Applications are currently closed.

The call is open to programmers across Canada. 

Applicants must be available to attend virtual masterclasses, workshops and programming meetings, from February to July, and will be expected to attend the Vancouver Queer Film Festival in person, from August 10-20, 2023.

Supported by

We are proud to announce our inaugural Programming Disruptor Fellowship, a gaming-changing training and mentorship initiative for emerging BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ film curators. Led by Out On Screen’s new Artistic Director, Charlie Hidalgo, this Fellowship aims to be a catalyst for transformative change in the Canadian film industry, shepherding new talent into a field that is in critical need of diversification, in order to further the dignity, liberty, and justice of BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. 

Through the fellowship, three emerging film programmers who identify as BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ will receive $10,000 and the opportunity to be an integral part of the curation of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival 2023. Compensation is based on an hourly wage of $24.08/hour + 4% vacation and wellness and networking funds. Selected Fellows will be credited as Festival Programmers, and by the end of the program will have acquired a practical toolkit and a robust ethical framework that will enable them to approach their curatorial practice in a restorative and impactful way, centering accountability, integrity and community care. 

Film festival programmers are uniquely positioned to transform worldviews. The choices that curators make define whose voices are heard, whose narratives are seen, and what communities are celebrated. Historically, the pool of film programmers have been predominantly male-dominated, cisgender, straight, white, and middle-class, so stories that don’t feel ‘mainstream’ get pushed to the margins. This Fellowship will empower BIPOC 2SLGBTQIA+ curators to give a platform to the voices that are questioning systems of oppression and reshaping our culture.

– Charlie Hidalgo (he/him), Artistic Director

Spanning five phases, the Programming Disruptor Fellowship combines masterclasses, workshops, and hands-on experience, to train participants throughout the entirety of the programming process, from how to use the lens of inclusion and accountability when evaluating film submissions, to brainstorming event ideas, to the art of copywriting and crafting talking points for post-screening conversations, to delivering a memorable and meaningful experience for both audience members and the attending artists. 

Phase 1: Curatorial Lens & Toolkit  | 2 Weeks | Jan 30 – Feb 10 | 20-hrs/week max
Phase 2: Film Evaluation | 11 Weeks | Feb 13 – Apr 28 | 20-hrs/week max
Phase 3: Copywriting | 5 Weeks | May 1 – Jun 2 | 8-hrs/week max
Phase 4: Community Outreach & Experience | 10 Weeks | Jun 6 – Aug 9 | 8-hrs/week max
Phase 5: In-Person Festival | 2 Weeks | Aug 10 – 20 | 24-hrs/week max