Message from imagineNATIVE

Welcome to the eighth annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.

Our vitality and success over the years is due largely to the incredible talent pool of Indigenous artists worldwide and the committed individuals who support their growth. Each year the imagineNATIVE programmers have a monumental task: selecting a collection of the best Indigenous-made work. While it is immensely rewarding, it also an incredible challenge.

This year’s sampling is characteristically reflective of the diversity in global Indigenous cinema. The stories told also speak clearly of a worldwide cinematic movement. Quite simply, the rapid growth of Indigenous cinema is unlike any in the contemporary arts. Through the language of filmmaking our cultures are as vital as ever.

Language itself has become a touchstone of Indigenous cinema. Increasingly artists are incorporating Indigenous language into their works in often surprising – and inspiring – ways. For this reason, Indigenous languages are a key focus of this year’s festival.

Once again, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I offer our immense gratitude and congratulations to our staff, funders, patrons, advisors, volunteers, and community partners. With your support, expertise, and contributions we have achieved another milestone year.

As always, I wish you an incredible festival experience.

Jason Ryle Chair, Board of Directors

It is my pleasure to extend this warm welcome to the eighth annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. Over the next five days, you will have access to some of the most compelling and innovative film, video, radio and new media art works being produced by Indigenous artists from Canada and around the world.

As always, we have a jam-packed program of exciting new works in store for festival audiences, as well as two individually curated programs: Charmaine-Jackson John’s International Spotlight on the Navajo Nation of the southwestern United States, and Art Gallery of Ontario curator Gerald McMaster’s interactive program on the topic of Re-enactment.

This year is a particularly proud moment in imagineNATIVE’s history as we present an exhibition of contemporary art at the Royal Ontario Museum’s new ICC Gallery. One of the first exhibits in the new ROM Crystal, the show features new site-specific works, notable works and live performances by some of our leading contemporary artists, as well as a selection of evocative pieces from the ROM’s collection.

We hope that these programs, as well as the numerous events, workshops, panels and performances available during the festival provide opportunities for inspiration, discussion, interaction and new ideas for all participants.

Please allow me a moment to thank all of the artists who make this festival possible and the staff, board and volunteers whose endless dedication and enthusiasm have gone into creating a distinctly unique event of celebration, openness and inclusivity – a festival that is truly unlike any other.

Enjoy!