Top, from left: Amanda Wandler, Jerry Wolf, Julia Ross, Kane Wood, Kieran Aho; bottom, from left: Matthew Shoup, Spencer Blyan, Stacy Flett, Talon Simon, Viola Bushie.

The National Screen Institute welcomes 10 new participants to the 20^th anniversary edition of CBC New Indigenous Voices. The training program offers Indigenous creators aged 18+ the opportunity to learn from industry experts and gain hands-on experience in the essential elements of film, TV and digital media.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is a 14-week, full-time, immersive program with classroom sessions, film production and industry internships. The curriculum is designed with traditional and spiritual elements and participants receive Manitoba minimum wage throughout the program’s duration.

Congratulations to the 2024 edition cohort listed below. Read more about each participant.

• Amanda Wandler (Kamloops, BC)
• Jerry Wolf (Woodstock, ON)
• Julia Ross (Winnipeg, MB)
• Kane Wood (Winnipeg, MB)
• Kieran Aho (Winnipeg, MB)
• Matthew Shoup (Winnipeg, MB)
• Spencer Blyan (Red Deer, AB)
• Stacy Flett (Winnipeg, MB)
• Talon Simon (Elsipogtog First Nation, NB)
• Viola Bushie (Winnipeg, MB)

“Twenty years is an impressive milestone and we are proud of what the participants have accomplished in this program during that time,” says program manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill.

“That number not only speaks to the necessity of this program but also to its success. While we reflect on and celebrate the alumni who have been part of CBC New Indigenous Voices, we warmly welcome the class of 2024 and are excited for them to create their own legacy within the program.”

Participants will learn more about working in the film and TV industry from faculty, mentors and guest speakers. They will also collaborate to create a short film written and directed by a member of their cohort. After a graduation ceremony in celebration of completing the training and production phases, participants finish the program with an internship placement. Previous placements have included CBC Manitoba, Eagle Vision, Kejic Productions and Winnipeg Film Group.

This program has served as a career stepping stone for dozens of noted Indigenous filmmakers and content creators. Program alumni include Paul Rabliauskas, Justina Neepin, Leonard Sumner, Sonya Ballantyne, Dinae Robinson, Darcy Waite, Ryan Cooper, Adeline Bird, Kane Kirton and National Screen Institute board member Melanie Hadley Nepinak.

The 20^th anniversary edition will be led by program advisor and National Screen Institute graduate Erica Daniels (CBC New Indigenous Voices, NSI IndigiDocs, Manitoba Content Creators Development Accelerator), advisor Tasha Spillett, program manager Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill and program coordinator Grace Bruinooge.

CBC New Indigenous Voices runs until August 2024.

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CBC New Indigenous Voices 2024 is funded by Title, Presenting and Tuition Sponsor CBC; Program Partners Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), Telefilm Canada; Director / Production Sponsor Directors Guild of Canada (DGC); Provincial Sponsors Manitoba Film & Music, Creative BC through the Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarship Fund; Industry Partners IATSE Local 856, Eagle Vision, Final Draft, Coverfly; Industry Supporter On Screen Manitoba; Service Sponsors Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV, Line 21 Media Services, iSplice Films, Shelly’s Bistro. National Screen Institute Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council. More sponsors will be added as confirmed.

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About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About the National Screen Institute

Propelled by a visionary network of donors, private and public organizations, board members and staff, the National Screen Institute supports creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories. Through industry-informed training and mentoring in film and television, students and alumni find their voice and place on the global stage, inspiring us to shape a better world.

The National Screen Institute is 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 in regional and remote areas and various religious groups.

Further enquiries

Media enquiries: Abiola Agbayewa – abiola [dot] agbayewa [at] nsi-canada [dot] ca