The Hire Higher Grant endeavours to provide access, opportunity, and support to creatives from underrepresented communities looking to break into the industry and further develop their body of narrative, music video, experimental, or commercial work. Three grant recipients will be awarded $5,000 each, in addition to full production, equipment, wardrobe, and post support, as well as mentorship from the Hire Higher Collective - all the resources needed to complete a polished project.

Round 2: The Hire Higher Grant

Hire Higher recognizes the need for imminent and tangible change behind the camera in the Canadian commercial production industry.

Director-driven at its core, this grant is open to racialized emerging to mid-level visual artists with a body of produced work in their chosen field (narrative, music video, experimental, commercial work, etc).

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Have at least 2-3 produced projects. This can be as a cinematographer, director, producer, writer, etc.
Applicants must be 21 years or older.
Applicants must be a permanent resident of Canada and reside in and around the Greater Toronto Area.

If you are unable to meet the above criteria but feel like you would be a good fit for this grant, please reach out to us.

Who Can Apply

Contact us

Application Dates

Applications open on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023

Submissions close on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024 at 5 pm

Grant recipients will be announced on FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2024

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following:

In-take form
Letter of Interest (one page) that includes a brief description of your previous work (if possible, please include links)
Bio (one page)
Resume (one page)
Treatment outlining your project (please include visual reference where applicable, as well as, any key collaborators you may be working with on the project i.e., DP, editor, and producer, etc)
Release form

Email all required documents to grants@hirehigher.ca

*Please note: If you need support putting together a visual treatment for your project submission, please reach out to the HH Collective and we can provide insight, templates, and further support.

Merchant will be the lead production company supporting the needs of each recipient throughout the duration of a project. Merchant commits to engaging in supportive and healthy dialogue, mentorship, and collaboration to ensure the successful completion of each project. Support may include:

Producing a project from start to finish.
Providing logistical support (office space to work, production insurance, etc.)
Facilitating connections for pre-production, shoot, and post-production

Production Support

Georgia Groom from Inclusive Stylist Toronto will be available for at least 3 consultations with each project’s stylist throughout the shoot, and offer practical support for them to complete your project.

If a particular grant doesn’t have a stylist they work with, IST can help facilitate introductions to stylists from the IST community, and offer those stylists support with your project.

Styling/Wardrobe

Post Services

ARTJAIL will provide post finishing services for each project in the form of the online and conform of the final edit, along with a finishing colour session. Should further post support be required, Art Jail and Hire Higher can consult and figure out further pathways for finishing each project.

Equipment

Hire Higher has partnered with Panavision and WFW, to provide in-kind donations for equipment on each selected project.

Panavision will provide:

Alexa Mini camera package along with basic accessories
One set of Primo lenses
Consultation on the package to ensure it fits the needs of each project

Click here for a full list of equipment.

WFW will provide:

$5,000 in-kind donation for grip and lighting equipment.

Consultation on the package to ensure it fits the needs of each project

*Please note: this package DOES NOT include specialty equipment (i.e., dolly, generator, etc.)

Hire Higher Support

Members of the Hire Higher Collective will be available to each grant recipient for support and mentorship throughout each project. Whether it is technical or creative advice, providing connections to talent and crew, or insights about working in the production industry, HH will share its resources and access to the production industry to facilitate connection, growth, and the development of each recipient.

The Selection Committee

The Selection Committee is an esteemed collective of Canada’s top creatives and producers in the commercial, film, and television industry. Together, they represent a diversity of professionals from various facets of production (showrunners, executive producers, directors, cinematographers, etc).

We are also honoured to welcome last year’s recipients to the jury: Reuben Taylor, Tyler McKenzie Evans, and Karimah Zakia Issa.

Meet the Jurors