Toronto Film School’s BIPOC Bursary Gets a Boost from BMO

BMO is expanding its investment in emerging BIPOC creative talent, increasing its annual support for Toronto Film School’s BIPOC Creative Achievement Award from $5,000 to $8,000.

This generous boost substantially increases the value of the quarterly competition’s four individual awards from $1,250 to $2,000 each for the upcoming 2026 cycle – a change TFS President Andrew Barnsley describes as more than incremental.

“With this increase, these bursaries move from being helpful to transformative for our talented BIPOC students,” said the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Executive Producer. “BMO’s commitment to fostering diversity in the creative industries aligns perfectly with our mission at TFS, and together we’re building a more inclusive future for Canada’s entertainment and creative sectors.”

For past recipients, the award has already proven to be exactly that.

“This award means so much to me, not just as financial support, but as recognition of the path I’ve been on,” said Karyna Dianka, a Film Production student who was named a recipient of the bursary back in October 2024. “It boosts my confidence to keep pushing forward with my creative projects and take on new challenges that might have felt out of reach before.”

Brent Barclay, Managing Director of BMO Media Finance, said the decision to increase the bursary amount reflected both BMO’s recognition of the rising financial barriers students face and their desire to provide more meaningful support to emerging BIPOC talent as they pursue education and careers in Canada’s creative industries.

“We hope this increased funding helps recipients focus more on developing their skills, telling their stories, and advancing their creative ambitions,” Barclay said. “By easing financial pressure, our goal is to support students as they build confidence, gain practical experience, and take important steps toward impactful careers in the creative sector.”

The BIPOC Creative Achievement Award celebrates the creativity and promise of full-time TFS students who identify as Black, Indigenous or People of Colour. Awarded quarterly throughout the academic year, the bursary helps students overcome financial obstacles so they can successfully complete their studies and pursue their artistic dreams in fields including Film Production, Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre, Writing for Film & TV, Video Game Design & Animation, Video Game Design & Development, and Graphic Design & Interactive Media.

Since its inception two years ago, the BIPOC Creative Achievement Award has supported eight talented students across TFS’s diverse program offerings – Roopali Ramesh Kumar, Grace Gahore, Karyna Dianka, Carolina Cortez Paz, Almothana Mohamedahmed, Mohammed Enad, Alia Ettienne, and Tracy Pepper – helping to ensure that financial constraints didn’t stand in the way of their creative excellence and career success.

For October 2025 recipient Ettienne, an Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre student, the support has meant the freedom to keep making work that matters.

“This support directly fuels my growth as a performer, mother, and community artist,” she said. “It will help me ensure that I can keep telling stories that reflect the world I live in and the experiences of those who may be considered ‘other.'”

The increased bursary amount will take effect for all awards distributed in 2026. Students interested in applying for the BIPOC Creative Achievement Award can find more information HERE.