March 1, 2005
Canada's Coolest Film Festival Warmly Welcomes Aborigine and Maori Producers
Aborigine and Maori producers swap the sun for the snow this week as they brave the brisk Canadian climate to share
their industry expertise with delegates at National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI) FilmExchange Canadian Film Festival,
March 2- 5 in Winnipeg, Canada.
The visit is part of the NSI Aboriginal Cultural Trade Initiative (ACTI) - a program developed to give established
Canadian Aboriginal producers the opportunity to build relationships with Maori and Aborigine producers with the
ultimate goal of creating film and television co-productions. It follows an export mission by Canadian Aboriginal
producers who travelled to Australia and New Zealand in April 2004 to launch ACTI.
"We are thrilled to welcome these guests to Winnipeg," said Liz Janzen NSI Director of Programming. "This invaluable
cultural exchange provides the producers with the chance to share their industry expertise with our festival delegates,
screen Canadian works and get a taste of our infamous Canadian Winter. We've fitted them out with Parka coats, woolly
gloves and thermal underwear and are excited about treating them to a unique experience while they take in a great
Canadian film festival." A number of the producers will join Canadian and American acquisition executives and
distributors and broadcasters for a special festival event to share their industry know-how with other film and
television industry delegates. The event kicks off with an hour-long information session exploring the New Zealand and
Australian television markets.
NSI FilmExchange Canadian Film Festival welcomes the following guests to Winnipeg:
* Cliff Curtis: Producer and Actor - star of the international hits Whale Rider and Once Were Warriors. He
has also appeared in such major motion pictures as The Piano, Blow, Collateral Damage and Training Day. (New Zealand) *
Caterina De Nave: Head of Drama & Comedy Production - TV3 (New Zealand) * Nicole Hoey: Executive Producer - Cinco Cine Productions (New Zealand)
* Dave Gibson: Executive Producer & Managing Director - The Gibson Group (New Zealand) * Glynnis Paraha: Acquisitons Assessor - Maori Television
(New Zealand) * Greg Traill: Programs - Maori Television (New Zealand). * Joanna Paul: Media
consultant (New Zealand) * Paora Maxwell: Te Aratai Productions Ltd. (New Zealand) * Pauline
Clague: Core Films (Australia)
The National Screen Institute - Canada, with headquarters in Winnipeg, is one of Canada's four nationally recognized
film and television training schools. Every March in Winnipeg, NSI presents NSI FilmExchange Canadian Film Festival, the
largest established film festival showcasing 100% Canadian short and feature films. "Canada's Coolest Film Festival"
offers an exciting collection of films, master classes, industry sessions, great parties, National Exposure Amateur
Movie Contest, and SnowScreen, an outdoor movie screen carved from snow!
The National Screen Institute - Canada operates with ongoing funding from Telefilm Canada through Canadian Heritage , and Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism . Additional support provided by Patrons: Global Television Network , CTV and CBC Television . Further support provided by our Partner: Warner Bros. Canada Inc .
The NSI Aboriginal Cultural Trade Initiative is funded by Department of Heritage Trade Routes, Telefilm Canada, Alliance
Atlantis and CanWest Global.
ENDS