CBC New Indigenous Voices

Title sponsor:

Build your career and learn the essential elements of working in film, TV and digital media.

Program status:

Applications closed

About

CBC New Indigenous Voices, presented by the National Screen Institute, is a full-time, 14-week training program for up to 10 Indigenous creators aged 18+ to learn the essential elements of working in the film, TV and digital media industries.

The curriculum is designed with traditional and spiritual elements. Participants are paid Manitoba’s minimum wage for the duration of the program.

The program provides a fully immersive experience: industry leaders train students in all aspects of creative media arts through workshops, practical experience, pitching, production and internships. The National Screen Institute is committed to providing a safe space to share stories, learn, grow and make mistakes.

The 2024 edition will be delivered in person, in Winnipeg. In addition to classroom training sessions, students will work together to produce a short film project, learning about the many crew positions required to bring an idea from script to screen.

Six spots are reserved for Manitoba residents, with up to four additional spots for those living outside Manitoba. Participants from outside Manitoba or more than 30 kilometres from Winnipeg are eligible for travel and accommodation support.

At a glance

  • Applications open: Thursday, February 8, 2024
  • Applications close: Monday, March 18 at 12 p.m., Central Time
  • Selected participants notified by: April 15, 2024
  • All other applicants notified by: April 22, 2024
  • Phase 1 (training sessions): May 13 – June 21, 2024
    • May 13 – May 24 (online)
    • May 27 – June 21 (in person)
  • Phase 2 (production): June 24 – July 5, 2024 (in-person)
  • Graduation: Thursday, July 4, 2024
  • Phase 3 (internship): July 8 – August 16, 2024

Key information

Program dates
May to August 2024
Location
Full-time in-person (Winnipeg, Manitoba) plus two weeks of online training
Cost
Tuition and application fees are generously covered by CBC

This training is for you if:

  • You’re an emerging Indigenous content creator interested in a career in film, television and digital media
  • You already have some experience
  • You want to explore career opportunities within the creative industries
  • You want to gain practical, hands-on experience in the workplace and in production
  • You can commit the necessary time to complete this full-time program. In addition to mandatory classes in person and online, you must invest significant time in homework assignments

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be First Nations, Inuit or Métis aged 18+
  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada
  • Have some industry experience and / or work experience in a related field. This can include working for a school / college or local newspaper and / or radio station, acting in a school / college or community theatre production, making a short film or other audio-visual project at school / college or in your own time and / or post-secondary education
  • Agree not to participate in another initiative, or have inflexible commitments, that would prevent you from fully engaging in this program

In this program, you will:

  • Hear from national industry experts and professional organizations about industry career opportunities
  • Learn about funding and development for creative projects
  • Learn the essential elements of filmmaking
  • Produce a creative project in the form of a short film and experience what it’s like to work in the industry during a full-time internship
  • Complete two assignments for the National Screen Institute website
  • Receive minimum wage (Manitoba rate) throughout the 14-week program

Program phases

Phase 1: May 13 to June 21

Skills development training

You will attend up to 10 sessions from Monday to Friday and be involved in interactive group discussions, presentations and workshops.

The curriculum covers skills development and industry introduction including topics such as story development, directing, producing, digital media, pitching, documentary filmmaking, audio storytelling, production design, set orientation, casting, camera, lighting, sound, editing and Indigenous history.

You will also spend significant time completing homework assignments.

Phase 2: June 24 – July 5

Production

You will work with your fellow participants and mentors to produce and edit a short film.

Phase 3: July 8 – August 16

Internship work placement

After completing phases 1 and 2, you will move on to the internship phase. Where possible, you will be matched with an internship placement in an industry setting that meets your career interests. Potential internship placements include broadcasters and independent production companies.

The program culminates with a graduation ceremony on Thursday, July 4.

Program phases

Our commitment to underrepresented voices

At the National Screen Institute, we serve and help develop the gifts of Indigenous creators.

We are 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.

Questions

Please review the FAQ below.

If you need help, email Sarah at sarahs.yellowquill [at] nsi-canada.ca or Jordan at jordan.gurniak [at] nsi-canada.ca. You can also call them at 204-956-7800. Disability accommodations are available upon request.


Frequently asked questions


Meet the faculty

Erica-Daniels

Erica Daniels

Program Advisor

Cree/Ojibway filmmaker, Erica Daniels is an award-winning documentary director, producer, entrepreneur and a proud mother from Peguis First Nation.

Sarah-Simpson-Yellowquill

Sarah Simpson-Yellowquill

Manager of Programs & Development

As manager of programs and development, Sarah works across many of the National Screen Institute’s programs and manages CBC New Indigenous Voices and the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators.

Grace Bruinooge

Grace Bruinooge

Program Coordinator

Grace Bruinooge, of Métis heritage, is working toward a bachelor of arts majoring in communications and media and minoring in English.


Alumni


Program Partners

cbc manitoba-government Telefilm Canada Creative BC IATSE-856 Winnipeg Arts Council
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