Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash
A few weeks ago, we shared that undergraduate student Ruth Tesfahun is the recipient of the inaugural Rogers Communications Award in Film Production. This award provides $3000 annually to domestic students entering the Film Production program (directly from secondary school or transferring from another post-secondary institution) who are First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, or who identify as Black. Applications for 2023 will open in March.
We spoke with Assistant Professor in Film Production, Antoine Bourges, about the impetus for the award.
Why and how was this award created?
This award emerged from ongoing discussions with faculty colleagues about the disproportionately low representation of Black and Indigenous students in the Department of Theatre and Film and as a result of the movement and protests for racial justice that sparked in response to the George Floyd murder in 2020.
We were considering how to circumvent the racist elitism and systemic exclusion that plagues arts education programs and perpetuates the ongoing marginalization of Black and Indigenous creatives and makers, in Vancouver and beyond. The key question was: “how can we both attract more Black and Indigenous students into programs such as Film Production and nurture their creative and professional growth?” As the financial commitment of attending an arts program at university can represent a substantial economic risk for communities who have been subjected to colonial practices and racism, my colleagues Olivia Michiko-Gagnon, Leora Morris and I considered that a starting point would be to look at providing tuition assistance.
With the support and guidance of our Department Head Stephen Heatley, we created a proposal for an award for Black and Indigenous incoming students. After over two years of ongoing work and discussions with different organizations within UBC, we were able to present the proposal to Senate—to our great joy, the proposal was approved!
What is the significance of this award?
While there has been progress over the past few years, it is still difficult today for aspiring Black and Indigenous artists to see themselves represented in the public sphere of film directors, producers and key creatives in Canada. Our hope is that with this first step, we can show prospective Black and Indigenous students that they and their work is welcome and supported in our departmental spaces, and ultimately, begin to positively affect the diversity of Canadian filmmakers in the years to come.
What do applicants need to submit to be considered for the award?
Eligible candidates will be assessed based on their academic qualifications and supplemental materials to enter the program. They will also need to submit a personal statement (maximum 300 words) when applying for the award.
