Meg MacKay
Script Consultant
Meg MacKay (they/them) is an L’nu / Scottish comedian and comedy writer originally from the East Coast of Canada.
They co-produced the Crave / APTN show Don’t Even.
The television programs they have written for include Acting Good, Davey and Jonesie’s Locker, This Hour has 22 Minutes and Baroness von Sketch Show.
They are a stand up comedian and have done Just for Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival and CBC’s The Debaters.
They have two comedy albums Probably a Witch (2020) and Clown Baby (2023), both released on Howl & Roar Records.
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.
Sarah is a multi-talented Indigenous woman, born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and registered to Long Plain First Nation. She is a filmmaker with extensive experience who is dedicated to her craft and has made multiple short films that have screened at North American festivals. She strives to create stories and to help others share their stories through the medium of filmmaking.
Sarah went from thinking filmmaking could only be a hobby to making it a full-time career for herself: as a production manager for various productions and working at the National Screen Institute.
Grace Bruinooge
Operations Administrator
Grace Bruinooge holds a bachelor of arts in communications and media with a minor in English. A proud Red River Métis and settler mix, Grace was born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg, Manitoba).
Passionate about storytelling, Grace first joined the National Screen Institute in 2021 as screening support for TELUS STORYHIVE. She later served as program coordinator for CBC New Indigenous Voices in 2023 and 2024, before taking on her current role as operations administrator.
In this role, Grace brings her creative problem-solving and organizational skills to effectively support staff and program participants. Dedicated to assisting talented storytellers in Canada and those connected with the National Screen Institute, she combines her passion for storytelling with her professional expertise.
In her free time, Grace enjoys graphic design, spending time with loved ones and diving into her latest creative project.
Meet the students
Mason Campbell
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mason has experience in photography, theatre and stage work.
He has worked in multiple theatre centres and is currently employed by the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.
Mason’s passions include creative writing, and he’s looking forward to learning more about creating a professional film.
His storytelling is inspired by boredom and his imagination. He likes to consider the “what if” of different scenarios and from there his stories naturally unfold. He explores new obstacles, expanding the limits of reality and making the ordinary more interesting.
Cameron Donald
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cameron has been infatuated with films since childhood.
Film has been a source of comfort and inspiration to him and has shaped a lot of who he is today.
Cameron is hopeful this program will help him become even closer to who he is meant to be
Zane Forbes
Winnipeg, Manitoba
In 2023, Zane packed his bags and moved to Vancouver after being accepted into film school.
While in school, he was chosen as one of eight students to be granted a school-funded short film to screen at the end of the school year.
After graduation, Zane moved back to Winnipeg and has been building relationships and working with local universities to continue his storytelling. Zane hopes to learn more about the logistics of what it takes to get ideas off the ground and get a production company’s support behind it.
His storytelling is inspired by the events of the past and present.
Zane wants to be able to tell stories from a different perspective that allows more people to resonate with his work.
Kyla Freeman
Selkirk, Manitoba
Kyla Freeman is a 21-year-old student at the University of Manitoba.
She aspires to be a lawyer and is taking film training courses on the side. She loves anything behind the camera.
Lindsay Larocque
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lindsayjade is an emerging self-taught Indigenous creative and band member of Maskwacis Cree Nation.
She began her screen journey as an extra on the TV series Burden of Truth.
As an active creator on TikTok, Lindsayjade shares her creativity, humour and culture. This sparked her passion for being both in front of and behind the camera.
She is passionate about film, television and digital storytelling. She’s interested in understanding how all the pieces come together to build powerful stories.
Inspired by her family and their legacy of storytelling, she aspires to gain the skills needed to thrive on major film sets.
Outside of film she creates art through sewing, beading and jewelry making.
Indigenous representation in media is important to her. In this program, Lindsayjade hopes to make connections and create lasting relationships.
Dylana Matwewinin
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dylana Seren Matwewinin is a proud Ojibway woman of Sandy Bay First Nation.
She has always loved film. As a young girl, her favourites were West Side Story and Moulin Rouge. To this day they remain special to her, and she associates them with memories of her mom and dad.
In school, Dylana discovered photography and film, which allowed her to explore her individuality. She found joy in the ability of the camera lens to capture the unknown, things that others couldn’t see but the camera could.
While unsure of what she wanted to do after finishing school, Dylana was certain of the passion she felt in her heart when she was behind the camera. She started watching and rewatching films again and taking more photographs. This has allowed her to discover new opportunities for herself.
Cyrus Maytwayashing
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Cyrus Maytwayashing is a student in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Manitoba.
Born and raised here in Winnipeg, Cyrus has always had a passion for storytelling and film, using them as a way to understand his identity and life experiences. This passion has inspired him to become an author and filmmaker.
His enjoyment of storytelling stems from the messages and themes that he related to in the movies he watched while growing up.
Cyrus hopes to create stories that shed light on societal issues and make an impact on people by inspiring others to do good.
Alumni 2024
- Alireza Bayat
- Dabi Anele
- Elijah Oyibu
- Heady Fortuna
- Hossam Presly
- Kateryna Starikova
- Katnancy Cumti
- Roula Al-Kayal
- Sukhmanpreet Singh
- Vira Mylyan-Monastyrska
All participants resided in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the time of training
Program Partners
