• The organization reserves the right to withhold the invitation to screen the film or invite the filmmaker to share their experience at any time without explanation. 
• The organization will not, under any circumstances, pay for any friends or family members to join the filmmakers on the festival tours. 
• The organization will not, under any circumstances, tour a filmmaker who does not have a completed film, whatever the circumstances may have been that led to that result. 
• All films may later be broadcast on VOD, TV or/and other at the discretion of the Organization or/and the Producer.

Article 9 – Acceptance

By applying for the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Youth and Diversity program: Being Black in Canada (Being Black in [Your City]), the candidate and his/her/their eligible beneficiaries tacitly and fully accept the present set of Rules & Conditions without reservation.

Any candidate who violates one or more of the Rules & Regulations for selection stipulated in the present document will be denied the opportunity to be part of the program.

Since Covid-19, dates may be changed, at any time and without notice, to meet public health standards.