From left to right: Deydra Baptiste, Sarah Barzak, Violet Elliot, Shay Erlich, Mily Mumford.

The National Screen Institute, Women in View and the Disability Screen Office are pleased to announce the five participants selected for the first edition of the Disabled Producers Lab.

The Disabled Producers Lab is an online program designed as a space for disabled producers marginalized by gender across Canada including, but not limited to, transgender women, cisgender women, transgender men and non-binary people.

A key goal of this program is to support Disabled, d/Deaf, chronically ill, neurodiverse, Mad, sick and/or spoonie producers in developing their own accessible practice and furthering accessibility throughout the industry.

“After a highly competitive application process, we are excited to be working with these five, brilliant producers who each bring singular experiences and skill sets to the program,” said program co-leads Ophira Calof and Michelle Asgarali. “We can’t wait to explore production accessibility together and continue to grow the disability screen community through this program.”

We welcome the following participants to the Disabled Producers Lab:

• Deydra Baptiste (Montreal, QC)
• Sarah Barzak (London, ON)
• Violet Elliot (Milton, ON)
• Shay Erlich (Toronto, ON)
• Mily Mumford (Vancouver, BC)

Read the participants’ bios.

“We were thrilled by the tremendous interest in the Disabled Producers Lab, and I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the selected participants!” said Winnie Luk, executive director at the Disability Screen Office.

“This program opens doors for disabled producers to navigate and shape the Canadian screen industry, with accessibility at its core. It’s an essential step toward building an inclusive industry where disabled creatives don’t just participate – they lead. We look forward to seeing the impact these producers will make as they develop their careers and contribute their invaluable perspectives to the industry.”

This new program aims to strengthen the skills and knowledge required to be a successful producer and create systemic change within the production industry by fostering an environment where accessibility is at the forefront of production practices, challenging and reshaping industry norms.

“We are honoured to be part of making the Disabled Producers Lab a reality,” said Christine Kleckner, executive director of the National Screen Institute. “With the guidance of accomplished filmmakers Michelle and Ophira, I am confident that Deydra, Sarah, Violet, Shay and Mily will build the skills they need to reach the next level of their filmmaking careers.”

Participants will take part in virtual sessions twice a week for 12 weeks, learning the essential elements of producing from industry experts on topics such as:

• Pitching and packaging
• Script to schedule planning
• Business aspects of film including funding and legal questions
• Distribution and marketing

Participants will also:

• Engage with national industry experts and professional organizations to explore career opportunities.
• Discuss accessibility considerations and possibilities, learning from international case studies of disability-forward productions and sharing their own experiences and perspectives.

Discussions will be documented in a public case study report at the end of the program, contributing to the development of film accessibility best practices industry-wide.

“Women in View (WIV) has pushed the envelope to collect and interpret influential data,” said Women in View’s Jan Miller, a Disabled Producers Lab co-creator. “Equally important has been WIV’s commitment to initiate groundbreaking programs that tackle gender equity, diversity and inclusion. WIV is extremely proud to have initiated the Disabled Producers Lab with its co-leads Ophira and Michelle. It’s wonderful that it lands at the National Screen Institute, dedicated to empowering marginalized voices.”

In addition to program co-leads Michelle and Ophira, the Disabled Producers Lab faculty includes program manager Amy Reitsma, peer support coordinator Dennie Park, case study report writer Tori Lacey and industry advisor Jan Miller.

Congratulations to Deydra, Mily, Sarah, Shay and Violet!

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Disabled Producers Lab is presented by the National Screen Institute, Women in View and the Disability Screen Office, with program partners Canada Media Fund and Telefilm; strategic sponsors Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada and RBC; supporting sponsors Neshama Entertainment and AMI; provincial sponsor Ontario Creates. National Screen Institute core funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council. More sponsors will be added as confirmed.

• • •

About Women in View

Women in View is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening gender representation and diversity in Canadian media both on screen and behind the scenes. They do this through a range of initiatives that seek to generate awareness, promote talent and spark dialogue across the full spectrum of production, policy and artistic arenas.

About Disability Screen Office

The Disability Screen Office is a national, disability-led, not-for-profit organization that works with the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster authentic and meaningful disability representation throughout the sector. Our vision is to realize a Canadian screen sector that is fully inclusive and accessible, amplifying the voices of people with disabilities across the Canadian media landscape.

To stay updated, join the Disability Screen Office e-list at https://www.dso-orphe.ca/.

About National Screen Institute

Propelled by a visionary network of donors, private and public organizations, board members and staff, the National Screen Institute supports creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories. Through industry-informed training and mentoring in film and television, students and alumni find their voices and places on the global stage, inspiring us to shape a better world.

The National Screen Institute is committed to training participants from a diverse community of voices including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+), people with disabilities, those outside large urban centres, those in regional and remote areas and various religious groups.

Further enquiries

• Disabled Producers Lab: dp*@ns********.ca
• Media enquiries: Abiola Agbayewa, ab*************@ns********.ca