EMPOWERED FILMMAKER
Future Indigenous Filmmakers: THE EMPOWERED FILMMAKER MASTERCLASS
The Empowered Filmmaker Masterclass is an official program to take individuals with no prior knowledge in film-making and shape them into self-sufficient, nimble and powerful media content creators.
If you have an idea for a local story to share, we want to help you bring it to life.
In collaboration with TELUS STORYHIVE, VoVo Productions is offering a program to train, mentor and support residents of British Columbia and Alberta to each make a locally reflective short video documentary, with the filmmaking tools they have available. Completed documentaries will be made available on TELUS Optik TV® On Demand. This program was created to provide professional support and mentorship to empower first-time documentary filmmakers in Western Canada who have a story about their community they are passionate to share.
For the past 5 years, thanks to TELUS STORYHIVE, The Empowered Filmmaker Masterclass was able to certify and train 325+ new indigenous filmmakers throughout BC and Alberta. Our program is a hands-on 5-day intensive filmmaking workshop where participants produce their own short documentaries in just 5 days using state-of-the-art film gear. On Monday, participants don’t have any experience making films, yet by Friday we are screening their films with the community at our very own film festival and awards ceremony alongside the community and elders. Participants receive official certifications, ongoing mentorship, camera giveaways and become eligible for grants up to $100,000.
The indigenous communities we serve have undergone a great deal of damage due to the impacts of colonization and particularly from Canada’s residential schools which were active until just decades ago. We believe in building capacity for filmmaking and media production within indigenous communities so they can do the necessary work they need to do to help restore their language, culture and protect our shared world. Filmmaking also works completely in alignment with indigenous oral traditions.
This program is enabling the stories
of elders to be immortalized for
future generations and many youths
who otherwise felt disconnected or
isolated have now been given voices
to build bridges and share their lived
experiences with the world. Our
participants range in age from 14 to
75+.