Tanis is an actor/producer and member of the Métis Nation of Alberta (Cree).
Tanis Parenteau is a producer/actor and member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Tanis produced and stars in the APTN lumi digital original series ‘Jason’ recently launched Feb. 14th. Her debut short film, ‘A Big Black Space’ premiered on ARTÉ in Europe, won Best Canadian Short at Dreamspeakers International Indigenous Film Festival, the Royal Reel Award at the Canada International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 12th Red Nation Film Festival. Her most recent short, ‘Dating Indian’, was nominated for an Alberta Film & Television (Rosie) Award for Best Scripted Production Under 30 Minutes. Her projects have been funded by Indigenous Screen Office, Bell Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Media Fund, and Alberta Media Arts Alliance.
Tanis is a member of Canadian Media Producers Association, Alberta Media Production Industries Association, and Peace Region Independent Media Arts Association. She is an alum of Banff Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, NSI Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition, ISO/Netflix Indigenous Production Apprenticeship, Whistler Film Festival Producers Lab, The Genre Lab, AMAAS One2One, Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices, AMPIA Bespoke Mentorship, Alberta Producer Accelerator, and Reelworld Amazon MGM Studios Line Producer Lab. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The New School for Drama.
Can you please provide a brief overview of your journey in the film and TV industry?
-I’ve been an actor for over 20 years and I started producing in 2015 because I was tired of ‘waiting by the phone’ to be cast in something. I had short film scripts that a friend at the time had sent to me that I wanted to act in so I started producing them. I’ve now produced eight short films and an APTN short form digital original series that just launched February 14 on lumi. My projects have been funded by Indigenous Screen Office, Bell Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Media Fund, and AMAAS. My work focuses on uplifting Indigenous voices writing contemporary and futuristic Indigenous stories and to work with as many Indigenous creatives and craftspeople as possible. I’m also now a member of CMPA, AMPIA and PRIMAA.
What are some of your key accomplishments?
-Receiving a license from APTN for my short form digital series “Jason”.
-My debut short film “A Big Black Space” premiered on ARTÉ and one of my recent short films “Dating Indian” won best comedy at Edmonton Short Film Festival and was nominated for an AMPIA Rosie for Best Scripted Production Under 30 Minutes.
What are your current and/or future projects?
-I am currently developing two features and a tv series.
Have there been any key moments in your career that changed your trajectory?
-My APTN lumi license was the biggest stepping stone for my career so far but my producing mentorships and professional development opportunities have also been incredibly valuable to my growth as a producer and propelled forward movement for me in many different ways. Two in particular that have greatly impacted the trajectory of my career are my ISO/Netflix Indigenous Production Apprenticeship with Erin Haskett at Lark Productions and my AMPIA Bespoke Mentorship with Mike Peterson of Peterson Polaris. I’m also an alum of Banff Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, NSI Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition, Whistler Film Festival Producers Lab, The Genre Lab, AMAAS One2One, Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices, Alberta Producer Accelerator, and I’m currently in the Reelworld Amazon MGM Studios Line Producer Training Lab.
