Banff Centre’s Application, Student Registration and Payment Systems, including the Student Portal, will be unavailable from 4pm Monday June 22nd to noon Tuesday June 23rd due to planned maintenance. Any questions please contact admissions@banffcentre.ca.
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Gin Sexsmith and Michelle Thrush, Write Over Here Indigenous Screenwriting Residency 2025. Photo by Abigaile Edwards.
'Write Over Here: Indigenous Futurism' welcomes Indigenous screenwriters at various stages of their careers to apply individually or with a collaborator to work on adapting their work for the screen. Collaborators may include novelists, short story writers, or playwrights.
The program supports writers who want to advance their work and are exploring themes of futurism for film and television adaptations.
Participants will engage in faculty-led workshops, one-on-one feedback sessions, and team bonding exercises. Writers will enhance their skills, have various networking opportunities and benefit from 24/7 access to personal studio space once on campus.
Write Over Here: Futurisms runs concurrently with programs in Literary Arts and Visual Arts exploring related concepts. Cross-disciplinary learning and exchange is encouraged.
This residency balances self-directed writing in personal studios and scheduled workshops, discussions, and events. Participants will refine their screenwriting skills, collaborate with peers, and engage in culturally informed creative practices.
On February 24th, we will host an open house showcasing the cohort’s work through screenings, table reads, and artist talks. In the spirit of collaboration, Indigenous Arts, Visual Arts, and Literary Arts will present a series of public events alongside their residencies exploring themes of futurism.
Indigenous screenwriters at various stages of their careers who have a current work in progress are encouraged to apply. You may apply with one collaborator: a novelist, short story writer or playwright whose intention is to work together to develop their work for screen.
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
Participants must be available to attend the program and elements for its entire duration; variable participation dates will not be considered.
Applicants must be 18+ at the time of the program start date.
Domestic and international applications are welcome.
Visa Eligibility Information:
We welcome applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply.
It is a balance of self-directed writing time, intermixed with formal writing workshops and discussions about the creative process.
Week One (Online): February 1 - 5
Week Two (In-person):
Participants will engage in on campus orientation and be welcomed by Faculty, Banff Centre Staff and an Elder or Knowledge Keeper, followed by a tour of the library and campus. For the duration of the program, hosting faculty will facilitate writing workshops, and a chance to sign up for one-on-one sessions.
Week Three (In-person):
Participants will begin with a weekly gathering with elder/knowledge keepers to check-in and ground. This week will include a guest faculty presentations, personal writing time and on the land engagement.
Week Four (In-person):
This week focuses on dissemination of works and will include a guest faculty presentation, personal writing time and a table read of your script with talented thespians.
February 24th, 2027: Open house showcase. A public screening of participants’ work will take place in a theatre venue and will invite the community to support the faculty and participants and learn about the work being done during residency.
Roxann Whitebean is a formidable media artist who hails from the Mohawk Territories of Kahnawà:ke and Akwesasne. She made her directorial debut in 2014 and is represented by Vanguarde Artists Management LTD. as a writer, director and producer. Her work can be seen on the CBC, Paramount +, CBS, APTN, TVO Kids, PBS and film festivals worldwide. She is a National Screen Institute, Women In View and Whistler Film Festival Alumni. She won the International Indigenous Filmmaker Award at the Montréal First Peoples Film Festival and is a recipient of the REVAL Indigenous Arts Award. She has been nominated for Canadian Screen awards and Hot Docs’ Lindalee Tracey Award. She was profiled in Playback Magazine and was selected as a (top 25) for the Diversity of Voices initiative, hosted by the BANFF World Media Festival. Her upcoming releases as a writer and director include Rose, Pulse (doc) & Two Horn (doc). Her work as a writer in scripted narratives include SkyMed and Diggstown4, set to be released in 2023.
The meal plan is equivalent to $68 credit per day.
Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Create in the privacy of one of our specialized studios.
This program offers opportunities to showcase your work-in-progress.
Group seminars and workshops with faculty.
The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives are delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty
$35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous.
This non-refundable fee covers the full cost of processing your application, including the SlideRoom fee.
We are pleased to offer a range of scholarships to support participants in our programs. Details are outlined below:
To be considered for Banff Centre scholarships, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials.
Explore additional ways to fund your experience by reviewing our curated list of national and international opportunities here.
Information on our cancellation policy can be found here.
Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution in the province of Alberta. We are required to issue tax receipts for applicable financial assistance and awards received, and eligible tuition charged, as per the Income Tax Act and Canada Revenue Agency. To learn more, please visit Tax Information for program participants and/ or P105 Students and Income Tax 2025.
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Please login with the username and password emailed to you on completion of step 1.
A two-page resume or C.V. describing academic, professional, and other relevant experience.
Group applications should submit all resumes in one document.
A one-page cover letter explaining why you are interested in this program and what you hope to achieve by attending it.
Provide a one-page description of your proposed project, including the theme, and relevance to the program.
Be sure to complete the Financial Aid question in SlideRoom to be eligible for the financial assistance.
The lead applicant should complete:
Note: An additional $35 registration fee will be added for each member upon acceptance to the program.
Participants are chosen by an adjudication panel comprising of internal and external assessors. The selection criteria include:
Our programs are highly competitive with a limited number of places available. Applicants will be notified of their selection status as soon as the adjudication process is complete. Due to the high volume of applications individual feedback will not be provided.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
