2026

Cross Continental Conversations with Nicolette Richardson and Joy Loewen – Episode 1

February 18, 2026

Finding Your Team

Joy Loewen on Storytelling, Belonging, and Decolonizing Film Futures

At the Cross Continental Forum in Barbados, emerging and established storytellers from across the Global South came together to share, learn, and collaborate.

Among them was Joy Ford-Loewen, Canadian media executive and changemaker, currently serving as Vice-President, Industry Development at the Canada Media Fund. For thirteen years, she was CEO of the National Screen Institute. A founding member of the team that launched the Women’s Television Network (now W Network), she has also worked with the CBC, Gimli International Film Festival, and Freeze Frame Media Arts Centre.

Joy’s decades of experience supporting underrepresented creators offer invaluable insight for those navigating the complex world of film and digital media.

In our first podcast episode of Cross-Continental Conversations, Joy shares advice on collaboration, staying authentic, and the transformative power of showing up.

What follows is a candid conversation between host Nicolette Richardson and Joy Ford-Loewen, centered on one of the most pressing challenges facing filmmakers today: how to remain authentic while navigating the realities of funding, industry access, and global visibility.

Nicolette Richardson:

What kind of advice would you give to creatives who are trying to finance their stories, but are also battling with making them relatable enough to be funded or screened?

Joy Ford-Loewen:

It’s a very good question, Nicolette — and one that evolves every day. We’re often told audiences are hungry for authentic, fresh voices, especially now. But making content, no matter the genre, is tough. And no two paths are ever the same.

So the advice I would give is really to find your team. Filmmaking, movie making, digital media making — it’s not something you do alone. It’s about creating access points and pathways so creators can connect with people who can support them through the process.

Nicolette Richardson:

Do you think it’s a chicken-and-egg situation? Do you throw things out widely to see which agencies might align, or do you focus in on a few first?

Joy Ford-Loewen:

I don’t think there’s one right answer. What I would go back to is showing up — being present, spending time in the market, listening and learning. That’s how you identify who might be the right partners and which organizations, agencies, or collectives might support your work. There isn’t really a cheat sheet — you have to be there.

Nicolette Richardson:

What excites you most about Global South producers collaborating on a global level?

Joy Ford-Loewen:

There’s so much untapped potential. In Canada, audiences have just gobbled up programs where we’re seeing cultures and communities we haven’t otherwise seen. The ability to tell stories that reflect the different worlds we live in, and to share them across borders, is exciting. But it’s also healing — seeing these stories, hearing these voices, connecting communities.

Nicolette Richardson:

And what did being in Barbados with CCF mean for you personally?

Joy Ford-Loewen:

It felt deeply rooted in my ancestry. Hearing stories about Bridgetown — the birthplace, the roots of my family — those kinds of connections are powerful. They give me joy, but also a sense of belonging. A voice. To feel secure not only in my work, but in who I am as a person.

And finally, for anyone listening, no matter where you are in your journey: it’s never too late. Keep showing up.

Listen now to the full episode of the Cross-Continental Conversations Podcast with Joy Loewen on CCF’s website or on Spotify.

The CCF2026 Call for Applications is OPEN.

Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa – July 21-27, 2026

Toronto, Canada – September 8-13, 2026.

We invite Black and Global Majority Producers from Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, UK, Europe, South/Latin america and the Caribbean, to apply for the Cross Continental Forum (CCF) 2026, a leading international platform advancing decolonised co-production and global collaboration.

Applications close: April 15, 2026

Apply here: http://decolonisingcoproduction.com/apply/

Program Highlights

Hybrid Format

4 weeks of Virtual sessions.
Two in-person gatherings, in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa in July and in Toronto, in September, in collaboration with the TIFF Market.

Industry Panels and Matchmaking

Curated sessions with international broadcasters, streamers, and investors.
Targeted matchmaking to connect Black producers with strategic global partners.

Creative and Business Labs

Case studies and practical labs on international co-productions, financing, and distribution strategies.
Focus on building equitable, sustainable, decolonial production and business models.

Pitch and Networking Events

Designed to showcase projects from Black and BIPOC producers.
Structured environments for forming long-term partnerships and co-production deals.

Co-production Seed Funding
Presented in partnership with leading screen industry organizations and cultural agencies from Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada.