CBC New Indigenous Voices Training Program (Canada)

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 2025 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 of Manitoba or more than 30 kilometres from Winnipeg are eligible for travel and accommodation support.

Benefits

• 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 Specifications

• Phase 1: May 26 to July 4 – 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: July 7 – July 18 – Production:
  • You will work with your fellow participants and mentors to produce and edit a short film.
• Phase 3: July 21 – August 29 – 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 Wednesday, July 16.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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.

For more information, visit National Screen Institute.