Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Six films from NSI grads, including one made through NSI IndigiDocs, screen at this year’s Māoriland Film Festival.

The fest takes place March 20 to 24 in Ōtaki, New Zealand.

• NSI IndigiDocs short Leave it on the Water from director Steve Sxwithul’txw and producer Michele Mundy – Whānau Shorts program

• Biidaaban: First Light from director Lisa Jackson (Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program) – M.A.T.C.H & Virtual Reality showcase

• Run As One – The Journey of the Front Runners from director Erica Daniels (CBC New Indigenous Voices) – screens with feature Haka Puai Te Kainga (Eating Up Easter)

• Biidaaban: The dawn comes from writer/director/producer Amanda Strong (NSI IndigiDocs) – Kauae Raro Shorts program

• Out of Nothing from co-director Alex Lazarowich (NSI IndigiDocs) – Kauae Raro Shorts program

• Fast Horse from director Alex Lazarowch – Whakapapa Shorts program

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Clockwise from top left: Game Seven, Cree Code Talker, Rider Pride, A Breath Short of Less, Outdigenous, The Rogers’ Cable

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is proud to announce the launch of NSI Films – an online screening archive of the many films developed and produced through NSI programs over the last 25 years.

The site currently showcases 120 short films which date back to 1993, including the Oscar®-shortlisted film Without Rockets from Gary Yates, and the 2001 film Rider Pride from Craig Courtice and Tony Hrynchuk which stars a young Brent Butt.

More recent NSI films are also available on the site, including CBC New Indigenous Voices film Outdigenous by Frances Koncan and NSI IndigiDocs film Cree Code Talker by Alex Lazarowich.

“Making The Rogers’ Cable in 1998 sparked my dream to become a creative producer and gave me the confidence to pursue my career long-term,” said Three Thousand and NFB producer Kat Baulu. “Watching my film again reminds me of the opportunities that opened up to me because of the training I received through NSI.”

As a repository of content from hundreds of NSI alumni, encompassing a variety of genres and NSI training programs, NSI Films is a years-in-the-making online resource. Short film fans and festivals, NSI graduates and those interested in the origins of Canada’s most respected filmmakers will find the site of particular value.

“I made A Breath Short of Less when I was just starting my career and wanted to gain skills that would help me in the long-term. Making my film was an eye-opening experience and the connections I made during that time were priceless,” said Katherine Kasirer, now librarian at the National Film Board of Canada. “It’s amazing to revisit A Breath Short of Less along with so many others from that period.”

“As an NSI faculty member myself now, it’s great to look back at the time I was an NSI student with the NSI Films site,” said Chokeslam co-writer/director Robert Cuffley. “I enjoy the success I have due in no small part to being in NSI Drama Prize and NSI Features First more than 20 years ago.”

Many of the films on the site were digitized by Deluxe.

“Making yesterday’s content accessible to today’s audiences is important to us at Deluxe. We recognize the value of NSI’s film archive,” said Stephen Gallop, General Manager, Deluxe Toronto. “We’re pleased to help make NSI Films a resource for the industry.”

NSI has trained content creators from across Canada since 1986. While NSI Films doesn’t currently encapsulate all NSI-developed content, the site will continue to be updated and is a starting point for archiving NSI’s film history.

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) programs are made possible with your support and with ongoing funding from: Core Funders: Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage, the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council; Benefactors: TELUS, Telefilm Canada; Patrons: Bell Media, CBC; Builder: APTN; Strategic Sponsors: Directors Guild of Canada, Super Channel, Corus Entertainment, Blue Ant Media; Friends: Manitoba Film & Music, RBC Emerging Artists Project, documentary Channel, Breakthrough Entertainment, Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), William F. White International, Deluxe.

All media enquiries

Laura Friesen, Manager, Communications & Alumni Relations
Phone: 204.957.2999 or email: laura.friesen@nsi-canada.ca

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Giant Little Ones from writer/director Keith Behrman (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Features First) recently took home the Dragon Award for best international film at the 2019 Göteborg Film Festival in Sweden.

In the film, two popular teen boys, best friends since childhood, discover their lives, families and girlfriends dramatically upended after an unexpected incident occurs on the night of a 17th birthday party.

The Dragon Award is chosen through audience vote. Giant Little Ones was also named one of TIFF’s Top Ten in 2018 and picked up the award for best screenplay at the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.

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