CBC New Indigenous Voices

Title sponsor:

Build your career and learn the essential elements of working in film, TV and digital media.

Program status:

Applications closed

About

CBC New Indigenous Voices, presented by the National Screen Institute, is a full-time, 14-week training program for up to 10 Indigenous creators aged 18+ to learn the essential elements of working in the film, TV and digital media industries.

The curriculum is designed with traditional and spiritual elements. Participants receive Manitoba minimum wage throughout the entire program.

The program provides a fully immersive experience: industry leaders train students in all aspects of creative media arts through workshops, practical experience, pitching, production and internships. The National Screen Institute is committed to providing a safe space to share stories, learn, grow and make mistakes.

The 2023 edition will be delivered in person, in Winnipeg. In addition to classroom training sessions, students will work together to produce a short film project, learning about the many crew positions required to bring an idea from script to screen.

Six places are guaranteed for applicants living in Manitoba and up to four places are available to applicants who live outside Manitoba.

At a glance

  • Applications open: Wednesday, February 8, 2023
  • Application deadline: Friday, March 17 at noon CT
  • Selected participants notified by: April 17, 2023
  • All other applicants notified by: April 24, 2023
  • Phase 1 (training sessions): May 15 – June 23, 2023
    • Online: May 15 – May 26
    • In-person: May 29 – June 23
  • Phase 2 (production): June 27 – July 8 , 2023 (in-person)
  • Phase 3 (internship): July 11 – August 17, 2023
  • Graduation: Thursday, August 17, 2023

Key information

Program dates
May to August 2023
Location
Full-time, online and in-person (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Cost
Tuition and application fees are generously covered by CBC

This training is for you if:

  • You’re an emerging Indigenous content creator interested in a career in film, television and digital media
  • You already have some experience
  • You want to explore career opportunities within the creative industries
  • You want to gain practical, hands-on experience in the workplace and in production
  • You can commit the necessary time to complete this full-time program. In addition to mandatory classes online and in person, you will be required to invest significant time in homework assignments

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be First Nations, Inuit or Métis aged 18+
  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada
  • Have some industry experience and / or work experience in a related field. This can include working for a school / college or local newspaper and / or radio station, acting in a school / college or community theatre production, making a short film or other audio-visual project at school / college or in your own time and / or post-secondary education
  • Agree not to participate in another initiative, or have inflexible commitments, that would prevent you from fully engaging in this program

In this program, you will:

  • Hear from national industry experts and professional organizations about career opportunities within the industry
  • Learn about funding and development for creative projects
  • Learn the essential elements of filmmaking
  • Produce a creative project in the form of a short film and experience what it’s like to work in the industry during a full-time internship
  • Complete two writing assignments for the National Screen Institute website
  • Receive minimum wage (Manitoba rate) throughout the program

Program phases

Phase 1: May 16 to June 24

Skills development training

You will attend approximately 10 sessions Monday to Friday. You will be involved in interactive group discussions, presentations and workshops.

The skills development and industry introduction curriculum includes topics such as story development, directing, producing, digital media, pitching, documentary filmmaking, audio storytelling, production design, set orientation, casting, camera, lighting, sound, editing and Indigenous history.

You will also spend significant time completing homework assignments.

Phase 2: June 27 – July 8

Production

You will work with your fellow participants and mentors to produce and edit a short film.

Phase 3: July 11 – August 17

Internship work placement

Once you complete phases 1 and 2, you will advance to the internship phase. Where possible, you will be matched with an internship placement in an industry setting that meets your career interests. Potential internship placements include broadcasters and independent production companies.

The program culminates with a graduation ceremony on Thursday, August 17.

Program phases

Our commitment to underrepresented voices

At the National Screen Institute we serve and help develop the gifts of Indigenous creators.

We are committed to training participants from a diverse community of voices including Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+), people with disabilities, those outside large urban centres, those from regional and remote areas, and various religious groups.

Questions

Please review the FAQ below.
Program manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill (sarahs.yellowquill@nsi-canada.ca) is happy to answer any further questions about the application process or training.

Disability accommodations are available upon request.

 


Frequently asked questions


Meet the faculty

Erica-Daniels

Erica Daniels

Program Advisor

Erica is Cree/Ojibway from Peguis First Nation. She is a proud mother, multi-award winning filmmaker and owner of Kejic Productions providing video production, photography and graphic design.

Lisa-Meeches

Lisa Meeches

Indigenous Training Programs Advisor

Lisa Meeches is one of the most dynamic and respected producers in the film industry and is Anishinaabe from Long Plain First Nation, Swan Lake First Nation and Ebb and Flow First Nation.

Sarah-Simpson-Yellowquill

Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill

Manager of Programs & Development

As manager of programs and development, Sarah works across many of the National Screen Institute’s programs and manages CBC New Indigenous Voices and the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators.

Grace Bruinooge

Grace Bruinooge

Program Coordinator

Grace Bruinooge, of Métis heritage, is working toward a bachelor of arts majoring in communications and media and minoring in English.


Associate faculty

Meet the students


Alumni


Program Partners

cbc manitoba-government CAHRD Telefilm Canada Creative BC IATSE-856 Film-Training-Manitoba-FTM final-draft line21 isplice-films Winnipeg Arts Council
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