Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Congratulations to producers Paula Devonshire (NSI Features First, NSI Totally Televison) and Trish Dolman (NSI Features First) whose film Indian Horse took home the Super Channel People’s Choice Award at Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) on Friday.

The feature follows Saul Indian Horse who, at age seven, is taken from his Ojibway family and committed to a Catholic residential school where he witnesses abuse and is not allowed to speak his own language. Despite this, Saul develops a talent for hockey which ultimately leads him to the pros.

The film is directed by Stephen Campanelli.

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Interactive Ontario has launched A Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit for the Interactive Digital Media Industry.

The toolkit provides interactive digital media (IDM) companies with advice for enhancing their talent management strategies with the goal of improving team diversity while fostering an inclusive culture.

Through implementation of these strategies, companies will increase employment opportunities in the sector for talent currently underrepresented due to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, class, religion, age, ability and other identities.

A more diverse workforce will allow digital media companies to create stronger content and tell a wider range of stories. Companies will reach new audiences, while providing important opportunities for participation in the flourishing digital economy by those who are currently underrepresented.

Read the report (PDF).

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Three new films in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival from directors Matthew Campbell, Jonathan Audette and Ryan Kayet.

Grocery Store Action Movie

Grocery Store Action Movie | Comedy, 10:00, English, BC, 2016 | Director: Matthew Campbell

Alex is in the express checkout lane at the grocery store when he realizes with horror that he’s forgotten the all-important crackers. With his dinner guests already on their way over, Alex must risk life and limb to achieve the impossible: locate the salty snacks before losing his place in line.

A hilarious send-up of action movie clichés created by and starring three-time Canadian Comedy Award-winning sketch duo Peter n’ Chris.

A Bone to Pick With You

A Bone to Pick With You | Drama, 10:30, French with English subtitles, QC, 2015 | Director: Jonathan Audette

After receiving his father’s bequest, Luc has difficulty with his roommates accepting a new knick-knack in the living room.

Interview

Interview | Drama, 19:42, English, ON, 2016 | Director: Ryan Kayet

Rik’s spent the last few years toiling at inadequate firms and he’s desperate to work for a notable company. He finally catches a break when his cousin secures him an interview with her boss, Colin. However, when the interview begins it’s clear that Colin has something else planned for Rik.

Interview is a galvanizing short film where a traditional meeting quickly descends into a tense confrontation around privilege, race and the power of words.

• • •

Call for films / submit by December 13

We’re accepting films through FilmFreeway until Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

If your film is programmed, you have a chance of winning over $3K in cash awards. We accept films released after January 1, 2012.

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

See the most recent winners.

Your film must be less than 30 mins long. 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 Entertainment One, Super Channel, Corus Entertainment, Blue Ant Media, The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Breakthrough Entertainment; Award Sponsors A&E Television Networks, The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Blue Ant Media; and Industry Partner the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

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Riot Girls, an upcoming feature from writer Katherine Collins (NSI Features First), has begun production.

The story is set in a world where adults have mysteriously died and resources are scarce, with a teenage girl called to action when her brother is captured by rivals and set to be executed.

Joined by the girl who has always loved her and the boy who wants to love her, the threesome tear through the crumbling suburbs on a violent road marked by betrayal, sexual discovery, and brutal justice.

Jovanka Vuckovic is directing and Lauren Grant serves as producer.

The post Production begins on new Katherine Collins feature Riot Girls appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Congratulations to the NSI grads who took home awards (PDF) at the 2017 Edmonton International Film Festival:

• NSI Features First-developed Public Schooled (pictured) from director Kyle Rideout and writer Josh Epstein (both NSI Drama Prize, NSI Totally Televison) won the Wedgie award for best comedy feature

• Indian Horse from producers Paula Devonshire (NSI Features First, NSI Totally Televison) and Trish Dolman (NSI Features First) won the audience award for best dramatic feature

• Birth of a Family from director Tasha Hubbard (NSI IndigiDocs) won the audience award for best documentary feature.

The post NSI grads win at Edmonton film fest appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

The Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada featured the talent and producers behind the hit series Mohawk Girls at this year’s MIPCOM market.

Rezolution Pictures’ Christina Fon (NSI Global Marketing), alongside Mohawk Girls star Brittany LeBorgne, yesterday took part in a showcase entitled Indigenous Content that Speaks to the World.

The fourth season of Mohawk Girls was nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards, including best comedy series and best writing in a comedy series.

The series is created and executive produced by Tracey Deer (NSI Storytellers, Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program) and Cynthia Knight (NSI Drama Prize). Rezolution’s Catherine Bainbridge (NSI Global Marketing) and Christina Fon serve as producers/executive producers.

MIPCOM takes place in Cannes through October 19.

The post Christina Fon represents Rezolution Films and Mohawk Girls at MIPCOM appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Get a sneak peek at new series Fubar: The Age of the Computer during a special event in Toronto on October 25. The screening is followed by a Q&A with director Michael Dowse (NSI Drama Prize) and stars David Lawrence and Paul Spence.

Doors open at 7 p.m. The event is free of charge and happens at the Royal Cinema, 608 College Street.

In this spin-off of the Canadian cult hit mockumentary FUBAR, headbangers Terry and Dean, two lovable, beer-guzzling everymen, clash with the modern digital age.

This season finds them fleeing the wildfires of Fort McMurray as they retreat to Terry’s cousin Shank’s illegal basement suite in Calgary where Terry discovers high-speed internet and Dean embarks on an epic journey to record his concept album 3069.

The eight-part, half-hour series premieres on Viceland Canada on November 3.

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Alex is in the express checkout lane at the grocery store when he realizes with horror that he’s forgotten the all-important crackers. With his dinner guests already on their way over, Alex must risk life and limb to achieve the impossible: locate the salty snacks before losing his place in line.

A hilarious send-up of action movie clichés created by and starring three-time Canadian Comedy Award-winning sketch duo Peter n’ Chris.

Creative team

Writers: Chris Wilson, Peter Carlone
Director: Matthew Campbell
Producers: Ryan Silva, Matthew Campbell, Jameson Parker, David Kaye

Filmmaker’s statement

I am super excited to bring Grocery Store Action Movie to the NSI Online Short Film Festival!

As part of a three-day shoot for the Crazy8s competition in Vancouver, we are very excited with what we’ve done, combining action, comedy, and a bit of improv to tell a story that any person who’s ever been shopping can relate to.

This film was my first real step into comedy directing, a genre I hadn’t really dove into before. It was one of the greatest, most rewarding experiences of my life and I really couldn’t have done it without the stellar cast and crew.

With award-winning Canadian comedians Peter Carlone and Chris Wilson (CBC, Collegehumour, Peter n’ Chris) bringing their natural talent, along with a bunch of friends, out to play, the film was a smash hit for the Crazy8s and an audience favorite at the Crazy8s screening.

Having won the Just For Laughs film competition and screened at over 18 film festivals, we are honoured to be part of such a respected Canadian film festival.

Thank you for watching!

About Matthew Campbell

Matthew Campbell is an independent film director from Gibsons, British Columbia currently working in the film industry in Vancouver.

He has years of on-set experience on movies such as The Revenant, Warcraft, The BFG and Star Trek: Beyond, and has directed multiple shorts with industry film crews helping bring his visions and concepts to life.

Currently finishing fan-film Nightwing: The Darkest Knight, Matthew is developing his feature film The Wounded and prepping for the digital series DemonX with Frostbite Pictures.

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