Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

STORYHIVE web series creators meet their mentors

Posted: 29 Jan 2020 03:11 PM PST

“Just go for it, don’t wait. Be present.” Valuable advice from keynote speaker Jeremy Larter at the TELUS STORYHIVE web series workshops held in Alberta and British Columbia this past weekend.

Staff from STORYHIVE and the National Screen Institute presented two workshops for the creators behind the latest web series projects.

Each STORYHIVE team will work with a mentor carefully matched to the projects by NSI. The workshops gave teams a chance to meet their mentors for the first time – many of whom are NSI alumni. Mentors include Robert Cuffley (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Features First), Sandi Somers (NSI Features First), Ryan Mah (STORYHIVE), Wendy Hyman (NSI Features First), Rob Hardy (NSI Totally Television), and Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout (both NSI Drama Prize, NSI Features First, NSI Totally Television).

Spending 48 hours with such incredible creators and their mentors was inspiring to say the least.

Jeremy Larter’s presentation was motivating, hilarious and inspirational. His clear message was “If I can do it, so can you.”

Check out Jeremy’s work, (but be prepared to find yourself an hour later clicking on the next link and quoting Parnell!) A couple of my favourites are this video and this video.

I can’t wait to see these stories come to life. To all our amazing teams: just go for it, don’t wait. Be present.

• • •

STORYHIVE is a community-powered funding program from TELUS for content creators in British Columbia and Alberta. Content creators submit their pitch ideas for a chance to win a production grant and distribution opportunities.

Once the finalists are chosen, the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) provides mentorship and training for the selected projects and their creators.

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Upcoming webinar: how to get the most out of Hot Docs as an industry delegate

Posted: 29 Jan 2020 11:40 AM PST

Join the Hot Docs gang for a webinar on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 2 p.m. (ET), to find out how to get the most out of Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival as an industry delegate.

The event will include information about programs and opportunities (The Forum, Deal Maker, conference), as well as an overview of Hot Docs Industry’s activities (The Canadian Storytellers Project, Hot Docs funds). Plus you’ll learn about their different pass levels and which pass is right for you.

The Hot Docs industry and programming teams will be on hand to talk about their 2020 festival (April 30 – May 10) and answer your questions.

Register for the webinar.

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Game and Just Another Beautiful Family tie for best film in NSI Online Short Film Festival

Posted: 29 Jan 2020 09:15 AM PST

We’re excited to announce the winners of the final A&E Short Filmmakers Award in the NSI Online Short Film Festival, run by the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI).

An independent jury decided to split the $1,250 prize between two outstanding films: Game by Joy Webster and Lucas Ford, and Just Another Beautiful Family by Katherine and Nick North.

Both winners also receive a complimentary Friend membership to the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

The jury also gave an honourable mention to A Typical Fairytale by Annette Rilley.

The award selection was made by an independent jury: content creator Lora Campbell, previous A&E Short Filmmakers Award winner Kyle McDougall and filmmaker Anand Ramayya.

Game

A young boy struggles to accept the death of his mother while his sister copes through violence.

Lora Campbell: “A beautifully captured film with stunning cinematography and acting which makes the viewer join the ride within moments.”

Kyle McDougall: “A superbly crafted film that drew me in right from the start. Game combines all of the elements you’re looking for in a short narrative, which come together to tell a very realistic and haunting short story about a boy’s childhood as part of a broken family.”

Anand Ramayya: “Webster handles a delicate subject with maturity, maintains tension throughout and has created a film I couldn’t take my eyes off of.”

Filmmakers Joy Webster and Lucas Ford said, “We’re excited to be awarded the A&E Short Filmmakers Award alongside Just Another Beautiful Family. The support of NSI, A&E and the jurors is greatly appreciated!”

Just Another Beautiful Family

Just an ordinary suburban family, except that Dad’s transgender, Mom’s queer and there are five kids in this minivan.

Lora: “An authentic and inspiring film told by the community it’s about and is just the kind of film I want to see. The filmmakers have created a nuanced story of family, resilience and joy. Incredibly vulnerable filmmaking at its best.

Kyle: “A wonderful short documentary with an incredibly strong message. Katherine and Nick let us inside their lives as we follow their family’s journey and, in doing so, they share the importance of living an authentic life and finding your true self.”

Anand: “Katherine and Nick North being the subjects and filmmakers opened themselves to the process and have given us a brave, honest and intimate story of a modern family. It’s got a lot of heart.”

Filmmakers Katherine and Nick North said, “We are amazed! As first-time filmmakers, we wanted to tell our own story because it’s what we needed to hear ourselves a few years ago when Nick transitioned. Our goal is that this film brings hope and comfort to all sorts of families – because every family is a beautiful family!”

A Typical Fairytale

A young couple have a romance fit for a storybook. They live happily ever after until their child diverges from the classic narrative.

Lora: “The kind of film I wish had been around when I was younger. A film for all ages, it captures the hard moments parents and children can have as they come out as transgender with all of the romance and whimsy that has been portrayed by mostly cisgender people to date.”

Anand: “Writer, Jessica McLeod’s film takes an unconventional approach yet has created an extremely accessible film exploding with quirky humour, colour and insight into an exclusive parent-child experience.”

About the jury

Lora Campbell is a transgender non binary content creator from Newfoundland who currently lives in Toronto.

Kyle McDougall is a documentary filmmaker with a passion for telling authentic stories that explore the human condition. He is also the most recent winner of the A&E Short Filmmakers Award for his film You Will Survive Doomsday.

Anand Ramayya of Karma Film is a multiple award-winning scripted content producer and documentary filmmaker, committed to telling humanist, inclusive stories since 2001.

The NSI Online Short Film Festival was made possible through the support of Festival Partner Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment, CBC Gem, Super Channel; Award Sponsor A&E Television Networks; and Industry Partner the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

The NSI Online Short Film Festival, retired in January 2020, was a year-round Canadian short film showcase. After launching in 2008, the festival awarded over $125K to Canadian media artists. Over 1,000 films are still available to watch in the archives.

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