Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Black History Month 2021 and the future we stand for

Posted: 16 Feb 2021 02:22 PM PST

Photo by Ezekixl Akinnewu from Pexels

In any typical year, I mark Black History Month by watching (or re-watching) Black films and/or reading works by Black authors.

The 2020 social justice movement, combined with COVID restrictions and a recent cold spell here in Winnipeg, provided the perfect backdrop to embrace that annual tradition but also prompted in me a deeper commitment to action.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve flipped between Barack Obama’s Promised Land and Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black while starting each day listening to affirmations to accept and embrace my “beautiful Black mind.” Filling my head and heart with these messages and stories gives me strength and courage to approach each day’s challenges with hope and joy.

While listening to a podcast interview with famed poet laureate Amanda Gorman I began to consider the history to be consumed and appreciated in future years. In the interview, Gorman challenges us to “Think of the history you stand on and the future you stand for.”

The future I stand for is one where equity and tolerance reign and racism has been destroyed.

A tall order to act upon …

I realize it’s now my turn to grab the baton of social justice and run the race like so many before to “build the beloved community” Dr. Martin Luther King envisioned.

Good Trouble, Dawn Porter’s feature documentary film about civil rights activist and US Congressman John Lewis, is a motivating force. Lewis, in his beautiful and powerful invocation says “When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something. To do something. Our children and their children will ask us, ‘What did you do? What did you say?’”

By serving storytellers through training and mentorships – particularly storytellers whose voices are underrepresented – we create more stories to help bridge the gaps in our understanding and move the ‘justice for all’ dial.

Black History Month 2021 comes during a moment of transformational change. The barriers we boldly address and the systems we seek to change will certainly help us in the present and bring us “… to the place which our fathers sighed” (Lift Every Voice and Sing).

Individually and collectively, my NSI colleagues and I are wildly passionate about building a nation of storytellers who create a more equitable and harmonious society by sharing their stories.

We honour the NSI alumni and projects that have been developed and produced by Black creators. We are privileged to support industry initiatives which promise to train a new generation of Black media industry professionals (see more on this below).

My heart is full when I think of the generations who will see and read the stories being made now. It’s a powerful call to action in this current tidal wave of change.

Resources

NSI Black alumni include:

Initiatives to train more Black industry professionals include:

Upcoming Black History Month events and training opportunities for Black filmmakers:

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APTN renews commitment as program partner of NSI IndigiDocs training program

Posted: 16 Feb 2021 11:09 AM PST

APTN has renewed its commitment to the development of Indigenous documentary filmmakers by signing on to provide continued funding support for the National Screen Institute’s (NSI) IndigiDocs training and mentoring program.

NSI IndigiDocs is a part-time online program offering customized training for Indigenous documentary filmmakers who have an idea for a 10-minute film.

The training program has launched 54 Indigenous filmmakers into the industry, produced 28 short documentaries and created 359 jobs in independent productions with an overall budget of $582,943. Post production is currently underway on four more films which will be finalized this spring. APTN became a founding partner of NSI IndigiDocs in 2012.

“APTN’s generous investment in the National Screen Institute amplifies the importance of Indigenous storytellers in our community,” says NSI CEO, Joy Loewen. “We are committed to developing the gifts of Indigenous creators and APTN continues to help share that gift with the public. Not only do our students have their NSI-developed projects broadcast on APTN, but many of them continue to work with APTN throughout their careers.”

“The continuation of our partnership with the National Screen Institute allows Indigenous filmmakers access to personalized training and mentorship to elevate their projects,” says Monika Ille, CEO of APTN. “Through NSI IndigiDocs, we’re supporting talented filmmakers and investing in storytellers who will create future content for APTN. These graduates represent the future of Indigenous storytelling, and their success can be seen throughout the industry.”

NSI IndigiDocs films are celebrated at film festivals around the world. êmîcêtôsêt: Many Bloodlines, from producer Alex Bailey and director Theola Ross, received the Betty Youson Award for best Canadian short documentary at the 2020 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival and was named one of Canada’s Top Ten Shorts of 2020 by Toronto International Film Festival. As the Smoke Rises, from producer Jennifer Ille and director Sharon Heigl, won the best documentary short film award at the Screen Power Film Festival in London, UK.

The ninth year of the program begins February 22 – with Eagle Vision‘s Lisa Meeches as Indigenous training programs advisor, NSI’s Kaya Wheeler as program co-manager, and filmmakers Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers as program co-manager and director advisor, Shane Belcourt as story advisor and Tyler Hagen as producer advisor.

Through customized training, eight filmmakers will master writing, directing and producing. Up to four filmmakers will advance to the mentorship and production phase of the program and receive up to $16K to produce their film. Films have a guaranteed, exclusive one-hour special broadcast on APTN.

About APTN

APTN launched in 1999 as the world’s first national Indigenous broadcaster, creating a window into the remarkably diverse mosaic of Indigenous Peoples. A respected non-profit and charitable broadcaster, it’s the only one of its kind in North America. The network is sharing our stories of authenticity in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages to over 10 million Canadian subscribers. With over 80% Canadian content, APTN connects with its audiences through genuine, inspiring and engaging entertainment on multiple platforms.

About National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI)

Propelled by a visionary network of donors, private and public organizations, the National Screen Institute supports diverse creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories. Through industry informed training and mentoring in film, television and digital media, NSI students and alumni find their voice and place on the global stage, inspiring us to shape a better world.

NSI is committed to training participants from a diverse community of voices including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+), people with disabilities, those outside large urban centres, those from regional and remote areas and various religious groups.

• • •

NSI IndigiDocs 2020-22 is funded by Program Partners APTN, Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and RBC Emerging Artists Project; Indigenous Training Programs Partner Directors Guild of Canada (DGC); Boot Camp Presenting Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; Strategic Sponsor documentary Channel; Supporting Sponsors Telefilm Canada, Super Channel and A&E Networks; Provincial Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; Industry Partner the National Film Board of Canada; Industry Supporters imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and Service Sponsors Line 21 Media and iSplice Films. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council. More sponsors to be added as confirmed.

Media enquiries

Rachel Young, NSI Alumni Outreach Coordinator

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