April 16, 2019 – Toronto – National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB), a world-renowned producer of creative documentary films and interactive stories, and POV Spark, the interactive production arm of the iconic independent PBS documentary series POV, are teaming up to produce Otherly—a new initiative to create eight short boundary-pushing Instagram Stories by visionary women, non-binary, and/or genderqueer storytellers from Canada and the United States.
Otherly is seeking proposals for short works on the theme of “belonging” from Instagram aces, filmmakers, animators, video and interactive media creators, social media mavericks and more. This first ever partnership between the NFB and POV is setting out to help define creative non-fiction storytelling in the age of mobile and ephemeral media, with perspectives and voices that aren’t always being heard.
Four Canadian and four American teams will work closely with NFB Ontario Studio and POV Spark producers during a six-month process, from pre-production through completion. The call for submissions runs until May 17, with selections announced by May 31. A pre-production lab for the eight directors will take place in New York City, June 26-28, bringing together a visionary and eclectic group of experienced artists and leading industry experts to work with storytellers. The series is expected to be completed by December 2019 (see complete submission and production details online).
“The evolution of social media platforms as storytelling spaces has the potential to spark new creative forms in ‘documentary’ and challenge mainstream narratives. We are very excited to partner with POV to ignite the next generation of creators who will shape our future,” said Anita Lee, Executive Producer, NFB (Ontario Studio).
“There’s no better platform to explore than Instagram’s, where creatives have made their home to showcase their radically different experiences. Otherly will spotlight these stories, where artists can test boundaries and bring their stories into conversation with each other and with the world. This partnership builds on our history of engaging dynamic makers’ perspectives,” said Opeyemi Olukemi, Executive Producer, POV Spark and Vice President of Interactive at AmDoc.
The NFB is one of the world’s leading digital content hubs, creating groundbreaking interactive documentaries and animation, mobile content, installations and participatory experiences. NFB interactive productions and digital platforms have won 100 awards, including 18 Webbys. To access acclaimed NFB content, visit NFB.ca or download its apps for mobile devices.
POV Spark (formerly POV Digital) is the innovation arm of the iconic independent PBS documentary series POV. POV films have won every major film and broadcasting award, including 36 Emmys, 20 Peabody Awards and three Academy Awards. POV is a production of American Documentary (AmDoc), a national non-profit media arts organization that strives to make essential documentaries accessible as a catalyst for public discourse. AmDoc collaborates with passionate filmmakers to amplify their voices, and to nurture the nonfiction community.
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Related Products
Electronic Press Kit | Otherly
Call for proposals website: Otherly
Associated Links
POV series