The National Screen Institute – Canada is now accepting applications for the 2021 edition of CBC New Indigenous Voices – a program for emerging Indigenous creators to build their media careers through online training and hands-on experience.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is a full-time, 14-week online training program for up to nine Indigenous creators aged 18 to 35 to learn the essential elements of working in the film, TV and digital media industries.

The curriculum is designed with traditional and spiritual elements. Minimum wage is paid throughout.

Following the successful switch to a digital teaching platform in 2020, the 2021 edition will also be delivered online. Each student will work with mentors to produce and edit a short podcast as part of training.

Applications are being accepted until April 23. Read the full guidelines and apply.

Interested applicants can register for a free Q+A webinar on Wednesday, April 7 at noon (Central Time) to find out more about the course from some of the program’s talented alumni. Program manager Kaya Wheeler will also be available to answer questions. Sign up now!

Selected participants 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 podcast and experience what it’s like to work in the industry during a full-time internship
• complete two writing assignments for the NSI website

This is a full-time training program. While the curriculum will be carefully designed and created with some flexibility, phase 1 classroom training will take place during the day, Monday to Friday. Selected students must attend all online mandatory sessions (approximately 10) each week which will vary in length from 60 to 120 minutes. Students will be required to invest significant time in homework assignments.

Students are selected by program faculty, in consultation with an Elder and industry representatives. Selections will be based on an applicant’s suitability and experience related to the film and television industries and their readiness to take full advantage of the training opportunities. Successful candidates will be notified by May 7, 2021.

Six places in the course are guaranteed for qualified applicants living in Manitoba and up to three places are available to qualified applicants living outside Manitoba.

CBC New Indigenous Voices is led by Indigenous training programs advisor Lisa Meeches, program manager Kaya Wheeler and program coordinator Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill.

NSI programs equip students with the necessary skills for a successful career in film, TV or digital media. Prior to COVID-19, CBC New Indigenous Voices students created films as part of the program which have gone on to screen at festivals across the US and Canada.

Most recently, Aadizookaan-ᐊᑎᓱᑲᐣ , created through the program in 2019 by Kale Swampy, Celeste Sutherland, Kane Kirton and Andre Nault, screened at LA SKINS FEST in Los Angeles and Gimli Film Festival in Manitoba.

NSI’s commitment to underrepresented voices

At NSI we serve and help develop the gifts of Indigenous creators.

NSI 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 from regional and remote areas and various religious groups.

About the National Screen Institute

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

CBC New Indigenous Voices 2020 was funded by Title, Presenting and Tuition Sponsor CBC; Program Partners Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage, the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), Telefilm Canada; Indigenous Training Programs Partner Directors Guild of Canada; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment, Super Channel; Provincial Sponsors Manitoba Film & Music, Creative BC through the Daryl Duke and William Vince Scholarship Fund; Industry Supporters IATSE Local 856, imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Film Training Manitoba; Service Sponsors iSplice Films, Final Draft. NSI Core Funders are Manitoba Sport, Culture & Heritage and the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council.