Headline, Industry News

Canwest donates $1.5 million to NSI

Canwest will donate $1.5 million to the National Screen Institute to help sustain and develop training programs in the Canadian media and broadcast industry.

The funding, rolled out over seven years, will support training programs for writers, directors and producers.

“Our partnership with NSI is a natural extension of Canwest’s mandate to support and nurture the growth and success of the Canadian arts community and our film and television industry,” said Lynne Munro, vice president, community and public relations at Canwest.

“NSI has enjoyed a fruitful association with Canwest for many years, beginning with their support of NSI Global Marketing” said National Screen Institute CEO Susan Millican in a statement. Canwest’s contribution will benefit the following initiatives:

– NSI Global Marketing, a marketing training program for established producers moving into the international marketplace

– The NSI Drama Prize, which offers cash support and in-kind services to up to five teams of filmmakers working on short films

– NSI Features First, an intensive training program for filmmakers making their first or second feature film

– NSI Storytellers, offering training for emerging Canadian Aboriginal writers, directors and producers

– NSI New Voices, a full-time program for young Aboriginal adults aged 18 to 35, which includes skills development training and a paid internship in an industry setting

– NSI Online, an online industry centre and online film festival which will showcase Canadian short films, deliver professional development opportunities and offer social networking tools to connect content creators across the country.

For more information, see nsi-canada.ca.

Source: Canwest News Service