Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is pleased to announce the launch of NSI IndigiDocs (formerly NSI Aboriginal Documentary), a training course for producer/director teams looking to produce a short documentary.

The program kicks off on Monday, February 6 with a pipe ceremony led by Elder Margaret Lavallee, followed by a traditional feast to bless the students on their journey.

This year’s projects and students are:

• Bradford’s Story from director Roger Boyer and producer Darcy Waite (Winnipeg, MB)

• Cedar & Spruce from director Odessa Shuquaya and producer April Johnson (Vancouver, BC)

• Mihkowapikwaniy from director Micheal Auger and producer Petie Chalifoux (North Vancouver, BC)

• Residential Ravens from director Steve Sxwithul’txw and producer Michele Mundy (Duncan, BC)

“We’re looking forward to welcoming these new students to the fifth year of the program under new name NSI IndigiDocs,” said Ursula Lawson, program co-manager. “Our fabulous boot camp faculty will start working with the students right away, giving them the tools and techniques to effectively tell their stories now and over the course of their filmmaking careers.”

Boot camp continues for two weeks, starting Monday in Winnipeg, during which time students will attend sessions with over 20 different industry professionals including legendary documentary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.

Students receive $25,000 in cash and services to work on their projects following boot camp. They attend Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto, complete post-production at the National Film Board in Montreal and deliver a 10-minute documentary in about a year’s time. Completed short documentaries air on APTN as a one-hour special and stream on aptn.ca, and then nfb.ca.

Films developed through the program have had success around the world. Mia’ from Amanda Strong and Bracken Hanuse Corlett had its world premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The League from Jenna Neepin and Justina Neepin screened at the 2016 Maoriland Film Festival in New Zealand. Cree Code Talker from Alex Lazarowich and Cowboy Smithx won best Alberta short documentary and audience choice award for best short documentary at the 2016 Edmonton International Film Festival, as well as best short documentary at imagineNATIVE 2016.

The course is led by NSI program managers Ursula Lawson and Elise Swerhone with NSI programming director Brendon Sawatzky serving as producer advisor and Shane Belcourt and Lisa Jackson as director advisors. Lisa Meeches is the NSI Aboriginal Training Programs Advisor.

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NSI IndigiDocs 2016-18 is funded by Program Partners APTN, Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and RBC Emerging Artists Project; Aboriginal Training Programs Partner Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries; Boot Camp Presenting Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; Supporting Sponsors Entertainment One, Super Channel, Corus Entertainment, Telefilm Canada, imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, Breakthrough Entertainment and the Jim Murphy Filmmakers Bursary; Provincial Sponsor Manitoba Film & Music; Industry Partners National Film Board and the Directors Guild of Canada; and Service Sponsor Line 21 Media. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.

About the National Screen Institute

Renowned for having given many emerging filmmakers, television writers and producers their first breaks, the National Screen Institute provides training and production support through courses like NSI Totally Television, NSI New Voices, NSI Features First, NSI Business for Producers, Movie Central Script to Screen, Corus Diverse TV Director, NSI IndigiDocs, TELUS STORYHIVE Web Series and Digital Shorts, and TELUS Optik™ Local.

NSI also offers exposure through the NSI Online Short Film Festival and provides vast resources and support to those in the film, television and digital media industries at nsi-canada.ca.

All media enquiries

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