The Creative Writing Program is now accepting applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professor Positions, commencing July 1, 2019. We are inviting applicants for an Assistant Professor: Indigenous Creative Writing, and for an Assistant Professor in Creative Non-Fiction (Rogers Chair). See our opportunities page for more information.
Yugumalleq: A film by MFA Candidate Kavelina Torres
Congratulations to MFA Candidate Kavelina Torres, whose short film Yugumalleq / Shades of Life will air in United States Indian Country and on PBS stations across the US on August 5th, 2018 at 4:30 pm PST (7:30 pm EST).
Kavelina Torres
Kavelina is a Sundance Native Film and an Alaska Native Playwright’s Program alumna. Her film, Yugumalleq, resides with First Nations Experience (FNX) for PBS television programming. Her play, Something in The Living Room, debuted in April 2018 Vancouver, BC, to raise funds for safe injection sites.
Alanna Francis Leaps into Screenwriting with The Rest of Us
Recent MFA graduate Alanna Francis spoke to us about finding success with the screenplay she wrote as a student in the Creative Writing Program.
The screenplay, The Rest of Us has recently started production, produced by Toronto’s Babe Nation Creations.
The film is directed by #AfterMeToo co-creator Aisling Chin-Yee (Synesthesia), who is making her feature film directorial debut. It stars Heather Graham (Boogie Nights), Sophie Nélisse, (The Book Thief) Jodi Balfour (The Crown) and young actress Abigail Pniowsky (Arrival). It follows a divorced woman (Graham) who threatens her already rocky relationship with her teenage daughter (Nelisse) when she invites her ex-husband’s second wife (Balfour) and daughter (Pniowsky) to move in following his unexpected death. Continue reading “Alanna Francis Leaps into Screenwriting with The Rest of Us”
2018 New Shoots Anthology Launch
We can’t stop reading the anthology!
A fabulous time was had by all at the 2018 New Shoots Anthology Launch!
Every year the Creative Writing Department partners with the Vancouver School Board and we send MFA’s into secondary schools as New Shoots Mentors. From December to May, New Shoots Mentors work with students as they explore every genre of writing imaginable (and a few more). In June, we publish an anthology of the students’ work and celebrate their accomplishments at a launch party. This year we were joined by Jen Sookfong Lee and Wayde Compton.
Jen and Wayde read their work alongside the fantastic New Shoots students, as did two of our MFA Mentors, Meagan Black and Andrew Dasselaar. These writers brought their poems, fiction and nonfiction to life, cheering each other on, and we ate almost all the cake.
Wayde Compton (right) with our New Shoots Student readers
Thanks to all of the mentors, students, teachers, families and friends of New Shoots for coming out and making this event such a celebration!
To all new and returning MFA’s who live in Vancouver: in September we will be looking for New Shoots Mentors for 2018-2019… You’ll be hearing from us!
More pictures follow (photo credits: Olga Holin). Continue reading “2018 New Shoots Anthology Launch”
