Montreal, November 5, 2024 - The Youth Media Alliance (YMA) is proud to announce that Sara Khalil-Bayley, a student in the Master of Arts in Media Production program at Metropolitan University of Toronto, is the winner of the 8th Andra Sheffer Scholarship. This prestigious award is presented to an outstanding student who is building a career in children's screen content. 

Sara Khalil-Bayley will receive accreditation to attend the Kidscreen Summit in San Diego and the Banff World Media Festival, thanks to the support of Brunico, as well as a $4,000 travel grant from The YMA. She will benefit from personalized coaching and the opportunity to meet The YMA members and influential industry players. 

Passionate, expert and community-oriented, Sara Khalil-Bayley excels in both academic and corporate environments. Following her Master's degree in Production Arts, she plans to pursue a second year in the school's MBA program. An honors graduate of OCAD University, she specialized in experimental animation and completed a minor in creative writing. She has a passion for children's storytelling in all its forms, and enjoys sharing this deep magic with others. She previously worked as an animation reviewer for Nick Jr.'s new preschool show Bossy Bear. A former student ambassador representing OCAD U at the Toronto International Animation Arts Festival (TAAFI), she then joined the FAAFI team full-time as merchandise manager, while continuing her duties as student ambassador, this time at Metropolitan Toronto University.  

The selection committee was made up of renowned experts: Andra Sheffer, Agustin Guevara Mastretta, Magali Boccaccio, Becki Brisson and Sarah Haasz. We would like to thank them all. 

The Andra Sheffer Fellowship is made possible through the generosity of financial partners: 9 Story Media Group, Apartment 11 Productions, Breakthrough Entertainment, Brunico, CMPA National, CMPA-BC Producers Branch, DHX Television, Give me Chocolate, Guru Studio, marblemedia, Portfolio Entertainment, Radical Sheep (Boat Rocker Media), Secret Location, Sinking Ship Entertainment, Shaftesbury and the Shaw Rocket Fund. 

About Andra Sheffer 

Andra Sheffer, former Executive Director of the Independent Production Fund for dramatic series created for digital platforms and the Cogeco TV Production Fund program for the production of dramatic series, and founder of the Bell Fund, is an influential figure in the production of dramatic content for digital platforms. In 2015, The YMA presented her with an Award of Excellence for her outstanding contribution to the Canadian children's content industry. Members of the Canadian children's television and digital content industry created a scholarship in her honor. 

About The Youth Media Alliance (YMA) 

The Youth Media Alliance is committed to enriching the lives of young Quebecers and Canadians by improving the quality of content aimed at them on all screens. Since 2015, The YMA has awarded grants to encourage professional development in the youth content sector, including the Andra Sheffer, Steven DeNure, John Rooney Creative Fund (in partnership with TAAFI) and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion grants for youth production. 

The YMA presents annual Awards of Excellence honoring the best in Canadian English- and French-language children's and youth production, and offers numerous training and development opportunities for industry professionals. It also undertakes research to better understand the impact of media on young people, while advocating a balance between the interests of the broadcasting industries and the public policy needs of young audiences. 

 

-30- 

Source: 

Valentin Verrier, The Youth Media Alliance 

alliance@ymamj.org 

 

514-971-9204