The Whistler Film Festival (WFF) has announced the six participants chosen for the 11th the Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship (IFF), a talent program designed to support First Nations talent in Canada by advancing short-form scripted projects.
BC filmmakers Shae-Lynn Pearson, Dustin McGladrey, Cody Kearsley join Albertans Bruce Miller and Dallas Soonias, as well as Saskatchewan native Arnolda Dufour Bowes, in the class.
The IFF is one among 12 talent development programs WFF offers to provide creative and business immersion experiences for over 70 Canadian artists, including writers, directors, producers, and actors. It is led by Camille Beaudoin, co-founder and CEO of Mosaic Entertainment. Bedouin is of Cree, Mohawk and Métis descent.
“The Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship is an incredibly valuable opportunity for emerging Indigenous filmmakers to grow their skill sets, professional networks, and careers,” Beaudoin says in a press release. “I’m very excited to be working with this new cohort of talented artists.”
Also on board is mentor Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin, a band member of Attawapiskat First Nation located in northern Ontario, and Tristin Greyeyes, the IFF program manager from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.
“Championing Canadian talent has always been at the heart of WFF. The WFF Talent Programs have become a cornerstone for independent emerging and mid-career Canadian storytellers seeking to expand their knowledge and make the essential connections required to advance their projects and careers,” says WFF executive director Angela Heck in a release. “We are increasing our capacity to deliver more high quality training opportunities in BC and across the country, buoyed by the success of our alumni and the results of our enhanced program delivery models since 2020.”
Learn more about the IFF, its latest candidates and their projects here.
