New digital fund gives voice to B.C. storytellers’ film shorts

The CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund supports the production of digital content from emerging creators. These fund recipients will have the opportunity to showcase their projects to a national audience on the public broadcaster’s extensive digital platforms, including the CBC Gem streaming service.

 

“B.C. has a well-earned reputation for excellence in production,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “This partnership with CBC provides increased supports for B.C. film and TV makers and ensures the representation of diverse talent so more producers can get the support they need. Now, more varied stories are told in our province.”

 

The representation of diverse talent is a central goal of this program. Preference was given to women, Indigenous and visible minority creators, as well as creators with a disability, to bring their unique voices and relevant content forward. The fund aims for at least 50% of successful projects to be driven by women creators. Three of the six recipients this year are women and two identify as Indigenous.

 

“We are extremely proud of the six filmmakers and creators selected through the CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund. Their stellar work will be presented to global and domestic markets online and showcase their place as B.C.’s storytellers,” said Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC. “We are thrilled to support a diversity of talent.”

 

“These six projects represent the unique perspectives that we set out to find and elevate through the CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund,” said Sally Catto, general manager, programming, CBC. "It’s this type of storytelling that inspired us to partner with Creative BC to champion creators in the province, and we can’t wait to share these projects with audiences across the country on CBC Gem."

 

Quick Facts:

Learn More:
For more information on Creative BC, visit: https://creativebc.com
For more information on the CBC Gem streaming service, visit: https://watch.cbc.ca/

 

A backgrounder detailing the recipients follows.

 

 

The CBC + Creative BC Digital Production Fund recipients are:

 

OshKiKiShiKaw: New Day
Filmmaker: Jules Koostachin
A follow up to her previous short documentary, NiiSoTeWak, this follows 12-year-old Cree twins Tapwewin and Pawekin as they journey to their ancestral homeland of Attiwapiskat for a ceremony celebrating the cutting of their hair.

 

Biker Bob's Posthumous Adventure
Director: Cat Mills; producer: Joella Cablu
Six strangers are brought together when a bottle containing the message “Biker Bob, if you find me turn me loose” washes up on Vancouver Island. At the bottom of the bottle: human ashes.

 

Inside an Athlete's Head: Season 2
Producer/director: Michael Hamilton
Inside an Athlete’s Head: Season 2 takes viewers on thought-provoking and candid journeys into the minds of Canada’s most compelling professional and amateur athletes.

 

Ashbridge
Producers: Carl Bessai and Munire Armstrong
A short-form scripted pilot focusing on the mosaic of new Canadians who interact with a refugee settlement agency in Vancouver.

 

This Ink Runs Deep
Producer: Kent Donguines
Indigenous tattoo artists connect with their culture and heal others by resurrecting their ancestors’ practices.

 

BiiDaaBan: The Dawn Comes
Filmmaker: Amanda Strong
In this short stop-motion animation Biidaaban sets out to harvest sap from sugar maples from an urban Ontario neighbourhood. This suburb is primarily inhabited by Settlers. The practice of harvesting sap goes back to time immemorial for the Anishinaabe people. Biidaaban works in continuum with this practice, accompanied by her friend Sabe and other spirit beings that once lived in this area. The neighbourhood acts as both nemesis and provider. The fear of being
caught plays up against the bravery it takes to continue ceremony and practice on occupied lands. Biidaaban: The Dawn Comes was nominated for a 2019 Canadian Screen Award for best animated short.