Indigenous Filmmakers - NSI Opportunity

October 03 2019

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is now accepting applications for the 2020 edition of NSI IndigiDocs – a two-phase course offering customized training for Indigenous filmmakers to develop a short documentary.

New for this edition of NSI IndigiDocs: applicants no longer apply as a team. NSI IndigiDocs is now designed for individual filmmakers who have an idea for a 10-minute documentary film.

In phase 1 up to eight students will attend a 12-day boot camp in Winnipeg to learn about writing, producing and directing, and develop a script for their documentary idea. At the end of phase 1 all students will have a market-ready film proposal.

In phase 2, a jury will choose up to four students from phase 1 to go into production. Students receive a cash award of up to $16K and approximately $10K of in-kind services. Phase 2 students will work in their own community for the majority of the time and will be paired with an industry mentor to help with development and production. Phase 2 students also attend Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto.

“NSI IndigiDocs has an excellent track record of producing acclaimed films and developing the next generation of renowned Canadian talent. It’s amazing to see festivals like Vancouver International Film Festival and imagineNATIVE feature so many films and filmmakers from the course,” said Kaya Wheeler, NSI IndigiDocs associate program manager.

“The changes introduced to the course format this year will make NSI’s customized training accessible to a wider range of applicants. We’re excited to take NSI IndigiDocs to the next level and help realize the stories that emerging Indigenous filmmakers want to tell.”

Elise Swerhone is the program manager and Kaya Wheeler is the associate program manager. Renowned filmmakers Shane Belcourt (Red Rover, Indictment: The Crimes of Shelly Chartier) and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open) are the director advisors and Brendon Sawatzky (Cinema of Sleep, Percy) serves as producer advisor. Lisa Meeches is NSI’s Indigenous training programs advisor.

Find out more and apply for the course by November 14, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. EST.