The Inaugural Indigenous Screen Office and Netflix Apprenticeship Program Grants over $200k to Indigenous Storytellers

 

The Indigenous Screen Office is pleased to announce that it has granted $225,000, to recipients across Canada, in first-round funding to support training and mentorship for Indigenous screen creators, in partnership with Netflix.

“The apprenticeship program received double the amount in requests that was available in funding, demonstrating the need and enthusiasm for this kind of training and capacity-building opportunity within the Indigenous screen sector,” said Jesse Wente, Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office.

The partnership was announced in June at the Banff World Media Festival and is part of a $25 million commitment to the sector that Netflix made as part of a five-year deal with Canadian Heritage to develop new talent in Canada.

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We are pleased to announce the recipients of the first Apprenticeship Program Funding:

Individuals Supported:

Courtney Crane (The Key First Nation, SK, based in Vancouver BC): Producer Apprentice on the Indigenous feature film Tipping Andy Warhol, working closely with experienced mentors Dana Claxton and David Paperny.

Danielle Wilson-Brown (Gitxaala Nation, BC): This is an apprenticeship with the Director of Photography for director Zoe Hopkin’s second feature film, Running Home.  Danielle worked with the director as Best Girl on her first feature film, Kayak to Klemtu.

Tanya Brunel (Métis, MB): Tanya is an experienced producer who will take her career to the next level by apprenticing with women producers from Buffalo Gal Pictures on the high-budget feature film Flag Day, directed by Sean Penn.

Indigenous Productions Supported:

Coyote’s Crazy Smart Science Show (BC): Kaitlyn Redcrow (Saddle Lake Cree Nation, AB) will apprentice in production management, sound design, and sound editing, and work directly with the show’s creator Loretta Todd as well as other mentors on the award-winning children’s series, shown on APTN.

Downstream Documentary Productions (SK): Impact Producer apprentices will work with mentor Christine Kleckner on Tasha Hubbard’s documentary film nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, honouring the work of Trudy Stewart.

First Nations Films (AB): Trainee positions will be created on the set of the film The Gambler. The trainees will be provided with mentorship to ensure they are fully immersed in production experience.

Night Raiders (ON): Eva Thomas will apprentice as Associate Producer, and a number of trainee positions will be created as part of the production. Eva is an emerging Indigenous filmmaker and producer and will work with experienced producers and director Danis Goulet.

Nish Media (QC): Apprentice Abraham Cote (Kitigan-Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation) will apprentice on the set of SKINDIGENOUS, a popular series showing Indigenous global tattoo traditions, to develop his directorial skills to aid him in becoming a professional director.

Taqqut Productions (NV): Taqqut Productions will offer three apprenticeships: Ceporah Means (Inuit) will apprentice as a director on the animated series Time for Bed. She will work closely with director Leslie Pulsifier. Aviaq Johnson (Inuit) will apprentice as a director with Anguti Johnson on the Animated series Haunted Blizzard. Ippiksaut Friesen (Inuit) will apprentice as a puppeteer on the Children’s Television series Aakuluk. She will be mentored by master puppeteer Ali Eisner.

Rezolution Pictures (QC): Emerging director Rachel Webb (Cree) will apprentice on the set of the feature documentary Red Fever. Rachel will work closely with director Neil Diamond (Cree)

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The ISO supports all levels of talent development and facilitates relationships with broadcasters, distributors, training institutions and funders to enhance Indigenous stories through Canadian screens which includes film, television, apps and gaming.

 www.iso-bea.ca