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Open to BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ programmers across Canada.
Program starts March 23, 2026 and ends Sept. 24, 2026.
Participants will attend VQFF 2026 in September in Vancouver!
Paid training and work opportunity for the next generation of BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ film programmers to transform the Canadian film industry. Shift the tides in media representation and the stories we see on screen.
NO GATE-KEEPERS, JUST GAME-CHANGERS.
If you believe that BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ stories deserve better in film and TV, your work matters here.
The Programming Disruptor Fellowship offers three emerging film programmers who identify as BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ with the opportunity to:
- Curate the 38th annual Vancouver Queer Film Festival as an integral addition to our Programming Team
- Receive a living wage for training and work as a film programmer
- Learn from inclusive and respected industry professionals
I feel like it’s been more than a decade of hearing that it’s time for better representation in movies and more original ideas. The pendulum is swinging for queer, trans, and BIPOC voices to advocate for their stories, but not by our own choice and not because our stories lack significance. Our stories are actually irresistible. Our voices are the crux of revolution, no matter how many times the culture wants to push us to the margins. We push back. We stand firm in our roots. We keep creating art that centers our humanity and leads a new way forward.
– Audder Monton, they/them, Program Manager and 2023 Programming Fellow
This paid training initiative from Out On Screen aims to champion new and diverse talent forward in the competitive field of film curation. While film festival programming has the power to be a tastemaker for culture, there remains a critical need for perspectives and representation from Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
Three equity-deserving and early career film programmers will receive $10,000 over the course of the Fellowship, as they develop their curatorial practice through hands-on training facilitated by Out On Screen.
As co-creators, community leaders, and cultural disruptors, Fellows have the opportunity to bring impactful experiences to VQFF audiences and the landscape of Canadian cinema.
Audder Monton, alumni of the 2023 Programming Disruptor Fellowship, attends a panel at Vancouver Black Film Festival. Photo by Mykayla Filipovic.
A MASTER CLASS IN FILM CURATION.
The Fellowship combines workshops, networking engagements, and hands-on experience, to coach Fellows throughout the entirety of the programming process. Through industry mentorship, Fellows will be equipped with a practical framework to build a community-oriented film festival.
Workshop topics include:
The program runs between March-September 2026 in a hybrid remote format. Fellows will attend the 38th Vancouver Queer Film Festival, celebrating their work with audiences and filmmakers from around the world.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Applications are closed for 2026. Program start date is March 23, 2026.
Being a part of this Fellowship before and programming for VQFF over the years became my new way forward. Film curation is another avenue for me to lead with imagination and feel proud to bring all of myself in. QTBIPOC stories will always be a part of what drives me and they always matter, but having the right art spaces strengthens how we share them together. We need film festivals to keep learning and leaning on each other.
– Audder Monton, they/them, Program Manager and 2023 Programming Fellow
How do I apply?
Please apply through our career web portal with the following:
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter with the following information*:
- Your connection to the queer community
- Your priorities and interests as a film programmer. What kind of stories do you gravitate towards?
- Your career aspirations
- Writing sample of approximately 100-200 words* on one of the following topics, attached to the cover letter:
- A 2SLGBTQIA+ character that resonated with you.
- A queer film (short or feature, documentary or narrative) that has impacted you.
- A film that you find problematic or harmful and why.
Applicants must:
- Identify as BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+
- Be entitled to work in Canada at the time of application
- Be available to attend remote and in-person commitments during the Program. Most in-person responsibilities will be carried out in Sept. 2026
*Applicants may choose to submit brief (2-5 min) video or audio recordings in lieu of a cover letter and a writing sample.
What is the schedule for the program?
The 2026 Programming Disruptor Fellowship spans five phases between March-September 2026.
Phase 1: Curatorial Lens & Toolkit | Mar 23 – Apr 9
Phase 2: Film Evaluation & Event Programming | Mar 23 – Jun 25
Phase 3: Copywriting | May 19 – Jul 2, 2026
Phase 4: Career & Community Building | Aug 1 – Sep 10
Phase 5: (In-person) Festival and Wrap-up | Sep 10 – Sep 24
Weekly hours will be scheduled as follows:
- Approx. 15 hours per week from March 23-July 2
- Approx. 5 hours per week from August 1-Sept 10
- Approx. 30 hours per week from Sept 10-24
Between July 3-July 31, 2026, Fellows will not have working hours as the program takes a break.
Who is leading the workshops?
Workshops are informed and led by our network of film programmers, festival organizers, filmmakers, and artists who platform 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC stories. The VQFF Program Manager will help facilitate.
How are participants compensated?
Compensation per Fellow is up to $10,000 paid at an hourly rate of $27.85/hour. This compensation is not negotiable as it reflects the current budget. Fellows will be paid as part-time contract staff and are required to track their working hours.
Fellows will be credited as part of the Programming team for Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2026.
Funds are available for accessibility requests related to participating in the Fellowship, up to $2,000 per fellow.
Who has been a part of the Programming Fellowship before?
The inaugural Programming Disruptor Fellowship was launched in 2023. Alumni Fellows are Eva Grant, Romi Kim, and “Audder” Jasmine Monton.
Learn more about us
Out On Screen illuminates, celebrates, and transforms 2SLGBTQIA+ lives through film, education, and dialogue.
Read our values
Our vision is an equitable society where 2SLGBTQIA+ people are respected, valued, and protected across all our intersections of identity.
Meet our team
Meet our community of film lovers, queer advocates, and inspired artists working behind the scenes.
