Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver (GEMS) has announced the submission opening date for the fourth installment of their Emerging Television Producers Program (ETVP); a professional development program designed to help advance the careers of producers from underrepresented communities. ETVP, which is a four-month initiative aimed at providing training and mentorship for up to ten women or gender-diverse creators, opens submissions on June 2nd, 2025. A Pitch Deck Development Workshop will be held the week prior to help applicants prepare their submission materials. The goal of the program is to provide the tools, training and connections to break into the television industry. This year, the program is expanding to invite applicants from Alberta and the Yukon, in an effort to include other provinces who are underrepresented in the Canadian funding landscape.

Presented by Canada Media Fund (CMF), the ETVP is designed in two phases. Phase One is a five-day intensive workshop, to be held in-person in Vancouver, September 24th – 28th, 2025. Topics covered will include assessing opportunities, navigating funding applications, pitching, financing, creating budgets, and making industry connections. Program veteran Deborah Osborne is slated to come back as Lead Instructor. Deborah’s wide range of experience in executive, creative, administrative and crew positions has supported many live productions and a variety of award-winning programming for major networks and distributors in North America and Europe.

During Phase Two, which runs from September 29th through December 19th, 2025, participants will be matched with an industry mentor to assist them with packaging their projects for market. The intent is to partner each project and participant with a mentor whose work and lived experience can truly resonate with the participants’ own vision and goals for their project. Past mentors include Cailey Cavallin (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent) and Nicole Mendes (Anne with an E) from LARK Productions, Camille Beaudoin from MOSAIC Entertainment, Violator Films’ Lori Lozinski (Little Bird), Alexis McLaren from Bell Media, writer and showrunner Sarah Dodd (Cardinal), co-Showrunner of Run the Burbs and writer on Sort Of Nelu Handa and CBC Comedy executive Melanie Le Phan. Past ETVP participants include Jenny Lee-Gilmore (Overtime), Jovanna Burke (Parallel), Krista Rand (Re: Uniting), Giselle Miller (Novelette is Trying), Ellie Cameron-Smith (Dormant), Johanne Michel (The Light in You), Mimi Dejene (Jackie’s Haven), actor-turned-producer Steph Song (Blood & Water) and many more.  

The program is free and open to BC, Alberta, and Yukon-based emerging producers who show potential in leadership, and who have a unique series concept to submit that is viable for the Canadian market. They must identify as female or gender diverse (including trans, non-binary, gender fluid, and agender), be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status, and be aged 18+. The selection process aims to significantly reduce barriers for applicants in the hopes of encouraging applications from a variety of underrepresented communities.

Financial aid for travel, accommodations, and meals will be provided to out-of-town participants. Financial assistance will be provided for childcare and accessibility needs. Sign language interpretation and other accessibility accommodations can be provided as-needed. An information webinar will take place at 5:00 PM PT on Monday, May 26th, 2025. Program applications will open June 2nd, 2025 and will close on June 30th, 2025. Applicants must be available to attend in-person September 24-28, 2025 in Vancouver, BC.

Applications can be made here.