Fifteen participants across seven projects selected for scripted comedy/drama and kids streams
Unscripted stream sees production underway on four short projects from the CBC Creator Network
CBC today announced the participants of the second year of AccessCBC: A CBC Initiative for Creators with a Disability , a national program that provides pre-development training, mentorship and financing support for Deaf and disabled creators. Fifteen participants across seven projects have been selected for the scripted comedy/drama and kids streams, and as part of the unscripted stream, production is underway on four short projects from the CBC Creator Network and a short documentary from the first round of AccessCBC has advanced to a second phase of development.
For the second iteration of AccessCBC, CBC is collaborating with the Disability Screen Office (DSO), a national 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. Award-winning Disabled writer and performer Ophira Calof(they/she) is also a consultant on the second year of AccessCBC. Calof is a recognized leader and champion for accessible storytelling and project curation.
*Access participant photos and read their bios .*
The four scripted projects (two comedy and two drama) are:
Comedy:
- SECOND WIND - Maxine Grossman (she/her, Toronto) and Kimberly Manky (she/her, Toronto)
- REBUILD - Emily Nixon (she/they, Toronto), Sadiya Durrani (she/her, Toronto) and David Chinchilla (Toronto)
Drama:
- THE QUIETEST GAME - Matthew Kowalchuck (he/him, Vancouver), Daniel Smith Arnold (he/him, Vancouver), and Katarina Ziervogel (she/her, Winnipeg)
- EQUAL JUSTICE - Tieren Hawkins (he/him, Halifax), Scott Jones (he/him, Scotsburn, NS) andTaylor Olson (he/they, Hatchet Lake, NS)
The three kids projects are:
- NANNY AND THE NINNYWOOS-Samantha Hayes(she/her, Toronto)
- CHICK-A-DUCK - Rebeka Herron (she/her, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) and Rebecca Hales (she/her, Toronto)
- THE SPACE HOPPERS - David Campbell (he/him, Belleville, Ont.)
The participants of the kids and scripted streams are currently attending development workshops led by CBC executives, where they receive practical experience writing pitch documents, individualised feedback, and coaching on how to package and market their project. The scripted program is facilitated by Paige Murray, Executive in Charge of Development, Drama, and Sarah Quan, Executive in Charge of Development, Comedy. The kids program is facilitated by Swin Chang, Lisa Cinelli and Drew Mullin, Executives in Charge of Production, Children’s Content; Shamhan Bhuiyan, Manager of Content & Development, CBC Kids; Mia Rodak, Director, Digital Content, CBC Kids; and Marie McCann, Senior Director, Children’s Content, CBC Kids.
As part of the unscripted stream, four short projects from creators and filmmakers working with the CBC Creator Network are in the midst of production, with releases on CBC social and local platforms throughout the summer and fall:
- COMPOSER BRAIN by James Lowrie (he/him, Toronto), a short series facilitated by Jacquie Lee, Senior Producer, and Tiffany Wice, Associate Producer, CBC Creator Network and produced in association with CBC Music: In each episode, James pulls back the curtain on a different modern pop song and shines a light on the music theory that makes it so effective. Released regularly, you can check out the latest episode on CBC Music’s Instagram account .
- SAM WOJ by Samantha Woj (she/her, Embrun, Ont.), facilitated by Lee and Wice: To celebrate the 2024 Paralympic Games, visual artist Woj is creating a painting for CBC Arts in honour of Canadian para-rowing icon, Jacob Wassermann, in her unique style of using sporting equipment - by painting with a large rowing oar.
- THE VOICE IN THEIR HANDS by Mujde Hasimoglu McGuire (she/her, Ottawa) and Ryan McGuire (he/him, Ottawa), facilitated by Christine Maki and Ash Abraham, Producers, CBC Ottawa: Two Deaf creators tell the story behind the three sign languages they speak, including some of the surprising differences and miscommunications that can happen within the Deaf community around sign language translation, and why they're encouraging others to learn to sign.
- YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE by Vancouver-based team Sophia Biedka (she/they, director, editor, and producer), Mackenzie Stannard (he/him, host and producer), and Brandon Y Lee(he/him, director of photography), a short series facilitated by Sheila Peacock, CBC Executive in Charge of Independent Productions for BC and Alberta: A five-part docuseries exploring the stories of adults after receiving a late diagnosis or self-discovering their neurodivergent minds, with a specific focus on ADHD.
Also as part of the second year’s unscripted stream, a short documentary from the first iteration of AccessCBC by Desiree Bilonof Calgary, entitled TODAY SUCKS… BUT TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER, has advanced to a second phase of development with support from CBC executives Jessica Schmiedchen, Director of Development, Unscripted Content, and Lesley Birchard, Executive in Charge of Production, CBC Docs. Produced in partnership with Azzume Productions and Fenix Film & Television, the short doc follows Bilon as she pieces together lost memories after suffering a traumatic brain injury seven years ago. Anna Cooley is director and co-writer with Bilon.
The second iteration of AccessCBC launched in February 2024 and submissions were open to producers and writers who self-identify as having a disability and are not employed by CBC. For eligibility purposes, AccessCBC follows the Accessible Canada Act’s definition of a disability: any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society. Read more about the program .
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CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About the Disability Screen Office
The Disability Screen Office (DSO) 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 on and off the screen. Our vision is to realize a Canadian screen sector that is fully inclusive and accessible. Our goals include advocating for people with disabilities by influencing policies and removing barriers, educating industry players by providing tools and programming, and creating awareness by fostering authentic representation of people with disabilities in the media. Join our e-newsletter list at www.dso-orphe.ca.
