In all of the excitement of the 15th annual Yellowknife International Film Festival; and literally wedged between the features and short films, the NWT Film Commission debuted a new “bumper” last week.
2021 YKIFF to Open Today (Wednesday)
A bumper (sometimes they are called show or sizzle reels) is a short compilation of video clips that showcases a much larger body of work. It is a promotional tool used by actors, animators, lighting designers, editors, and models to highlight their talents to those involved in filmmaking.
In the case of NWT Film, the bumper is designed to promote the NWT itself; how it looks on camera, the capacity of its industry and its ever-increasing portfolio of successful projects and productions filmed on location in the NWT. There are 18 productions compiled in the new bumper; all of them shot in the NWT.
Watch the bumper
The GNWT’s NWT film and Media Sector Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2026 recognizes that with greater awareness of its success to date, industry recognition of the NWT as a location for guest productions will also increase.
The Mandate of the GNWT (2019-2023) states that meaningful employment should exist in all communities throughout the NWT;
Increase employment in small communities and supporting opportunities for economic diversification will create jobs and improve community resiliency.
While the NWT Film Commission is ensuring that the national film industry is aware of the NWT as a filming and screening location, it is also working with NWT communities to demonstrate how the NWT film and media sector can be a contributor to economic development and diversification in their communities.
In both instances, inside and outside of the NWT, it begins with greater public awareness of the opportunities inherent in film and media production.