MAPPING THE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GRANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Applying for grants can be a challenging and time consuming process. With so many grants available throughout the year, sometimes it is hard to keep track of them all and prioritize the ones that are most important or suitable for our artistic needs. Join us for an illuminating panel discussion that aims to equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively navigate the landscape of provincial and federal grants. In a world of financial support for various initiatives, this conversation explores how to keep track of available grants, conduct thorough research, and prepare in advance to seize these valuable opportunities, both on the creative side and the corporate side. MODERATOR Sosa Eweka-Valentine, Journalist Sosa Eweka-Valentine, is a journalist and registered nurse. She is also the founder of Talks with Sosa, a public speaking platform, which seeks to bring experts to discuss various issues, from social justice to mental health. Her hobbies include biking and reading. SPEAKERS Adhel Arop, Filmmaker Adhel Arop’s award-winning debut documentary Who Am I? (Telus Storyhive) generated global interest, distribution and media coverage, encouraging her to tackle more ambitious projects for film and television audiences in Canada. Adhel Productions Inc. was launched in 2021 to support this work. Adhel is the CEO and Creative Director. Working with a team of collaborators from across Canada, Adhel Productions successfully pitched Katiba Banat: Sisters in Arms, a docuseries about Canadian women who served as child soldiers in South Sudan’s Second Civil War to Rogers Media. The series will go into production in late 2022, for release in the fall of 2023 on OMNI. In the meantime, Adhel Productions is focused on team-building, concept development, supporting other emerging creators, and continuing to build on past successes with increasingly ambitious productions. Javier Badillo, Writer, Director & Producer Javier Badillo is a Leo nominated, Venezuelan-Canadian writer, director and producer. After a career as a musician and 2D animator, Javier found a natural fit in independent film. Since 2008, his short films have been selected and won awards at numerous festivals including Chicago Children’s Film Festival, Toronto Black Film Festival, Cinéfest Sudbury, Flickers' Rhode Island, and Reelworld, among many others. In 2022, Javier released his first feature film, the war drama ROADS OF ITHRIYAH, receiving five Leo Award nominations including best picture, directing, script, and lead actor, winning for best sound. It was nominated as Best Canadian Film at RIFFA. Javier is currently working on his second film, the sci-fi action comedy LUPE Q AND THE GALACTIC EARWORMS. The script received Telefilm Production Funding, and was selected into the Blood in the Snow Development Lab, placed Top-20 at FilmQuest and Top-10 at Mammoth Lakes, and was selected into the Moviemaker Magazine production program. John Rice, Office, Development & Patron Services Coordinator During his 20+ years managing the Ars & Culture Grants program for the City and District of North Vancouver, John devoted his energies not simply to processing multiple grants intakes each year but to understanding the needs of emerging (and sometimes established) groups in the community and coaching them on how to build organizational capacity.
