Hot Docs and Shaw Media announce new Diverse Voices training program for emerging Canadian documentary and factual filmmakers

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and Shaw Media are pleased to announce the Shaw Media Diverse Voices Program, which will provide six to eight emerging Canadian filmmakers of diverse backgrounds with training in documentary and factual television production. Taking place during the 2015 Hot Docs Festival, the program will guide participants through an intensive training module and seminar series, career management workshops, and networking events with industry professionals. The Shaw Media Diverse Voices Program will focus on documentary and factual television production and show running, including proposal preparation, the production cycle, financing, co-production, and access to broadcasters.

"Representation of diverse voices in the documentary and television production industries is a vitally important issue for Hot Docs and our community," said Elizabeth Radshaw, Hot Docs Industry Programs Director. "With Shaw Media's generous support, this program will help develop core skills of producing and filmmaking."

"We are very pleased to be partnering with Hot Docs this year, and excited to launch a brand new training program for emerging filmmakers across Canada aimed at truly making a difference in our industry," said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President of Content at Shaw Media. "The goal is to foster a new generation of diverse Canadian documentary and factual filmmakers, and we believe the Shaw Media Diverse Voices Program will do just that."

Applications for the Shaw Media Diverse Voices Program will open December 19, 2014, with a final deadline of January 26, 2015. Applicants must reside in Canada on a full-time basis, be between the ages of 22 and 34, and a member of an under-represented group: visible minority, person with a disability or a member of the aboriginal community. For full eligibility and application information, please visit www.hotdocs.ca.

About Shaw Communications

Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified communications and media company. Shaw serves 3.2 million consumers and businesses through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw provides consumers with broadband Internet, WiFi, Digital Phone and Video services. Shaw Business provides businesses with Internet, data, WiFi, telephony, Video and fleet tracking services, and ViaWest provides collocation, cloud and managed services. Shaw Media provides Canadians with engaging programming content through one of Canada's largest conventional television networks, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks, including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY® and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About Hot Docs

Hot Docs (www.hotdocs.ca), North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market, will present its 22nd annual edition from April 23 - May 3, 2015. An outstanding selection of approximately 200 documentaries from Canada and around the world will be presented to Toronto audiences and international delegates. Hot Docs will also mount a full roster of conference sessions and market events and services for documentary practitioners, including the renowned Hot Docs Forum, Hot Docs Deal Maker and The Doc Shop. In partnership with Blue Ice Group, Hot Docs operates the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, a century-old landmark located in Toronto's Annex neighbourhood.

SOURCE: Shaw Media

Patrycja Cieniewicz 
Publicity & Promotions Coordinator, Hot Docs 
Telephone: [phone] x292; 
Email: [email protected]