Meet the TELUS STORYHIVE Emerging Talent Award Recipients from the Empowered Filmmaker program

The TELUS STORYHIVE Emerging Talent Award is a recognition given to filmmakers with an outstanding project in TELUS STORYHIVE’s Empowered Filmmaker program. The filmmakers given this award demonstrate a readiness to accelerate their filmmaking practice to the next level.

Winners receive support and exposure to help grow their filmmaking skills and reach, including camera gear credit, promotional features across STORYHIVE platforms, elevated distribution for their film and the potential to collaborate with TELUS on future projects.

We’re honoured and thrilled to celebrate the achievements of these filmmakers and their thought-provoking stories. We’re committed to elevating their work and can’t wait to see where their projects take them next.

Let’s meet some of the creatives behind these powerful short films!

"Healing with Resilience"

Prince George, B.C. | Project Leads: Stephanie Holmes and Kristen Bob

“I hope audiences understand that no matter how much we’ve struggled, resilience is still within us. It’s up to us to access it and become who we were meant to be.”

In Healing with Resilience, Tl’azt’en Nation community leader Stephanie Holmes explores what healing looks like for Indigenous people still living with the intergenerational effects of colonization and residential schools. Created with collaborator and friend Kristen Bob, the documentary emerged from a simple question: What do we need to heal?

“We started with a simple storyboard based around that question, had a whole notebook of notes and came up with seven words,” Stephanie says. 

Those themes shaped the film’s structure as Stephanie and Kristen reflected on resilience in their own lives and communities. “We wanted to focus on strength and resiliency rather than trauma,” she explains.

One of the film’s most powerful moments captures the pair walking from different river paths before meeting and joining hands. “It represents that we can’t do this alone; we need each other.”

Participating in STORYHIVE’s Empowered Filmmaker program gave the team the tools to translate their ideas into a visual narrative. “Being shown the basics of videography and editing was huge,” Stephanie says. The experience also set a new direction for their professional work with the Indian Residential School Survivor Society and a podcast called Woven Spirit: Threads of Wisdom. 

“I hope audiences understand that no matter how much we’ve struggled, resilience is still within us. It’s up to us to access it and become who we were meant to be."

"The People Under the Bridge"

Lethbridge, Alberta | Project Leads: Jory Charlebois, June Many Grey Horses & Aaron Devine

"Homelessness is one of the most ignored communities. I want people to become more considerate and take action where they can."

In Lethbridge, Alberta, three emerging filmmakers are tackling one of their city’s most persistent challenges: homelessness. Their film, The People Under the Bridge, follows the lives and realities of unhoused residents while calling on viewers to rethink their assumptions.

“We wanted to create something that would have a positive benefit on our community,” says high school filmmaker Jory Charlebois, who created the film alongside June Many Grey Horses and Aaron Devine. The trio spent weeks interviewing residents, gathering footage around the city and speaking with community members who work closely with those affected by homelessness and addiction.

Jory recalls one interview in particular with a person named Noah. “Noah told us how addiction was affecting his loved ones. It showed how deep the issue really goes.” 

The team also visited a local museum to learn how homelessness disproportionately impacts Indigenous communities, a perspective that helped broaden the film’s frame.

Jory led much of the production and editing of the film. “Joining the Empowered Filmmaker Program was a very positive experience; I learned a lot about filmmaking and the industry, and really feel the film created a positive community impact.”

For those looking to make their own foray into filmmaking, his advice is to always stay organized. “It gives you more time to tell the story in the best way possible!” 

Jory also hopes the film encourages audiences to think deeper. “Homelessness is one of the most ignored communities. I want people to become more considerate and take action where they can.”

"My Story"

100 Mile House, B.C. | Project Leads: Ruben Christopher & Floyd Dick

“The film is an introduction to my culture and my dad’s culture. It summarizes our people; our traditions, our history and our land.”

With only five days to plan, film and edit, emerging BC filmmaker Ruben Christopher set out to create an intimate portrait of his Indigenous heritage. His short film, My Story, captures the land, history and traditions that shaped his family and his community.

“The film is an introduction to my culture and my dad’s culture,” Ruben explains. “It summarizes our people; our traditions, our history and our land.” 

Working with his parents as his entire production team, the family brainstormed, scouted locations and shot footage across central British Columbia. 

“We’re a somewhat small nation with a few bands here and there,” says Ruben, “We’re clustered together and trying to hold our piece of land. This film was a chance to bring our story to the forefront and to a wider audience—getting the word out to people.” 

Of the entire filmmaking process, Ruben says editing was particularly special. “I’d put on some music and start piecing the film together. That was the most enjoyable part for me, learning what I could,” he says.

A highlight of the film is a sweeping drone shot over the Alkali Reservation, captured with guidance from the program facilitator operating the drone who mentored Ruben during filming. “Being the person behind the camera, I also had to be part of the brainstorming, trying to capture the image and put it on screen. It involves a lot of planning and lots of practice.” 

His advice to aspiring filmmakers? Have a plan, but don’t be afraid to adjust as needed. “There will be mistakes, but you’ll have an opportunity to change those mistakes into something better.”

Now investing in equipment and training, Ruben hopes this project is only the first step toward further storytelling: “I’m hoping I can keep learning, expand my knowledge and keep creating.”

Huge congratulations to these talented filmmakers!

These films are available to watch now, along with 33 more films made in the Empowered Filmmaker program this year, on TELUS Optik TV Video on Demand channel 9, Stream+ and STORYHIVE’s YouTube channel. 

Learn more about the Empowered Filmmaker program