Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Above: Curse of Willow Song by Karen Lam plays at VIFF later this month

A roundup of alumni films and industry events at some of the big Canadian festivals coming up.

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

In August we wrote about alumni features at TIFF including The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel by producer Trish Dolman (NSI Features First) and Inconvenient Indian by director Michelle Latimer (NSI Drama Prize).

The following shorts will also play.

• 4 North A – co-director Jordan Canning (NSI Drama Prize)

• Strong Son – director Ian Bawa (NSI Totally Television)

On the industry side:

• TIFF Micki Moore Writer-in-Residence – Molly McGlynn (NSI Drama Prize)

• Windows to the World: From Art House to Your House – panelist Jennifer Holness (NSI Drama Prize, Telefilm – Canada Spark Plug Program, NSI Global Marketing)

• Narrative Sovereignty – panelists Nikki Little (CBC New Indigenous Voices), Tracey Deer (NSI Storytellers, Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program)

• Spotlight on Canadian Talent – panelist Tracey Deer

• The ABCs of Co-Production: Viggo Mortensen’s Falling – panelist Daniel Bekerman (NSI Features First)

• Spotlight on Impact – panelist Daniel Bekerman

• Global Appetite for Diverse Content Creates Opportunity for Canadian Talent – panelists Michelle Latimer, Floyd Kane (NSI Totally Television)

TIFF runs from September 10 to 19. See the full film lineup.

FIN Atlantic International Film Festival

Features

• Falling – producer Daniel Bekerman

• The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel – producer Trish Dolman

• Percy – writer/producer Garfield Lindsay Miller (NSI Features First), producers Daniel Bekerman, Brendon Sawatzky (NSI Features First)

• Wharf Rats – writer/director/producer Jason Arsenault (NSI Features First)

Documentaries

• Bread in the Bones – producer Walter Forsyth (NSI Totally Television)

• Stateless – producer Jennifer Holness

Shorts

• The Seventh Man – producer Walter Forsyth

• 4 North A – co-director Jordan Canning

• The Unhappy Pioneers – director Iain MacLeod

FIN runs from September 17 to 24. See the full film lineup.

Calgary International Film Festival

Features

• Death of a Ladies’ Man – producer Corey Marr (NSI Totally Television)

• Happy Place – producer Elise Cousineau (NSI Drama Prize)

• Bright Hill Road – director Robert Cuffley (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Features First)

• Falling – producer Daniel Bekerman

• Hazy Little Thing – executive producer Borga Dorter (NSI Totally Television)

• Marlene – writer/director Wendy Hill-Tout (DramaLab)

• Monkey Beach – writer/director/producer Loretta Sarah Todd (Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program) and producer Jason James (NSI Totally Television)

• Parallel Minds – producer Wendy Hill-Tout

• Percy – writer/producer Garfield Lindsay Miller, producers Daniel Bekerman, Brendon Sawatzky

• Violation – writer/director/producer Dusty Mancinelli (NSI Features First)

Documentaries

• Eddy’s Kingdom – writer/director/producer Greg Crompton (TELUS STORYHIVE)

• The Forbidden Reel – producer Kat Baulu (NSI Drama Prize)

• The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel – producer Trish Dolman

• Stateless – producer Jennifer Holness

Shorts

• Rainbow Elders – cinematographer Patrick McLaughlin

Calgary International Film Festival runs from September 24 to October 4. See the full film lineup.

Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF)

Features

• Beans – writer/director Tracey Deer

• Falling – producer Daniel Bekerman

• Happy Place – producer Elise Cousineau

• Inconvenient Indian – director Michelle Latimer

• Monkey Beach (opening gala) – writer/director/producer Loretta Sarah Todd, producer Jason James

• Saint-Narcisse – producer Paul Scherzer (NSI Drama Prize)

• The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel – producer Trish Dolman

• Violation – writer/director/producer Dusty Mancinelli

• The Curse of Willow Song – writer/director/producer Karen Lam (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Totally Television)

Shorts

• Strong Son – director Ian Bawa

• êmîcêtôcêt-Many Bloodlines (created through NSI IndigiDocs) – director Theola Ross, producer Alex Bailey

• A New Leash on Life – cinematographer William Minsky (NSI Drama Prize)

VIFF runs from September 24 to October 7. See the full film lineup.

Edmonton International Film Festival

Features

• Death of a Ladies’ Man – producer Corey Marr

• Happy Place – producer Elise Cousineau

• Percy – writer/producer Garfield Lindsay Miller, producers Daniel Bekerman, Brendon Sawatzky

Shorts

• A New Leash on Life – cinematographer William Minsky

• All-In Madonna – director Arnold Lim, writer Susie Winters (both NSI Features First)

• Try to Fly – directors Affolter Brothers (TELUS STORYHIVE)

• Romi – director Robert Cuffley

• Trim – director Mayumi Yoshida (TELUS STORYHIVE)

Edmonton International Film Festival runs from October 1 to 10. See the full film lineup.

If we missed your film, please let us know in the comments below.

The post Alumni film fest roundup, fall 2020 appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Mentoring and training continues to be important now and in the future

Back in March, thanks to donations from two generous supporters, NSI launched a matching donor campaign to coincide with the start of training for NSI Totally Television and NSI IndigiDocs students. But then COVID-19 hit so we made the decision to pause our call-to-action due to the financial impact on so many within our community.

But that meant we never got a chance to shine the spotlight on some of the amazing donors who contributed to the campaign in its early days and properly acknowledge their support and generosity.

So we’re picking up where we left off and, as a show of gratitude, want to introduce you to some of those donors and send our heart-felt thanks to those who continue to make monthly donations in support of NSI storytellers. We couldn’t do it without you.

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One of the special people who contributed to our matching donor campaign was Winnipeg producer Rhonda Baker.

Why do NSI students and alumni matter to you?
NSI is an amazing training ground for producers, writers and directors. Looking at the list of filmmakers that have been supported by NSI is like looking at a list of Canada’s finest emerging and established creators. Mentoring and training continues to be important now and in the future.

What would you tell someone thinking about donating to NSI?
NSI is a first class institute developing Canadian content creators. Donations from friends and colleagues will allow NSI to continue to provide mentoring, training and support to our future filmmakers.

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We thank you Rhonda! Together with all of NSI’s generous supporters, you helped make a big difference to the lives of those who trained through NSI.

The post Thank you Rhonda Baker! appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

My donation is an endorsement of the future of Canadian content in a rapidly changing global environment

Back in March, thanks to donations from two generous supporters, NSI launched a matching donor campaign to coincide with the start of training for NSI Totally Television and NSI IndigiDocs students. But then COVID-19 hit so we made the decision to pause our call-to-action due to the financial impact on so many within our community.

But that meant we never got a chance to shine the spotlight on some of the amazing donors who contributed to the campaign in its early days and properly acknowledge their support and generosity.

So we’re picking up where we left off and, as a show of gratitude, want to introduce you to some of those donors and send our heart-felt thanks to those who continue to make monthly donations in support of NSI storytellers. We couldn’t do it without you.

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One of the special people who contributed to our matching donor campaign was pitching expert and NSI associate faculty member Mickey Rogers who is a long-time friend of NSI. We asked her why she donates in support of our students.

Why do you donate to the National Screen Institute?
I believe NSI contributes to the growth of our industry as it transitions. It gives fresh, diverse voices an opportunity to work with some of the most creative and experienced minds as they learn the craft and skills needed. My donation is an endorsement of the future of Canadian content in a rapidly changing global environment.

Why does NSI matter to you?
I’ve seen the successful results provided by NSI training and mentoring – from writers getting their series on air to producers marketing their finished programs at markets and getting big deals. Many of those involved at NSI volunteer their time and are committed professionals willing to give participants the very best support.

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We thank you Mickey! Together with all of NSI’s generous supporters, you help make a big difference to the lives of those who train through NSI.

The post Thank you Mickey Rogers! appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).