Fifteen Indigenous creators and producers have been selected for the 2024 Indigenous Screen Summit (ISS) Pitch Forum at the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF).

The pitch participants were announced by BANFF, the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), the Canada Media Fund (CMF), broadcaster APTN and Rogers Communications on Thursday (April 25).

The half-day event on June 9 includes pitches in the genres of documentary and unscripted, scripted drama and scripted comedy to a panel of leading media funders and industry delegates.

The participants pitching in the documentary and unscripted category are Kerriann Cardinal (Sweetgrass Stories), Jim Compton (Wabung Anung Films), Kira Doxtator (Senklip Productions), Tera McDonald (Kalawikk Diversity) and Moniquea Marion (Slaw Paw Productions).

Scripted comedy participants are Norm Coyne (Barker Street Cinema), Marshall Leigh George (Kettle Point Productions), Stephen Gladue (Luksilyoo Productions), Ryan Moccasin (The Feather Entertainment) and Jérémie Wookey (Wookey Films).

Meanwhile, scripted dramas participants are Ryan Atimoyoo (Gear Room Productions), Gerald Auger (4 Directional Studios), Berkley Brady (Joe Media Group), Saxon de Cocq (3 Story Pictures) and Rylan Friday (Terror Fox Productions).

Pitch applicants are selected by an expert jury and drawn from the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Initiative, the CBC-APTN Early Stage Scripted Development Program for Indigenous Creators, as well as an open call for applications.

The ISS Advisory Board members are made up of Vincent Yellow Old Woman (elder), Alanis Obomsawin (documentary producer, NFB), Adam Garnet Jones (director of TV content and special events for APTN), Lisa Meeches (founder and executive producer of Eagle Vision) and Kristy Assu (director of funding programs, ISO).

The ISS Pitch Forum is produced by Rachel CrowSpreadingWings for BANFF.

The Banff World Media Festival runs from June 9 to 12.

Pictured (L-R): (Top row) Ryan Atimoyoo, Gerald Auger, Berkley Brady, Kerriann Cardinal, Jim Compton; (Middle) Norm Coyne, Saxon de Cocq, Kira Doxtator, Rylan Friday, Marshall Leigh George; (Bottom) Stephen Gladue, Tera McDonald, Ryan Moccasin, Moniquea Marion and Jérémie Wookey.