With a growing presence locally, Netflix Canada have announced today they will be providing a grant to Nu-Media Program to help foster and develop indigenous youth talent.
More details:
-Netflix is providing a $25,000 grant to Winnipeg-based Nu-Media Program.
-The grant will provide critical financial support towards the development of a fiction or nonfiction pitch from 2022 Nu-Media Education Program Alumni.
-The Nu-Media program was co-founded by Jordan C. Molaro in 2012 and provides an 11-week long intensive filmmaking and professional development program for Indigenous youth from reserves across Manitoba.
-Netflix created this one-time grant to mark the occasion of more than 1000 creators participating in Netflix-supported training and development programs and to honour the contributions of an alumnus who is using the skills they have learned to give back to their community.
-The recipient of the grant, Jaime Wescoup, is an Anishinaabe storyteller from Long Plain First Nation who completed the Nu-Media Program earlier this year.
-Jaime will use the funding in support of his first documentary film Restoring Natural Balance, which will follow newly elected female Indigenous Chiefs and document what it is like being a female leader in a male dominated society.
-In addition to the financial support, Jaime will have access to mentoring from Nu-Media President, Jordan C. Molaro, over the course of his work on the script and pitch documents. Jordan will also act as Executive Producer on the film.
-Since 2017, Netflix has provided over $25 million to support training and development programs across Canada with more than 20 partners including the BANFF World Media Festival, Fabienne Colas Foundation and imagineNATIVE.
-In addition to helping creators further hone the skills needed to succeed in the film and TV industry, these programs have inspired many participants to give back to their communities by sharing the skills they have learned.
See more about Jordan’s experiences as a participant in the Banff Diversity of Voices Program and how he is giving back to his community through the Nu-Media Program in a spotlight video here:
-Jordan C. Molaro, filmmaker and President of Nu-Media Films: “I’ve always felt that growth through education does not begin and end with the individual. I feel fortunate that I’m able to share what I’ve learned with the students of the Nu-Media Program and provide them with the tools and access to draw upon the many centuries of storytelling from within their communities. Jaime Wescoup is a representation of the exciting next generation of Indigenous creatives and visionaries; I’m thrilled to extend this grant to help ensure his voice is heard.”
-Jaime Wescoup, filmmaker and student of the Nu-Media Program: “My hope with this project is to give back to women in my life who have supported and inspired me. Through film, we’re able to share our story and culture with people from all different walks of life. With Jordan’s continued support in addition to the development grant, I look forward to pursuing my dream of sharing my documentary with audiences.”
-Stéphane Cardin, Director of Public Policy, Netflix Canada: “Jordan exemplifies giving back to his community through his tireless commitment to providing Indigenous youth with new training opportunities through the Nu-Media Program. Jaime has an important story to tell through the film he is developing and we’re thrilled this grant will help support him on that journey.”
ABOUT NU-MEDIA PROGRAM
Nu Media Films is a video production company proudly Indigenous owned and operated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with a vision to work on community-driven projects on all media platforms.
The Nu-Media Education Program was created in 2012 to increase the capacity of Indigenous youth residing on First Nation reserves across Canada to develop job-ready, career-driven individuals. This program draws upon the many centuries of storytelling within the Indigenous communities while creating a new, modern-age storyteller. Our team hopes and dreams that one day, every Indigenous community will have individuals who can utilize modern video, film, and Internet mediums to tell their stories, the stories that need to be said, all from an Indigenous perspective.
The Nu-Media Education Program integrates a comfortable, respectful, healthy environment with practical, hands-on learning that can expand into a lifelong career with endless potential. The highly experienced professional speakers provide continuous support to youth involved in the Nu-Media Education family through our social media sites, website, and ongoing personal communication with education partners.
ABOUT NETFLIX
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with 223 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume to watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
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