Membership

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Eligibility

Q: Can I register under more than one voting branch?

A: Yes. You should register for as many voting branches as you are eligible as it may affect the areas in which you can vote.

Q: My film/episode of television/project is in post-production. Does it count as an eligible credit towards my voting membership?

A: No. All projects must be complete and have already been theatrically released in Canada or have aired on a Canadian network or cable TV station to be eligible towards your voting membership.

Q: I have worked on three episodes of the same television show. Does that count as three eligible credits under the Television division?

A: Yes. Each episode of television qualifies as one credit, even if they are from the same program.

Q: I worked on a short film. Where is this eligible?

A: Short film does not have its own voting branch. Short films are instead eligible credits under all voting branches in the Cinema Voting Division. If you have held a credited role on a short film, you will be registered under the corresponding voting branch, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.

Q: Does working in documentary film have its own category?

A: Yes. Documentary films, television programs, and digital content now have their own voting branches. If you have held a credited role on a documentary program, you will be registered under the documentary voting branch, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.

Q: I do not have an IMDB page. How can you verify my credits?

A: We must be able to verify your credits in some way. An IMDB page is the easiest way for us to do this, but you can also have a producer or director associated with the project write a letter verifying your credit on the project, as well as the project’s status as a Canadian production and release.

Q: I am an actor and have appeared in three different television episodes/programs and have an accumulative total of nine lines between those episodes. Does this mean I am eligible to join as a voting member?

A: No. You must have had at least nine lines in EACH of the three necessary episodes of the television series in order to qualify.

Q: The feature film I worked on had a theatrical release (or screened at Film Festivals) and was then broadcast on television. Which branch am I eligible to join?

A: Both. If the film was released theatrically (or screened at two film festivals recognized by Telefilm), it is eligible under the Cinema Division. If it was later broadcast on television as a limited series or movie of the week, it is eligible under the Television Division as well.

Q: I don’t see the job I do under any of these branches. Does that mean I can’t join as a Voting Member?

A: Not necessarily. We are constantly updating our eligibility requirements to match the roles and credits in the industry, but recognize we may be missing a few. Contact our Membership Department with your information, including what projects you have worked on, and we can determine if you qualify.

Q: I’m Canadian but all my work has been on projects outside of Canada. Can I still join?

A: Yes. If you have comparable credits on non-Canadian projects and are a Canadian Citizen you can join as an International Voting Member.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television membership consists of three divisions: Cinema, Television and Digital Media.  Under each division are a series of voting branches distinguished by roles and crafts (ex. Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Costume Designer, etc.).  Eligibility for a Voting membership is determined by the number of credits on a Canadian production that are held by the applicant.  Types of voting memberships include Regular Voting, International Voting or Under 30 Voting.

Upon receipt of an application for membership, the Academy will contact you to confirm the division and branch(es) under which you will be eligible to vote.

Please see the list below for details on credits that determine eligibility in each division and branch.

How do you define one credit?

Cinema Division: One credit is defined as a credited role on one dramatic film (short or feature) that is a Canadian production or co-production. The film must have been theatrically released in Canada or screened at a minimum of 2 Academy recognized film festivals.

Television Division: One credit is defined as a credited role on one television program or episode of a series. The program must be a Canadian production or co-production and have been broadcast on a Canadian network or cable TV station.

Digital Media Division: One credit is defined as a credited role on one project that is eligible to be nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. Credits/content can include but not be exclusive to gaming.

Directing, producing, cinematography and editing credits on Canadian music videos are now eligible under the Digital Media division. Those who apply with music video credits that consistently exhibit what is considered by the Prism Prize as eligible criteria of originality, creativity, style, innovation and effective execution, may also chose to be considered under the Cinema division.

File a complaint:

Any Canadian Academy member in good standing and who has previously submitted a formal complaint to an employer or union (or authorized representative of that member) may choose to provide the Academy with a Notice of Complaint (“Complaint”).

Note: The Academy may also accept a Notice of Complaint from the referring organization directly if the complaint is made aware about an Academy member and/or someone currently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

The formal notice should be sent via email to confidential@academy.ca. Please provide the following details:

  1. Your name and contact phone number
  2. Academy membership number
  3. Date, time, and location of the incident
  4. The organization with which the formal complaint was filed (i.e. the “referring organization”)
  5. Date and time of submission of the formal complaint
  6. Name of the respondent
  7. Brief description of the incident

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Within 24 hours of receiving the confidential email, CEO Beth Janson will acknowledge confirmation of the report directly with the individual that has filed it. Within 30 days of receipt, the Committee will convene to meet to first determine if the reported action is in breach of the Code of Conduct. A representative of the Committee will then notify the referring organization that a Complaint has been filed.

The Committee will be responsible for reviewing Complaints and making decisions regarding resolution and disciplinary measures (where applicable). It is the responsibility of the complainant to inform the Academy of the resolution of their complaint with the referring organization. Upon adjudication of the complaint by the referring organization, the Committee will determine what (if any) disciplinary measures to apply. When necessary, these measures will be enforced within 10 days of receiving the report of the investigation results.

All parties involved in a reported incident and/or subsequent investigation and resolution process have the right to a fair and neutral process. As such, any members of the Committee who have a prior relationship with any of the involved parties will be required to recuse themselves from the investigation (and subsequent disciplinary) process.

Where the Academy is made aware of an incident that could be in breach of the Code of Conduct where neither the complainant nor the respondent is a member or employee of an organization with sufficient capacity to undertake an investigation, the Academy will refer the putative complainant to one (or more) of the more general resources described here.

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Code of Conduct Committee (“the Committee”)

*Each member of the Committee has signed an agreement of confidentiality pertaining to all matters of the committee:

Tracey Deer (Chair)

Jennifer Hollyer

Thomas Santram

Beth Janson

Resources

If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, CALL 911. If you wish to pursue a formal complaint through a relevant union or guild, please contact them directly. Below is a list with the contact information for the relevant unions and guilds.

Additional Reporting and Support Resources

If you are involved in an incident or investigation and need support, the following resources are here for you: