The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is now accepting applications for its NSI Features First program, presented in association with Telefilm Canada.
NSI Features First is a feature film development training course for teams of first or second time writers, directors and producers. Successful teams receive group training and a cash award to put towards a story editor and further project development.
Read our guidelines and download the application form. Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday September 12, 2012. The selection committee will be looking for projects that have strong commercial appeal.
“It’s been 15 years since NSI Features First was launched,” said new program manager Brandice Vivier. “Its longevity is a tribute to great Canadian stories, committed industry resources ready to mentor and train our students, and of course an abundance of talented emerging filmmakers ready to take their career to the next level.”
In addition to her role in NSI Features First, Brandice continues to lead NSI Totally Television, and will aim to drive the same commercial success with feature film team projects as she has with television.
“I can’t wait to jump in,” she said.
Will Pascoe will continue in his role as program advisor.
Since the program was launched in 1997, 15 features have been produced. Films developed through NSI Features First include Every Emotion Costs, 7 Times Lucky, Turning Paige, My Father’s Angel and Inertia.
Training is provided by top names in the industry including Marguerite Pigott, Bryan Gliserman, Mark Slone, Tim Southam, Jan Miller, and Brad Pelman, and takes place over 10 months, concluding with teams attending the Toronto International Film Festival in support of their projects.
Teams are also eligible for the Jim Murphy Filmmakers Bursary in memory of the former NSI Features First program manager. In keeping with Jim’s incomparable film distribution, marketing and promotion knowledge, a $3,000 award is presented to a team in the course that develops an inventive and creatively-integrated marketing plan as part of the program requirements in the first phase of training.
NSI Features First 2011 was made possible by Presenting Sponsor Telefilm Canada; Program Partners The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Shaw Media; Strategic Sponsor Corus Entertainment Inc.; and Territorial Sponsor Yukon Film & Sound.
About the National Screen Institute
Renowned for having given many emerging filmmakers, television writers and producers their first breaks, the National Screen Institute provides training and production support through courses like NSI Totally Television, NSI Drama Prize, NSI New Voices, NSI Features First and the upcoming NSI Aboriginal Documentary course.
NSI also offers national exposure through the NSI Online Short Film Festival and provides vast resources and support to those in the film, television, and digital media industry at nsi-canada.ca.
All media enquiries
Lauren MacDiarmid, Communications & Programs Coordinator
tel: 204.957.2999 or email: lauren.macdiarmid@nsi-canada.ca
