News release: March 6, 2009

The National Screen Institute (NSI) is pleased to announce the newest participants in NSI Drama Prize, a training program for filmmakers and NSI’s longest-running program.

The 2009-10 NSI Drama Prize teams are:

The Closer You Get to Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Producer: Les Lukacs | Writer/director: John Bolton

Subway Harmonies (Toronto, Ontario)
Producer: Alex Molenaar | Writer: Peter Murphy | Director: Leah Cameron

Hangnail (Toronto, Ontario)
Producer: Norma Mendoza | Writer/director: Cavan Campbell

Still Love (Toronto, Ontario)
Producer: Harold “Hank” Gay | Writer: Heli Kennedy | Director: Joe Kicak

NSI Drama Prize is an ambitious program providing emerging filmmakers with a year of professional support and training in the various stages of filmmaking while developing and producing a short film.

Teams undergo a week of intensive training in Winnipeg; the writers week is followed by a separate week of instruction for each of the producers and directors. Following this "boot camp," teams will return home to continue their work.

Selected teams will be eligible to receive $10,000 in cash support; over $30,000 in services; and mentoring from established industry leaders.

“There were dozens of very strong applications from across the country for our jury to review,” said Joy Loewen, NSI Drama Prize program manager.

“Over 60 teams applied, among the highest number of applications we’ve received for this program. Whittling down the projects to these four was a challenge, but we’re pleased with the quality and calibre of the teams and their scripts. The participants will benefit from training with experts from across the country. We’re excited to see projects develop from script to screen as the filmmakers learn from the best.”

The writers training takes place March 4 – 9, and the directors & producers training takes place March 8 – 15 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Facilitators and guest facility include a list of “who’s who” in the Canadian film industry.

Jeff Peeler is facilitating the producer training; Shereen Jerrett is facilitating the writer training; and E. Jane Thompson is facilitating the director training.

Guest resources include actress Rosemary Dunsmore, DOP Michael Storey, lawyer Terry Markus, producer Rhonda Baker, insurance broker Claude Forest, 1st AD Danielle Dumensil, and casting agent Kari Reiger to name a few.

NSI Drama Prize is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Telefilm Canada; Program Partners The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and Canwest; Award Sponsors Rogers, The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, Telefilm Canada and the NSI Alumni Fund; Service Sponsors Deluxe, Kodak Canada Inc. and PS Production Services Ltd.; Risk Management Consultants Multimedia Risk Inc.; as well as William F. White International Inc.

Visit the NSI media room

NSI on the web