About

 

Program Overview

The Indigenous Screen Summit (ISS) and 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.

· Virtual Pitch Advising session with a senior industry professional.

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

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

· A travel stipend to offset costs associated with attending the in-person BANFF Festival **(on the condition of in-person attendance at the event).

The Producer

Rachel CrowSpreadingWings
Producer, Indigenous Screen Summit

Rachel CrowSpreadingWings is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy and a member of Kainai First Nations. She has been part of the BANFF experience since 2015 & 2016, as an intern. Returning as a delegate in 2022. And in 2023 joining the team as the Producer of the Indigenous Screen Summit. Most recently, she brought her acting skills to the main stage as “Tammy” in a groundbreaking play called“Yisstsiiyi,” at the University of Lethbridge, which was produced in partnership with Making Treaty 7. Her career in film and television spans 16 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.