Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Adeline Bird finalist in Gimli Film Fest’s 2019 RBC Emerging Filmmaker Competition

Posted: 09 Jul 2019 01:35 PM PDT

Adeline Bird (CBC New Indigenous Voices) is one of five finalists accepted to the 2019 RBC Emerging Filmmaker Competition at Gimli Film Festival on July 27.

Filmmakers get to pitch their short film ideas to a panel of professional producers in front of a live audience during the festival.

The winner receives $10K from RBC to make their short, mentorship from the National Screen Institute’s Brendon Sawatzky and a premiere screening of their film at Gimli Film Festival 2020.

The post Adeline Bird finalist in Gimli Film Fest’s 2019 RBC Emerging Filmmaker Competition appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

The Drop In by Naledi Jackson + 2 more films in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival

Posted: 09 Jul 2019 10:11 AM PDT

Three new films in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival from directors Naledi Jackson, Anita Abbasi and Martin Baena, and Jackie English.

The Drop In

The Drop In | Drama, 13:19, English, ON, 2017 | Director: Naledi Jackson

Joelle, a hair stylist living in Toronto, has a challenging day when a mysterious visitor from her past arrives for a drop-in appointment.

Mariah Qué Baile

Mariah Qué Baile | Drama, 12:30, English, Spanish, ON, 2017 | Directors: Anita Abbasi, Martin Baena

A Latina teen fears being edged out by her closest friends while she trains for a coveted ballet audition.

Diamond in the Rough

Diamond in the Rough | Comedy, 13:30, English, ON, 2018 | Director: Jackie English

It’s a battle of wits and kicks when Brayden, the charming new thief on the block, tries to rob Chloe, a mastermind jewel thief.

• • •

Call for films / submit by September 3

We’re accepting films through FilmFreeway until Tuesday, September 3, 2019. Films chosen during this call period will premiere in the NSI Online Short Film Festival between September 16 and December 2, 2019. Films must play for a minimum of three months after their premiere date.

We accept films released after January 1, 2014. If your film is programmed, you have a chance of winning the $1,250 A&E Short Filmmakers Award for best film.

All NSI Online Short Film Festival winners receive a complimentary Friend membership for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and are qualified to be nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (if award criteria are met).

Read about the most recent winner.

Your film must be less than 30 mins. Drama, comedy, animation, documentary, sci-fi, horror, music video and experimental are all eligible and must be made by a Canadian writer, director or producer.

Submit your film

The NSI Online Short Film Festival is a year-round Canadian short film showcase with new films added every week. Since launching in 2008, the festival has programmed hundreds of films and awarded over $125K to Canadian media artists. Many of the films are available to watch in the archives.

The NSI Online Short Film Festival is made possible through the support of Festival Partner Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment, CBC Gem, Super Channel; Award Sponsor A&E Television Networks; Industry Partner the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

The post The Drop In by Naledi Jackson + 2 more films in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Nicole Dorsey-directed Arlo Alone wins A&E best film award in NSI Online Short Film Festival

Posted: 09 Jul 2019 09:59 AM PDT

Congratulations to director Nicole Dorsey whose short film Arlo Alone is the latest winner of the $1,250 A&E Short Filmmakers Award for best film in the NSI Online Short Film Festival, run by the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI).

Nicole also receives a complimentary Friend membership to the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

In Arlo Alone, a woman comes to terms with her own loneliness in a world where in-person contact has become a rarity.

The NSI Online Short Film Festival is a year-round Canadian short film showcase with new films added every week. Since launching in 2008, the festival has programmed hundreds of films and awarded over $125K to Canadian media artists. Many of the films are available to watch in the festival archives.

The latest award selection was made by an independent jury: Inside Out and OUTeast festival programmer Jenna Dufton, actor and filmmaker Koumbie, and recent A&E Short Filmmakers Award winner Felicity Justrabo.

Our jurors had this to say about Arlo Alone:

Jenna Dufton: “A masterful sci-fi tale about the importance of human contact in a world that increasingly makes it possible to avoid. Beautifully directed by Nicole Dorsey and featuring a subtle but powerful performance by Grace Glowicki, this film is an important reminder to stay present and I could not be more thrilled to award it the A&E Short Filmmakers Award.”

Koumbie: “A glimpse into an all-too-possible future, Arlo Alone is the trifecta of being well written, directed and performed.”

Felicity Justrabo: “While Arlo Alone takes place in a cold futuristic world where humans are ruled by technology, the film is a warm and thoughtful look at the power of human connection. I was captivated by the film’s intimacy, and completely impressed by the creative team’s subtle yet imaginative storytelling.”

Director Nicole Dorsey said, “We’re so thrilled to hear Arlo Alone has won the A&E Short Filmmakers Award. We made the film in hopes of connecting with others and sharing the importance of human interaction, so we’re over the moon to see it enjoyed by many. Thanks to all who came together for the making of our little film.”

About the jury

Jenna Dufton is the programming manager for the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, and the director of programming at OUTeast, Atlantic Canada’s queer film festival, which she co-founded in 2011.

Koumbie is an actor, writer and director based in Halifax. Upcoming projects include developing her feature film Bystanders and spending as much time in the ocean as possible.

Felicity Justrabo is a documentary film producer based in Toronto. Her recent credits include Counting on a New Crop (2019), Finding Fukue (2018), In Search of a Perfect World (2018) and Dilveen (2018).

Call for films / submit by September 3

Film submissions for the NSI Online Short Film Festival are being accepted through FilmFreeway until Tuesday, September 3, 2019.

If your film is programmed, you have a chance of winning the $1,250 A&E Short Filmmakers Award. We accept films released after January 1, 2014.

All NSI Online Short Film Festival winners receive a complimentary Friend membership for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and are qualified to be nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (if award criteria are met).

Submissions must be less than 30 mins. Drama, comedy, animation, documentary, sci-fi, horror, music video and experimental are all eligible and must be made by a Canadian writer, director or producer.

Submit your film

The NSI Online Short Film Festival is made possible through the support of Festival Partner Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment, CBC Gem, Super Channel; Award Sponsor A&E Television Networks; and Industry Partner the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

All media enquiries

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

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