WINNIPEG, October 20, 2025 – In recent weeks, Manitoba’s groundbreaking Northern & Diverse Creators Program, which features two-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rory Kennedy as a guest instructor, has received widespread coverage in the United States. 42 American news stations, which include ABC, CBS, CW, FOX and NBC affiliates, have covered the initiative, marking a significant milestone and a surge in Manitoba’s film industry, and growing international recognition.
“We’re thrilled to see this level of engagement from American viewers,” said FTM’s Chairperson Ellen Rutter. “The U.S attention shows Manitoba’s highly innovative film training programming with Rory Kennedy in Canada has real resonance beyond our borders,” she added.
Coverage in major U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., has helped introduce Manitoba’s cutting-edge film initiative to new viewers.
Manitoba’s Northern & Diverse Creators Program aims to increase the number of individuals working in Manitoba’s creative positions in film. The program is set to deliver 12 film industry masterclasses throughout Manitoba targeted for underrepresented creators from diverse communities, including the African Movie Festival in Manitoba (AM-FM, Black Filmmakers), Reel Pride International Film Festival (2SLGBTQ+), FTM’s Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) Division, Ukrainian Canadian Congress (new Canadians and refugees), northern communities and communities outside of Winnipeg, including:
- Churchill (Hosted by the Town of Churchill)
- Cranberry Portage (Hosted by the Frontier School Division)
- Flin Flon (Hosted by the Northern Manitoba Sector Council)
- The Pas (Hosted by the Northern Manitoba Sector Council)
- Brandon (Hosted by Assiniboine College)
“Manitoba’s Northern & Diverse Creators program is a brilliant new strategy to connect underserved Manitoban communities and cultural groups to grow our film industry,” said Charles Konowal, CSC, a film industry veteran and board member of both DOC MB and FTM. “The depth of planning, partnerships, and outstanding program activities is unprecedented in Canada.”
“When developing Manitoba’s Northern & Diverse Creators Program with our partners, we recognized immediately the enormous opportunity to work with Rory Kennedy, which will help to expand our programming in a highly original and effective manner,” said FTM’s Executive Director, Adam Smoluk. “Our team appreciates the surprising level of interest.”
The project was picked up by at least 42 affiliated news stations in the United States , including:
- Los Angeles (Warner Brothers)
- Chicago (Warner Brothers)
- Washington, D.C. (Warner Brothers)
- San Francisco (CBS)
- Las Vegas, Nevada (CBS)
- St. Louis, Missouri (Fox)
- Cleveland, Ohio (Fox)
- Portland, Oregon (CBS)
- Austin, Texas (NBC)
- Raleigh, North Carolina (CBS)
- Sacramento, Northern California (Fox)
- Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Virginia Beach (NBC)
- Buffalo, New York (CBS)
- Charleston, South Carolina (NBC)
- Salt Lake City, Utah (ABC)
- Lafayette, Louisiana (CBS)
- Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts (CBS)
- San Diego, California (Fox News)
- Augusta, Georgia (ABC)
- Bakersfield, California (NBC)
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (ABC)
- Memphis, Tennessee (CBS)
- Richmond, Virginia (ABC)
- Kanas City, Missouri (Fox News)
- Central Valley, Texas (NBC)
- Central Illinois (CBS)
- Lansing, Michigan (CBS)
- Jackson, Mississippi (CBS)
- Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida (CBS)
- Des Moines, Iowa (NBC)
- New Haven – Hartford, Connecticut (ABC)
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (NBC)
- Albany, New York (ABC)
- Rochester, New York (CBS)
- Binghamton, New York (ABC)
- Tyler, Texas (Fox)
- Lewisburg, West Virginia (CBS)
- Sioux City, Iowa (ABC)
- Huntington, West Virginia (CBS)
- Bismarck, North Dakota (CBS)
- Little Rock, Arkansas (Fox)
- Savanna, Georgia (NBC)
- Panama City, Florida (ABC)
- Fort Wayne, Indiana (CBS)
- Green Bay, Wisconsin (CBS)
About Film Training Manitoba:
FTM is a non-for-profit charity founded in 1999. FTM is a member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program, and we provide high-calibre workforce development programs to sustain Manitoba’s dynamic film and television industry. FTM works closely with the industry to identify training needs within Manitoba.
FTM has an award-winning track record of action to break barriers. FTM was recently awarded The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Winnipeg Award for Workplace Culture and CODE. This award celebrates organizations that foster exceptional workplace cultures through diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being.
About DOC MB:
DOC Manitoba represents professional filmmakers in Winnipeg and the rest of Manitoba. The Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC) is the collective voice of Canada’s independent documentary creators.
DOC began in 1983 as the Canadian Independent Film Caucus (CIFC) to represent the interests of Canada’s growing community of indie doc filmmakers. Today DOC has over 1100 members across six chapters from coast to coast.
For media and investor inquiries, please contact:
Jenna Paterson-Coutts
P: 204-989-9669
jenna@filmtraining.mb.ca
FTM is a member of the Province of Manitoba’s sector council program funded through the Department of Economic Development and Training. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film and television industry to identify training needs to support workforce development output.