Digi60 Stands in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter, Black & Indigenous Creators and Filmmakers in Ottawa

June 25, 2020

Digi60 would like to recognize the shortcomings we’ve made as a festival. Our festival description has always included the idea that we are a festival run “by filmmakers, for filmmakers” in support and promotion of the Ottawa filmmaking industry. Previous to 2018 the board of Digi60 consisted of no BIPOC board members and we did not prioritize films or programming from Black or Indigenous filmmakers. Statistically, previous to 2018 less than 20% of our programming included BIPOC voices - in both the screenings and in our professional development programming. We apologize for these decisions, we should have done better. In 2019 after community feedback and participation, we made a conscious decision as a board of directors to highlight and support increased diversity, equity and representation at our festival - to represent what Ottawa looks like - through our programming. This has included diversifying our board, 50-50 gender parity on our juries and professional development content, programming community films from BIPOC creators, and creating a podcast that focuses on traditionally underrepresented voices in our industry.

It is not enough.

We would like to join our Festival Partner SAW Video in their statement of solidarity with Black and Indigenous communities, and that Digi60 is “committed to and make space for confronting and fighting systemic racism, police brutality and oppression in all of its forms. We call on members of the media arts community and beyond to amplify Black and Indigenous voices, to financially support initiatives in their local areas dedicated to racial justice, to engage with family and friends in difficult but necessary self-reflection and conversation about privilege and institutional racism.”

We recognize that as a leader in Ottawa’s emerging filmmaking community we need to advocate for more BIPOC creators and leaders through our programming, supporting and screening their stories. We’ve only made small steps but can take a bigger leap. We are passionately making the following statements, which will be integrated into our mandate and vision:

  • Canada and its film and television industry have benefited from the systematic oppression, discrimination and racism of BIPOC creators.

  • Black and Indigenous filmmakers need to be uplifted, celebrated and prioritized behind the camera, in the director’s chair and in leading roles on screens across Canada.

  • We call on producers, funders, festivals, city film offices, broadcasters and distributors to prioritize creators who have been traditionally marginalized.

  • Digi60 will take a hard stance against any racist, bigoted, sexist, stereotypical or exploitative content and will integrate discussions of authentic storytelling and representation in our professional development.

Please join us at our AGM on July 24th at 6:00 PM to share with us the direction you would like to see our festival grow.

- The Digi60 Board of Directors

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