National Screen Institute

The National Screen Institute of Canada (NSI; originally Canadian Screen Institute, CSI)[1][2] is a non-profit organization headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[3][4] The organization describes itself as "Canada's national film, television, and digital media training school for writers, directors, and producers."[5]

National Screen Institute of Canada
Former names
Canadian Screen Institute
EstablishedApril 7, 1986 (1986-04-07)
Budget$2,005,486
Location
Winnipeg
,
Manitoba
,
Canada
Co-chairmenBrad Pelman
Raja Khanna
Websitewww.NSI-Canada.ca

Established in 1986 and originally functioning as part of the University of Alberta,[6][7] the National Screen Institute is Canada's oldest nationally recognized film and television training school.[8] In 2008, the institute launched the NSI Online Short Film Festival as a year-round online short-film festival for films that are of "100% Canadian."[9]

History

In 1984, Canadian filmmakers met in Edmonton, Alberta, at "Symposium 84 – Local Heroes",[10] held during the first Local Heroes Film Festival, which showcased independent Canadian short films and features from around the world.[1] The following year, discussions on strategies resulted in 'DramaLab', a hands-on development program for producers, directors, and writers to learn the film industry and develop their skills.[2][7] One of the 1985 artistic directors was filmmaker Allan King, who recognized that the DramaLab program filled a void—at that time there were no filmmaking courses being offered in Canadian universities or technical schools.[11]

In a decision to further meet a need for film and television training outside large metropolitan centers, the Canadian Screen Institute (CSI) was formed on April 7, 1986, adopting both DramaLab and Local Heroes as its two flagship programs.[1][12] By the end of that year, CSI changed had its name changed to the National Screen Institute.[13] Originating as part of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, the institute began with an annual operating budget of C$360,000 a year, one-third of which was provided by the Alberta government.[6][7]

In 1990, the NSI's Board of Directors introduced another program evolved from DramaLab called "NSI Drama Prize", in which filmmaker participants would work to build their skills in a format that combined production incentives, mentorship and professional development workshops.[14]

In 1997, the institute began the "NSI Features First", a professional development program introduced for writers, directors, and producers working on their first or second feature film,[15] in order to provide training opportunities, an enhancement of knowledge base, networking opportunities and skill sets required to shepherd their films through to completion.

In 1998, the NSI opened a second office in Winnipeg. The next year, NSI introduced a second Local Heroes Festival to Winnipeg that screened exclusively-Canadian films and videos. In spring 2001, the NSI consolidated its operations in Winnipeg, transferring the Edmonton Local Heroes Film Festival to the Edmonton International Film Festival Society, as well as refocusing and renaming the Winnipeg Local Heroes Festival to NSI Film Exchange Canadian Film Festival.[16]

In completing early plans of the organization to develop stories for the big and small screens, "NSI Global Marketing" was introduced in 2001. Participants are required to have a show that has aired on national television and have a project in development to qualify for the program intended to equip participants with the tools to succeed in a distribution marketplace.[17] "NSI Totally Television" was begun in 2002 as a program to help individuals working in the television industry sharpen their skills, tune their concepts, and work toward getting a broadcast development deal.[8]

In 2020, the NSI and Film Training Manitoba (FTM) entered into a partnership to bring a combination of joint educational programming including distance learning, in-class training, career consulting, and outreach to Indigenous creators and Manitoba’s northern communities.

In an announcement with the NSI CEO Joy Loewen, FTM’s managing director—and NSI graduate—Adam Smoluk said that “Film Training Manitoba is honoured to partner with a world-class training organization like the National Screen Institute. This initiative is a significant boost to helping grow Manitoba’s workforce capacity in film."[18]

Operations

Funding

NSI currently operates with funding provided by Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage (Government of Manitoba)[19] and Winnipeg Arts Council,[20] with benefactors including Shaw Media,[19] Telefilm Canada,[21] CTV,[22] The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, NBC Universal, Women in Media Foundation, the Government of Canada.[19]

Outreach

As part of its outreach programs for Indigenous peoples in Canada, "NSI New Voices" was introduced in 2005 as a program for young Aboriginal adults interested in a career in film and television. Skills development begins with a "Spirit Day", including spiritual leaders and participants speaking about personal goals, and a traditional feast and pipe ceremony.[23]

In the fall of 2010, NSI began "NSI Aboriginal Journalism" as a pilot program designed for Indigenous candidates interested in journalism, to train individuals in the skills necessary to pursue a career in journalism.[24]

In November 2010, through collaboration with the High Commission of Canada to Ghana and the Goethe Institut-Ghana, NSI premiered short films in Accra, Ghana as part of Ghana’s first-ever Canada Film Week, marking the first time NSI short films have been screened by the Canadian Government in an overseas location.[25][26]

Online Short Film Festival

In 2008, the institute launched the NSI Online Short Film Festival as a year-round online short film festival for films that are of 100% Canadian content to encourage new talent and give them a venue to share their films.[9]

Four times a year, an exclusive jury selects winning entries and awards the A&E Short Filmmakers Award and a cash prize of C$2,500.[27]

Notable alumni

References
  1. Beverly Jean Rasporich, David Taras (2001). Beverly Jean Rasporich, David Taras (ed.). A passion for identity: Canadian studies for the 21st century (4, illustrated ed.). Nelson Thomson Learning. p. 287. ISBN 9780176168285.
  2. "Film-makers Recruited For Drama Lab". The Phoenix. Google News Archive. April 10, 1987. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  3. Brian Land, Edith Eddis (1997). Directory of associations in Canada: Répertoire des associations du Canada, Volume 18. University of Toronto Press.
  4. "National Screen Institute-Canada, Nsi". Manta. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  5. "National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)". National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI). Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  6. "Canadian Film-maker Program Expanded". Leader-Post. Google News Archive. May 30, 1986. p. 157. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  7. staff (June 2, 1986). "Successful program for film makers expanding". Toronto Star. pp. D1. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  8. "Up-and-coming Canadian TV Talent Chosen". Mediacaster Magazine. July 26, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  9. "History – NSI today". National Screen Institute. Archived from the original on March 27, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  10. "Alberta To Host Filmmaker Fest". Ocala Star-Banner. Google News Archive. February 15, 1984. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  11. Ned Powers (June 22, 1985). "King Sees Potential for Canadian Films". The Phoenix. Google News Archive. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  12. "Canadian Screen Institute". National Film Board of Canada. Cinema Canada. June 1986. p. 64. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  13. William Beard, Jerry White (2002). William Beard, Jerry White (ed.). North of everything: English-Canadian cinema since 1980. Canadian electronic library: Books collection (illustrated ed.). University of Alberta. pp. 352. ISBN 9780888643902. National Screen Institute.
  14. Anthony Kaufman (1997). "Beyond Toronto". Filmmaker. Independent Feature Project & Independent Feature Project/West. 6: 18, 81.
  15. "Program calls for fresh filmmakers". Straight. August 30, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  16. Olson, Donald S. (2006). Canada (14 ed.). John Wiley and Sons. p. 499. ISBN 9780471778172.
  17. "NSI Global Marketing Program". Animation World News. February 1, 2004. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  18. "New partnership". Liz Hover. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  19. "Young Aboriginal adults sought for film and TV training program". First Perspective. February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  20. Sylvia Kolopenuk (April 28, 2010). "Aboriginal Stories Program launches third year". Native Times. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  21. Telefilm Canada (1999). Annual report. The Corporation.
  22. "CTV Commits to National Screen Institute". Broadcaster Magazine. June 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  23. staff (February 16, 2011). "NSI New Voices seeking Aboriginal talent". Wawatay News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  24. "Aboriginal Candidates Sought for Professional Journalisn Development". On Screen Manitoba. August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  25. "National Screen Institute-Canada premieres short films at Ghana's first-ever Canada Film Week". Government of Canada. December 9, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  26. "Q&A: Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, HE Trudy Kernighan". National Screen Institute. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  27. "About: the NSI Online Short Film Festival". National Screen Institute. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
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