The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television has selected 13 post-secondary students for its National Apprenticeship Training Program.

Chosen from close to 100 applications by an Academy-member jury, this year headed up by editor Richard Wells (La Femme Nikita), the new lot of apprentices covers off the areas of cinematography, editing and producing.

The program puts post-secondary students from across the country studying film, tv, communications or related subjects into the employ of industry professionals for a 12-month period.

Atom Egoyan (Felicia's Journey) and Jeremy Podeswa (The Five Senses) have already hired on two of this year's natp students and Damon D'Oliveira (Love Come Down) has put in a requisition.

"The jury's final selections are a group of the finest leaders in our school system and a benefit to any production," says Wells.

The trainees will be officially announced at Toronto City Hall May 18.

Launched in 1994, this year's natp is sponsored by Kodak, BC Film, CFCN Production Fund (Alberta) and the City of Toronto.

(www.academy.ca)