Deadline: August 26, 2022.
Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship Program 2023 for emerging Indigenous Canadian filmmakers and content creators
Applications are now open for the Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship Program 2023 for emerging Indigenous Canadian filmmakers and content creators. This is a five-month creative and business immersion program focused on strengthening and advancing short-form scripted and web series projects. Up to six selected participants will gain first-hand experience in the world of scripted storytelling through mentorship from filmmakers, broadcasters, and industry leaders.
A major focus of the program is on the guidance and support from Indigenous mentors and the opportunity to connect with the other Indigenous fellows. The creative and business immersion experience will take place virtually over 5 months, beginning prior to the Festival with a 1 day session leading up to participation in the Whistler Film Festival and Content Summit. Phase I continues for up to 3 days during the festival (in Whistler) in conjunction with the Whistler Film Festival + Summit; as a market immersion experience offering a curated itinerary that includes a focus on marketing and distribution as well as scheduled market meetings with attending industry and advisors.
The program will continue after the Festival, with three months of project mentorship and a series of online workshop sessions planned through the end of March 2023.
Benefits
- Filmmakers will receive advice and feedback from established directors, producers, broadcasters, and actors.
- Industry advisors and mentors will challenge the fellows to push their vision through to the very end by identifying and navigating through any development obstacles and/or changes.
- A curated itinerary that includes a focus on marketing and distribution as well as scheduled market meetings with attending industry and advisors, and short film screenings and pitch events and participation in digital storytelling sessions as part of the Content Summit.
- Each Fellow receives a minimum of 3 scheduled post-festival mentorship consultation sessions from January to March 2023 with a program mentor(s).
- Fellows will leave with advice on how to revise their script/idea and move forward with it.
- Fellows will leave with important film business insights and connections.
- Industry/peer networking opportunities.
- Fellows will receive an Industry pass to attend the Whistler Film Festival + Content Summit – which will include up to four nights in Whistler (details to follow upon acceptance into the program)
Eligibility for the Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship Program 2023
- The Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Fellowship is open to Canadian Indigenous producers, writers and/or directors who are First Nations, Métis or Inuit from Canada and have a script for short-form content.
- Short scripts in all genres can be submitted for consideration.
- All rights remain with the filmmaker and WFF has no proprietary interest in any of the projects.
- Applicants must have some previous short film/content experience or have attended film school.
- Applicants must be a Canadian citizen and of Indigenous descent residing in Canada.
- Applicant must demonstrate ownership of or option on all underlying rights (if any) and of the screenplay.
- Only one person per project will be allowed to attend the Program.
Fellowship recipients receive high-level strategic advice and feedback on their scripts and projects from established content creators, producers and industry professionals with a focus on creative development, marketing and distribution. Scheduled market meetings during the Content Summit are also included.
