The National Screen Institute has released its annual report for 2012-2013, a fiscal year CEO John Gill calls “a watershed year” for the organization.

The Institute grew its revenues, saw some of its alumnae projects travel the festival circuit, and launched three new, fully-funded training courses.

The NSI reported in accompanying financial statements that its revenues grew from around $1.36 million in 2012 to $1.44 million in 2013 (for the year ended March 31, 2013). Private sector funding that contributed to those revenues grew from $623,316 in 2012 to $789,611 in 2013.

On the programming side, the NSI launched the Movie Central Script to Screen program at Banff in 2012, a partnership between the NSI and Corus Entertainment that selected up to five applicants to receive a development advance of up to $50,000.

It also filled a gap for Aboriginal screen professionals wanting to make the leap to director or producer positions with NSI Aboriginal Documentary. The bootcamp for director-producer teams focuses on mentoring and research, culminating in producing a short doc that is broadcast on MTS TV’s Stories from Home and APTN. The program is expanding in its second year from Manitoba participants only to cross-country applicants.

The NSI also launched the Lifestyle & Reality Series Producer course in response to the growing demand for experienced factual showrunners and producers. Partnering with Shaw Media, Bell Media and Corus Entertainment, the program began in fall 2012 and offers a one-week training session and eight-week practical apprenticeship on a series from one of the program partners.

“We strengthened and broadened our relationship with the private sector and now rely less on public funding. In particular, we deepened our relationship with the Aboriginal community and saw more success for our Aboriginal alumni,” said Gill of fiscal 2012-2013.