NFB puts out call for proposals

The National Film Board of Canada used an event at the Yorkton Film Festival to announce a new emerging filmmaker program for Saskatchewan.

Doc Lab Saskatchewan will award three winners, one each from Regina, Saskatoon and rural Saskatchewan with an opportunity to work in a professional production environment with NFB producers and mentors and see their short documentary projects (5-7 minutes) from treatment through production, post-production and release.

Jon Montes, the NFB producer responsible for Doc Lab Saskatchewan, put out the call for submissions at the Creative Saskatchewan Luncheon Friday.

Montes explained the call for submissions would be open until July 14 and the program would run for 10 weeks in the fall.

“And I should mention that as a professional production this is a paid gig,” he said. “So, we’ll being hiring participants with our standard contracts and I believe fees for each participant come to around 10,000 bucks so this is a job for somebody.”

It also includes travel to NFB headquarters in Montreal for final post-production.

Interested directors must submit a one to two page proposal to [email protected] by July 14. Full details are available on the NFBs website and Facebook page.

It is fitting the announcement was made at the Yorkton Film Festival as it has had close ties to the NFB for 70 years.

“The Film Board was here at the beginning of the festival here in Yorkton and to be able to be part of this tradition every year, this is the heart of film making.”

Montes also acknowledged Creative Saskatchewan, Paved Arts (Saskatoon) and Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative (Regina), which are partners in Doc Lab Saskatchwan.

Also at the Creative Saskatchewan Luncheon, the Festival announced its annual honourees for Festival Builder and Volunteer Awards.

Daniel Cross, a Montreal-based producer, director and activist made his 30th appearance at YFF this year and picked up the Builder Award for has long-term commitment and contributions to the festival.

Cross won his first of many Golden Sheafs in 1990.

His documentary I Am the Blues, kicked off this year’s festivities on Thursday evening at Painted Hand Casino.

Terri and Allan Mitchell were honoured with the Volunteer Award.

“Individually and together they have contributed many volunteer hours to the Yorkton Film Festival for the past ten years,” said Festival co-chair Keith Hayward.

In particular, Terri was noted for doing the food for Lobster Fest, while Allan was singled out for his tenure as one of the longest serving shuttle drivers.