Attention alumni and current participants: apply now to produce your first film through Telefilm Talent To Watch

Press Release

Are you a graduate from 2018 to 2022 or current participant of the National Screen Institute ready to develop your first feature film?

Starting March 7, we’ll begin accepting project ideas for recommendation to the Telefilm Talent To Watch team.

Telefilm Talent To Watch aims to support a diverse array of emerging filmmakers and accelerate their career development by providing the opportunity and autonomy to create their first feature film.

Selected participants receive up to $250K in funding, and customized training and mentorship to turn their idea into reality.

The National Screen Institute is a partner organization and can make two project recommendations to Telefilm Canada through the Industry Stream.

If your project is selected for recommendation, we’ll work with you to refine your submission in advance of Telefilm’s April 19 to May 3 deadline. We’ll then provide an official letter of support to Telefilm Canada.

The National Screen Institute can recommend:

(1) one feature film or theatrical documentary project under the Main Component, and

(2) one feature film or theatrical documentary project under the Indigenous Component

To be eligible to submit your project to us, the project team’s director must be a National Screen Institute graduate from 2018 to 2022 or a current program participant. Graduates must have gone through one of our training programs; filmmakers whose films were selected for the NSI Online Short Film Festival are not eligible.

2018 to 2022 graduates from the following programs are eligible to apply: NSI IndigiDocs, NSI Art of Business Management, TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators, NSI Business for Producers, NSI Features First, CBC New Indigenous Voices, NSI New Northern Voices, Manitoba Content Creators Development Accelerator, NSI Totally Television, TELUS STORYHIVE, NSI Market-Ready Producers.

The National Screen Institute’s submission window will be open for one week starting March 7 at 9 a.m. CT and will close March 14 at 5 p.m. CT.

To qualify for a recommendation from the National Screen Institute, the following items must be submitted through our application form:

1) Presentation video (YouTube or Vimeo link)

A downloadable pitch video (maximum five minutes) that will:

• State the project working title

• Identify genre, type and project length

• Identify the key creative team and their individual track records (including samples of past work, if relevant)

• Provide a brief synopsis of the story from beginning to end

• Outline the creative team’s vision / visual treatment of the material

• Outline any other relevant information that sets the project apart (e.g.: personal connection to the story material, confirmed appearance by an established actor, successful crowdfunding campaign, relationship with VFX professionals or animators)

• Identify the target audience

• Include a one-minute segment of the director’s previous short films

Note: the video must NOT include footage from other projects that are not the team’s own work.

2) Supporting material

The documents listed below must be provided as PDFs:

• Completed screenplay

• Project synopsis including main story developments, and telling the basic story from beginning to end (maximum 750 words)

• Director’s vision (up to three pages)

• Promotion and distribution plan identifying project audience. It must also identify how the team will find and access this audience and why will they connect with the project (up to two pages)

• Track record for producer, screenwriter and director (form is available on Telefilm’s website)

• Production schedule (from pre-production to release) outlining how the team plans to start principal photography of the project within 18 months of receiving Telefilm’s invitation to apply

• Budget top sheet (see template available on Telefilm’s website)

• Details of all confirmed and projected financing that is realistic and reflects the scope of this program and includes (a) summary status of confirmed and projected financing including as much detail as possible (e.g., status and date of application, timeline to complete financing); (b) supporting documentation for each source of confirmed financing in the financial structure

• Community engagement plan that elaborates on elements of the project involving sensitive content and / or specific communities / peoples and / or to demonstrate a plan for how you will responsibly engage with any underrepresented communities who will be impacted by the project

• (Optional) Sustainability plan elaborating on elements of the project that involve specific environmentally responsible or sustainability practices. (Additional information is available in the Essential Information Guide on Telefilm’s website)

We strongly recommend you read Telefilm’s full guidelines and Essential Information Guide before applying.

Contact Jessica Gibson (jessica.gibson@nsi-canada.ca), manager of programs and development at the National Screen Institute, with questions about submission requirements.

We invite every qualified current participant and graduate seeking a recommendation from the National Screen Institute to complete the application form and submit required documents during the submission window. Only complete applications will be accepted.

If you have general questions about the program, please contact Peggy Lainis (peggy.lainis@telefilm.ca) at Telefilm Talent To Watch.

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National Screen Institute programs are made possible with ongoing support from: Core Funders: Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage, the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council; Benefactors: TELUS, Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund (CMF); Patron: CBC; Builders: APTN, Bell Media, TikTok Canada, Indigenous Screen Office (ISO); Indigenous Training Programs Partner: Directors Guild of Canada; Strategic Sponsors: Manitoba Film & Music, RBC Emerging Artists Project, documentary Channel, CBC Gem, Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD), The Winnipeg Foundation; Industry Partner: National Film Board of Canada; Friends: Stantec, William F. White International, Company 3.

About the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI)

Propelled by a visionary network of donors, private and public organizations, board and staff, the National Screen Institute supports creators from across Canada to tell unforgettable stories. Through industry-informed training and mentoring in film, television and digital media, 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 from regional and remote areas and various religious groups.

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