Guest Industry Expert — All Access 2020:
JON MONTES
Producer at the NFB
Based in Winnipeg, Jon is a producer with the National Film Board of Canada, working on a slate of documentary, animation, and interactive projects about identity, culture, and social justice.
His most recent feature doc, the multi-award winning nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up (dir. Tasha Hubbard), opened Hot Docs 2019 where it took home the Best Canadian Feature prize and has since screened theatrically across Canada and at festivals around the world.
More recently, Jon produced the short documentary Stories Are in Our Bones (dir. Janine Windolph), which premiered at San Francisco’s American Indian Film Festival. Other short docs include Talking at Night (dir. Eric Thiessen), To Wake Up the Nakota Language (dir. Louise BigEagle), and Ride (dir. Kristin Catherwood), all produced through the Doc Lab Saskatchewan project. Additionally, the short docs Breaths (dir. Nyla Innuksuk) and Music in the Prairie Night (dir. Mike Maryniuk) were produced for the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.
Prior to producing, Jon worked as associate producer with the NFB, working on the 10th and 11th editions of the Hothouse animation intensives, the feature documentary Danny (dir. Justin Simms, Bill MacGillivray), and a slate of short and long form projects. A transplanted east coaster, Jon holds an MA in Communication & Culture from York and Ryerson Universities.