Two Canadian filmmakers have been added to the Indigenous Cinema Alliance (ICA) as part of its 2025 fellowship lineup.

Winnipeg-based Cree writer and director Darcy Waite (Lucky Strikes; pictured left), was selected by ImagineNATIVE; and Anishinaabe filmmaker and 2024 Norman Jewison Film Program participant Victoria Anderson-Gardner (Waabun-anung; pictured right) from the Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation in Ontario, was selected by the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO).

The fellowship was selected by international Indigenous film organizations that are partners and supporters of the ICA. The fellows will be showcasing their projects at the European Film Market in Berlin in February 2025.

Other new selections include producers Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury and Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa, filmmaker Jimmy Piaguaje and writer and filmmaker Toroga Denver.

The remaining members of the fellowship are Cass Gardiner (Masked Memory), an Anishinaabe Algonquin filmmaker from Kebaowek First Nation in Quebec and filmmakers Erin Lau, Alberte Parnuuna and Espen Larrson.

Seneca Polytechnic creates 20 financial media awards

Seneca Polytechnic has introduced 20 financial awards for students enrolled in four programs in the Seneca Film Institute and School of Media through a donation from Sony Electronics and the Sony Global Social Justice Fund.

The college, based in the Greater Toronto Area and Peterborough, Ont., will provide these awards across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. The four programs are creative advertising, television broadcasting, journalism and event and media production.

The 20 awards will be split across those programs, with five students receiving $2,000 in each category.

Students who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis, Black part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community or have a permanent disability will be prioritized.

Sacred Earth, ISO, Telefilm Canada run sustainability workshop

The Indigenous-led climate organization Sacred Earth organized a pilot workshop, in collaboration with the ISO and Telefilm Canada, to promote sustainable filmmaking practices from an Indigenous lens.

The three-hour virtual workshop, held Nov. 25, saw 87 English and French-language industry professionals as well as those from Indigenous communities across North America attend.

The workshop was led by Sacred Earth founder and executive director Melina Laboucan-Massimo who was joined by Indigenous filmmakers to highlight how Indigenous values and beliefs are critical for sustainable filmmaking practices.

The speakers at the workshop were producer and filmmaker Craig Gainsborough-Waring; director, writer and producer Libby Hakaraia; and film and television producer Leena Minifie.

“Telefilm is committed to this transformative journey to drive real, lasting change for the sustainability, and future, of our creative sector,” said Julie Roy, executive director and CEO of Telefilm Canada, in a statement.

Sacred Earth, ISO and Telefilm are looking to host the workshop again in 2025 following feedback.

With files from Nicholas Sokic.

Image courtesy of the Indigenous Cinema Alliance