Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2008.
News release: July 15, 2008
The National Screen Institute - Canada is seeking Canadian filmmaking teams to participate in NSI Features First 2008 – a professional development program designed to help emerging filmmakers advance their first or second feature film. It aims to help filmmakers hone their script while also understanding the business aspects of feature film development.
Up to five teams are chosen for this 10-month, three-phase program and are selected based on the strength of their film concepts and the potential development and packaging of their film projects. The curriculum includes script and story development, market research, legal requirements, pitching, financing, distribution as well as marketing and sales training - delivered by leaders in the Canadian film industry. The teams chosen for the program are not required to pay tuition fees or relocate and, after initial training, learning opportunities are developed close to home.
Guidelines and application forms are available on the NSI website.
Deadline: Monday, September 22, 2008.
Eleven of 38 features developed through the program have been produced. The films have won awards, debuted at prestigious festivals and played in commercial theatres. They are: Love and Other Dilemmas, Fetching Cody, 7 Times Lucky, On the Corner, Goldirocks, Leaving Metropolis, Flower & Garnet, Turning Paige, Inertia, Violet, My Father’s Angel.
Jim Murphy Filmmakers Bursary
When Jim Murphy passed away the National Screen Institute (NSI) lost a valued team member and friend, and the Canadian film industry lost one if its strongest advocates and supporters. To honour Jim’s memory, NSI recently announced the creation of the Jim Murphy Filmmakers Bursary to be awarded annually to an NSI Features First team.
Beginning with the 2008-09 session, a $2,500 award will be presented to a team going through the NSI Features First program that develops an inventive and creatively-integrated marketing plan as part of the program requirements in the first phase of training. Teams selected for NSI Features First will have the opportunity to further develop their marketing plans during phase one of training. Following the conclusion of phase one, marketing plans will be reviewed. The team that has developed the most original, innovative and dynamic marketing plan that complements and showcases their feature film project will be awarded the bursary. Only teams who applied to and are then selected for NSI Features First are eligible for the Jim Murphy Filmmakers Bursary.
To make a contribution to the bursary or for more information, visit http://www.nsi-canada.ca/the_jim_murphy_filmmakers_bursary.aspx. Any amount is gratefully accepted and tax receipts will be issued.
NSI Features First is made possible through the generous support of Presenting Sponsor Telefilm Canada. We also gratefully acknowledge additional funding provided by Program Partners The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Canwest, and financial support for the 2007-08 program season by provincial sponsors British Columbia Film and Film Nova Scotia as well as Canadian Heritage through the Trade Routes Program. Additional acknowledgement is also provided for the contributions of Service Sponsor William F. White International Inc.
About the National Screen Institute – Canada
The National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI) is widely known for its prestigious training programs for Canadian writers, directors and producers working in the film, television and digital media industries. Most programs are part-time so students keep their day jobs while they train. Participants do not have to relocate – intensive training happens in one place and participants return home to work with a mentor for the rest of their program. All training is delivered by senior industry experts.
NSI media enquiries
Glynis Corkal, Marketing & Communications Manager
Tel: 204-957-2995 | Email: glynis.corkal@nsi-canada.ca
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