Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

Two new films in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival from directors Bryan Kowalsky and Steffi Tupe.

Becoming Wigglesworth

Becoming Wigglesworth | Drama, 15:00, English, ON, 2016 | Director: Bryan Kowalsky

David is unhappy with his job and decides to become who he’s always wanted to be.

Two Ladies

Two Ladies | Drama, 13:31, English, ON, 2015 | Director: Steffi Tupe

Two young waitresses go out on a Friday night after weeks of never-ending shifts.

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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.

The post Becoming Wigglesworth by Bryan Kowalsky + 1 more film in this week’s NSI Online Short Film Festival appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and all the best in 2018 from everyone at NSI.

The post Happy holidays from NSI appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

The Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) recently announced the nominees for the $100K TFCA Rogers Best Canadian Film Award.

Nominees for the award include Werewolf (pictured) from Ashley McKenzie and Nelson MacDonald (both NSI Drama Prize), Wexford Plaza from producer Harry Cherniak (NSI Features First) and Hello Destroyer from exec producer Trish Dolman (NSI Features First).

The Breadwinner, an animated feature from Anthony Leo’s (NSI Totally Television) production company Aircraft Pictures, was named best animated feature.

The Rogers Best Canadian Film Award winner will be named at a gala ceremony in Toronto on January 9, 2018. The runners-up will each receive $5K.

The post Features from NSI grads up for Toronto Film Critics Association best Canadian film appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

Two young waitresses go out on a Friday night after weeks of never-ending shifts.

Creative team

Writer/director/producer: Steffi Tupe

Filmmaker’s statement

Two Ladies is a vignette of a young woman who’s supposed to be having fun but ends up in a brief period of waiting and separation.

The idea came from the desire to see two women talking from a minimalist approach with film.

James Joyce’s Two Gallants, a short story about two sailors who exploit women to enjoy their lives, also influenced the film.

About Steffi Tupe

Steffi Tupe is a writer and director based out of Toronto.

She is a graduate of York University’s film production 2013 program. There she completed The Daily Special, a short film that was part of the Montreal World Film Festival in 2012.

Steffi continues to write and direct narrative films. She is currently finishing another short titled Bird on a Rose.

The post Two Ladies appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).

David is unhappy with his job and decides to become who he’s always wanted to be.

Creative team

Writers/producers: Kathryn Alexandre, Bryan Kowalsky
Director: Bryan Kowalsky

Filmmaker’s statement

Becoming Wigglesworth is a film about taking a chance in life and, as an artist, this idea resonates with me.

I hope the film can speak to anyone who has taken a chance, whatever it may be, and has felt ‘judged’ by it. I feel like many people go through life without taking risks because they’re afraid of rejection or failure but I believe that, in the end, the greatest risk is not taking one.

About Bryan Kowalsky

While growing up in Simcoe, Ontario, Bryan began writing and directing his own short films at the age of 12.

He is a graduate of the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. His most recent short film Becoming Wigglesworth won the Deluxe Canada First Award at the 2017 Lakeshorts International Film Festival.

Bryan is currently in post-production on Touch, a BravoFACT-funded short film.

The post Becoming Wigglesworth appeared first on National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI).