A new agreement that formalizes a storied relationship between Seneca Polytechnic and the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will create new opportunities for students to learn from “some of the most talented filmmakers in the world.”
The agreement creates a formal framework through which Seneca students will have opportunities to work on new NFB projects and learn from NFB-sponsored speaker sessions, workshops and presentations. Seneca will provide technical and creative consultation services, develop technical prototypes and tests, and promote NFB films within its animation programs and spaces.
“Our students will benefit immensely from the new opportunities to learn from some of the most talented filmmakers in the world, work on innovative and exciting NFB projects, and discover the NFB’s rich history of captivating audiences,” says Kurt Muller, Dean, Faculty of Communication, Art & Design, Seneca Polytechnic. “We believe this expanded partnership will greatly enhance the Canadian film sector for decades to come.”
The NFB and Seneca have a long history of successful collaboration on film animation projects, including 2004’s Ryan, the winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, 2009’s The Spine, a Best Animated Short nominee at the Genie Awards, and 2013’s Subconscious Password, which won Best Short Film at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.
“The NFB is eager to connect with a diverse range of storytellers from across the country and this new partnership, with our long-standing collaborators at Seneca should demonstrate our firm commitment to animation filmmaking in all its forms,” says Robert McLaughlin, Executive Producer, Animation & Interactive Studio, NFB. “We’re excited to work with Seneca to bring the vibrant creativity of young Canadian artists and storytellers to Canadian audiences.”
This partnership is the latest for the new Seneca Film Institute, which builds on Seneca’s expertise in storytelling forms and technologies to create one of the country’s most comprehensive film training institutions. The NFB, a public producer and distributor of Canadian content is a recognized leader in exploring animation as an artform and storytelling medium. It produces nearly a hundred titles a year.
Seneca Polytechnic and the National Film Board of Canada are formalizing their long-standing partnership. Photo courtesy of CNW Group/Seneca Polytechnic.
