Program Coordinator – Ontario Black Film Lab

About the Ontario Black Film Lab

The Ontario Black Film Lab is an initiative of the Toronto Black Film Festival, delivered in collaboration with the Ottawa Black Film Festival. It provides intensive business and professional development support to Black filmmakers, producers and production companies working to build sustainable careers and businesses in Canada’s screen industry.

Through workshops, individualized mentorship, company-growth planning, project preparation and direct industry access, the Lab helps participants strengthen their business foundations, advance market-ready projects and build relationships with the decision-makers who influence financing, production, commissioning and distribution.

Role Overview

The Ontario Black Film Lab is seeking a highly organized, resourceful and industry-aware Program Coordinator to support the delivery of its programming across Toronto and Ottawa.

Reporting to the TBFF Manager and working closely with members of the Toronto Black Film Festival team, the Program Coordinator will serve as the central operational contact for participants, mentors, facilitators, industry partners and other program stakeholders. The role will coordinate program schedules, workshops, individualized mentorship, participant communications, project documentation, industry meetings, pitch preparation and follow-up activities.

The ideal candidate understands the Canadian screen industry, including the practical challenges involved in developing, financing, producing and bringing projects to market. They will combine strong program administration and relationship-management skills with the ability to support participants through a demanding, highly individualized professional development experience.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Coordination and Delivery

• Program planning: Work with the TBFF Manager to coordinate workshops, masterclasses, mentorship, advisory sessions, pitch preparation and industry-access activities in Toronto and Ottawa.
• Curriculum coordination: Support programming focused on business development, company growth, financial management, production financing, budgeting, legal and human resources considerations, intellectual property, rights and revenue development, distribution, market positioning and investment readiness.
• Participant recruitment and selection: Coordinate the application, eligibility review and selection process, including applicant communications, interview scheduling, documentation and onboarding.
• Cohort management: Serve as a consistent point of contact for participants, communicating expectations, monitoring attendance and deliverables, identifying support needs and helping participants remain engaged and on schedule.
• Individualized support: Coordinate participant assessments, mentorship and advisory sessions that reflect each participant’s experience, business stage, projects and professional goals.
• Growth strategy plans: Coordinate the mentors and industry professionals supporting participants as they develop practical company growth plans addressing revenue development, project pipelines, financing, partnerships, distribution, team development and business risks.
• Project and market preparation: Coordinate activities that help participants strengthen their projects, business materials, company positioning, pitches and presentation skills before meetings with industry professionals.

2. Mentorship and Industry Access

• Mentor and facilitator coordination: Identify and coordinate qualified mentors, facilitators and advisors with expertise relevant to participant needs and program objectives.
• Industry engagement: Support relationships with producers, broadcasters, distributors, funders, buyers, investors, screen agencies and other industry decision-makers.
• Curated meetings and pitch opportunities: Coordinate participant preparation, scheduling, briefing materials and follow-up for individual meetings, pitch sessions, professional screenings and market-access opportunities.
• Toronto and Ottawa delivery: Help ensure that participants in both cities receive consistent access to programming, mentorship, industry connections and professional opportunities.
• Partner coordination: Maintain clear and timely communication with program partners and participating industry organizations under the direction of the TBFF Manager.

3. Administration and Financial Coordination

• Scheduling and logistics: Maintain the master program calendar and coordinate venues, virtual sessions, travel, technical requirements, participant materials and event logistics.
• Program documentation: Maintain accurate participant files, attendance records, mentor and facilitator agreements, session records, deliverable trackers and shared program resources.
• Budget tracking: Monitor approved program expenses, process invoices and supporting documentation, and provide regular budget updates to the TBFF Manager and finance team.
• Contracts and payments: Coordinate contracts, invoices and payment documentation for mentors, facilitators, consultants and program suppliers.
• Reporting and compliance: Collect participation data, program outputs, testimonials and outcome information required for internal evaluation and reports to government, philanthropic and corporate funders.
• Program evaluation: Administer participant assessments, feedback surveys and follow-up processes to help measure changes in business capacity, market readiness, industry access and professional progress.
• Continuous improvement: Identify operational challenges and participant feedback that can strengthen future program delivery.

Qualifications and Skills

Required

• Relevant experience: At least three years of experience coordinating programs, productions, professional development initiatives, accelerators or comparable programs. Experience within the Canadian screen, cultural or non-profit sectors is preferred, although relevant transferable experience will be considered.
• Screen industry knowledge: A practical understanding of how film and television projects and production companies move through development, financing, production, marketing, distribution and market access.
• Program coordination: Demonstrated ability to manage detailed schedules, multiple participants, external professionals, program deliverables and overlapping deadlines.
• Participant support: Experience working directly with artists, filmmakers, entrepreneurs or small creative companies in a professional development environment.
• Relationship management: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate professionally with participants, mentors, facilitators, partners and senior industry representatives.
• Understanding of systemic barriers: A demonstrated understanding of the structural, financial and professional barriers affecting Black filmmakers, producers and creative entrepreneurs in Canada.
• Administrative and financial skills: Experience maintaining accurate records, tracking expenses, processing invoices and contributing to funder reports.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear correspondence, schedules, briefing materials, meeting notes and program documentation.
• Organization and judgment: Exceptional attention to detail, discretion, sound judgment and the ability to anticipate problems and respond calmly in a fast-moving environment.
• Technical proficiency: Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, virtual meeting platforms and project-management or database tools.
• Availability: Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends and to travel between Toronto and Ottawa when required.

Assets

• Existing relationships within the Toronto, Ottawa or broader Canadian screen industry.
• Experience coordinating mentorship, pitching, professional screenings or industry-market activities.
• Knowledge of production financing, business affairs, intellectual property, distribution or company development.
• Experience collecting program data and contributing to government or private-funder reporting.
• Professional proficiency in both English and French.
• Familiarity with organizations such as the Black Screen Office, the Canadian Media Producers Association, regional film offices or comparable industry bodies.

Essential Qualities

• Professionalism
• Organization
• Initiative
• Resourcefulness
• Discretion
• Sound judgment
• Diplomacy
• Collaboration
• Accountability
• Calm under pressure
• Excellent communication

What We Offer

• A competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• A flexible hybrid work model combining remote work with in-person programming and activities in Toronto and Ottawa.
• An opportunity to help Black filmmakers, producers and production companies build sustainable careers, strengthen their businesses and increase their access to Canada’s screen industry.
• The opportunity to work with an established national cultural organization and a broad network of screen-industry professionals and partners.

The Fabienne Colas Foundation is committed to employment equity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, particularly members of communities that remain underrepresented in Canada’s screen industry.

About the Toronto Black Film Festival and the Fabienne Colas Foundation

The Toronto Black Film Festival is one of Canada’s largest and most impactful film festivals dedicated to Black cinema and Black creators. Through screenings, professional development, industry programming and year-round initiatives, TBFF creates opportunities for filmmakers while connecting audiences with diverse Black stories from Canada and around the world.

Founded in 2005, the Fabienne Colas Foundation is a Black-led, not-for-profit cultural organization dedicated to advancing education through the arts and supporting the creation, production, promotion and presentation of film, arts and culture. Its festivals and programs operate across Canada and internationally, providing platforms, training and professional opportunities for artists and creators from communities that have historically faced barriers to access.