Latest posts from National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI)

NSI grads accepted to Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative

Posted: 11 Mar 2019 09:04 AM PDT

A number of NSI alumni are among the 100 participants chosen for the Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative. They get full access to Banff World Media Festival, a bespoke professional development curriculum plus networking opportunities with key industry buyers.

Professional Development Program

In addition, a sub-group of 25 take part in the Diversity of Voices Pitch Program receiving personalized advice from high-profile industry mentors and pitch meetings with international buyers plus a travel stipend.

Pitch Program

Banff World Media Festival 2019 runs June 9 to 12.

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Julia Julep

Posted: 07 Mar 2019 09:19 AM PST

On a stop home from her mother’s funeral, six-year-old Julia disappears into Dr. Julep’s, a giant orange snack bar rumoured to contain a magic potion.

Creative team

Writer/director: Alana Cymerman
Producer: Michael Solomon

Filmmaker’s statement

I wanted to make this film that showed the various flip sides of grief.

Little Julia is willing to believe in magic, while her uncle is in shock and stilted. Only once he’s forced to the edge about Julia disappearing does he get the space to finally break down.

Meanwhile, Julia has found imaginary (or not) solace …

About Alana Cymerman

After a stint on the New York indie scene, Alana cut her teeth in Montreal’s film industry, working as a location manager and scout with such internationally renowned directors as Steven Spielberg, Denys Arcand, Frank Oz, Todd Haynes and François Girard.

After learning all she could from the pros, she moved on towards her passion: writing and directing. Alana’s recent work includes the musical comedy The Perfect Vacuum (with opera star Natalie Choquette) for BravoFACT and Julia Julep, the first of a fantastical children’s triptych.

In 2007, Alana participated in the Women in the Director’s Chair Workshop under the mentorship of Lea Pool and was also selected for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Talent Lab.
She was a recipient of Telefilm’s Feature It! program for her feature script A Good Enough Mother. Other projects in development include the feature followup to her award-winning short, When Erma Made Herman: Erma Invents The Love Machine as well as The Mystique of Lost Ladies.

Her other directing work includes the CBC-WTN series on female Olympic athletes, Women Warriors, and the short film Room Tones.

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