About

 

Program Overview

The Indigenous Screen Summit (ISS) and the Indigenous Pitch Forum is an industry access program and B2B event for Indigenous creatives and producers of commercial television and/or digital media content. The ISS and the Indigenous Pitch Forum aim to provide an international platform for participants to pitch their projects to the market, meet leading industry decision-makers, and network for future project and business opportunities at the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF).

Purpose of the Program

The ISS is designed to help participants gain a foothold and/or grow their presence in the Canadian and global media industry. The program aims to support diverse viewpoints in media, and will ideally result in the creation of finished content that is distributed across one or more established, commercial media platforms.

The program is open to creatives and producers with scripted drama scripted comedy, and unscripted/doc projects in development. 

Fifteen (15) participants will receive:

· An opportunity to present their projects to a curated panel of Canadian and international buyers and financiers at a half-day event during the Banff World Media Festival. 

· A full-access BANFF registration package.

· One-On-One mentorship from a senior industry professional.

· Private networking opportunities with senior international development executives during BANFF. 

· An interactive workshop at the festival.

· Participation in a participant networking and celebration event at the Festival.

·  A $2000 CAD travel stipend to put toward costs associated with attending the in-person BANFF Festival **(on the condition of an in-person event).

The Producer

Rachel CrowSpreadingWings
Producer, Indigenous Screen Summit

Rachel CrowSpreadingWings is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy and a member of Kainai First Nations. Her career in film and television spans 15 years. Her experience includes; reporting, producing and hosting the evening news for networks like CTV, CityNews, and ABC/Fox. Before hitting the mainstream networks, for nearly two years, Rachel produced “Prairie Phyre: First Nations News in Southern Alberta” for Shaw. Rachel also produced a radio program for “Thin Air Radio” in Spokane, Washington. Helping others reach for their dreams is her lifelong commitment.


Nicole Robertson
Creative Producer, Indigenous Screen Summit

Nicole Robertson has dedicated her life to creating awareness about Indigenous Peoples through the media. Nicole’s career has taken her across North America and the United Kingdom, writing, directing, producing, and reporting on issues that are at the heart of Indigenous communities. She’s a member of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Treaty No.6. Nicole is the Chief Creative Producer for Muskwa Productions which specializes in communication advisory services that include media and public relations, branding, marketing, social media, event and video productions, public speaking, communications training and strategies. Nicole’s on-air work experiences include working with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), A-Channel, Global and CTV in the capacity as reporter, video journalist, producer, anchor, associate producer and writer. She has spoken nationally and internationally on entrepreneurship, communications and Indigenous media. Nicole was recognized in 2009 with the Aboriginal Woman Entrepreneur Award of Distinction by the Alberta Chamber of Commerce. She served as a member of the First Nations Women’s Council on Economic Security through the Province of Alberta, and was also the first Indigenous woman to be a Board Member with Travel Alberta. Nicole continues to build many bridges between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to create opportunities for her colleagues, Indigenous leadership and business leaders.