COHORT 1 PARTICIPANT

JoAnne Fishburn has a background feature film production as well as documentary filmmaking having been involved with projects for HBO, History Television, Discovery and NatGeo. Her producing credits include 'Fezeka’s Voice'? (Best International Documentary, Tri-Continental Film Festival 2009)

She lived in the UK for 9 years, where she gained experience in film finance, international co-productions and impact producing. Over the last 6 years she has developed a number of alternative distribution strategies, raising $500K+ and developing partnerships with Google, AARP, RBC Foundation, Canada World Youth and other national and international organizations.

In 2016, as a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action she initiated INDIGENOUS 150+ a film and conversation series dedicated to putting Indigenous voices centre stage. The project is currently running in 5 communities and is working closely with Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Wapikoni Mobile, ISUMA TV, and other partners to build a National Indigenous Cinema Screening Initiative. Working with One Dish One Mic Podcasters from Niagara Region, she has recently launched a Youth Ambassador Programme that is training Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth across the country to moderate screening events and be cultural curators by creating their own podcasts.