2023 imagineNATIVE Catalogue by imagineNATIVE

Presenting Partner

TORONTO OCTOBER 17-22 , 2023

ONLINE OCTOBER 23-29, 2023

imagineNATIVE.org | #imagineNATIVE A

BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE : CARRY IT ON

KUN’TEWIKTUK A MI’KMAW ADVENTURE

SPEAK YOUR TRUTH, IGNITE NEW STORIES

TWICE COLONIZED

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CHUMS GONE SQUATCHIN'

The Canada Media Fund is here to uplift bold, courageous voices across the audiovisual industry—from television and web series to documentaries, video games, IDM and immersive projects. Wherever there’s a vision and a desire, we’re there to light the spark.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Declaration of Indigenous Cinema

Festival Greetings

About imagineNATIVE

Code of Conduct

Board + Staff

Programming Selection Committee

Volunteer Acknowledgement

In Honour of Sara Roque

Schedule at a Glance

Guest Services Information

Getting Around Toronto

Accessibility

Festival Venues

Box Office

Festival Merch

Festival Tote Bag

Film Works

iNdigital Space

Audio Works

Digital + Interactive Works

iNdigital Days

104

Industry Days

106

Institute Calls for Applications

110

Special Events

111

Welcome Gathering

112

Opening Night Party

113

The Beat

114

Art Crawl

116

Exhibitions

118

August Schellenberg Award

125

List of Awards

126

Awards Juries

127

Print Source

128

Artist Index

131

Country Index

133

Giveaway

134

Public Funder Thank You

135

Festival Partners

136

Thank You

138

DECLARATION OF INDIGENOUS CINEMA

We, the Indigenous screen storytellers, united in this northern corner of our mother the earth in a great assembly of wisdom declare to all nations: We glory in our past When our earth was nurturing our oral traditions of our dreams. When night sky evoked the visions of our dreams. When the sun and the moon were our parents in our stories told. When storytelling made us all brothers and sisters. When our stories brought forth great chiefs and leaders. When justice was upheld in the stories told. We will Hold and manage Indigenous cultural and intellectual property. Ensure our continued recognition as primary guardians and interpreters of our culture. Respect Indigenous individuals and communities. Faithfully preserve our traditional knowledge with sound and image. Use our skills to communicate with nature and all living things. Heal ourselves through screen storytelling. Preserve and pass on our stories to those not yet born.

We will manage our own destiny and maintain our pride/identity through story.

Guovdageaidnu, Sápmi, October 2011 Written by Asa Simma (Sámi), with support from Darlene Johnson (Dunghutti), and accepted and recognized by the participants of the Indigenous Film Conference in Kautokeino, Sápmi, October 2011.

Nia:wen/Miikwech/Thank you to the International Sámi Film Institute (ISFI) for sharing this document with imagineNATIVE. For more information on the ISFI, visit isfi.no.

OIHOWANA̱ HDǪH NE:’ ǪGWEHǪ:WEHNE̱HA:’ GAYA’TA’

I;’ ne:’ Ǫgwehǫ:weh agwaga:do̱ha’, deyagwana̱ hsǫ:dǫ’ otów’egeh gwadi heyo’wi: sęh etino̱ha’ ohwęj’ageh, ganakdagwę:ni:yo’ ne:’ ga’nigo̱howa:nę’s, dwaihowa:nahta’ ne:’ i:s heyohwęja:gwe:goh: agwa:gwegoh i:’ gaihowa:nęh ohná’gęjih twę̱hnisrade:nǫk Tsi deyetihsnye’ ohwęj’ageh dwawęnaga:yo sęhǫ: ǫgwayanǫ’s Asohehka:’ gaǫhyada:gye: ǫgwayo̱hwada:nih gaya’daǫ:nyǫ’ sęh a’ǫgwayanǫ’k Ne:’ asohehka: ęhni’da:gye’s ne:’ hni ędehka ga:hgwa:’ i:’ knǫ:ha’ ne gwatoh ha’nih sęhǫ: dwaga:’shǫ:ǫh Tsi gaga:doha’ deyagwadęhnǫdrǫk a’ǫgwa:dǫ’s Tsa’gwahawihdak dwaga:sǫh’oh ne:’ Hadiyanehsǫ’ ne:’ hni ’ Hadiya’dagwę:ni:yo Gaihwasrǫ:nih deyǫgwa̱hgwa’dǫhk sęhǫ: gaga:’sǫ:ǫh Nę: nęyagwagye:’ Dwaha:wi’ ne;’ gwatoh ęyagwaihwasrǫ:ni’ sęh niyǫgwaiho’dę: ne’ hni’ i:’ ǫgwa:węh ha’deyoihwageh Oihwi:yo ęwa:dǫ’ ęyǫkiyęde:’ sęh i:’ agwaya’dagwę:ni:yo: agwadę’nigo̱ha:’ ne’ hni’ agwadewęna:ga:da:s ne:’ sęh niyǫgwaiho’dę:. Dędwadadrihwanǫhkwa:k jǫgweda’tshǫ’ ne:’ gwatoh heyohwęjagwe:goh ǫgwehǫwehnehsǫ’ Ǫgwaya’dada:ni: dęyogwaihwasnye’ sęh niyǫgwaiho’dę: ne:’ohǫ:ga’t ne hni’ gayadaǫnyǫ:’ Ędwahs hodę’ hne:’ agawaihǫh dęyagwahtao:nyǫ’ ne:’ tsa’ o:ya’t ne’ hni’ gwegoh gęnonhe:nyo:’ Ędwadatné:yǫ:’ne:’ gaya’ta’geh ga:ga:’sǫ:ǫh Dęyogwaihwasnye’ ne gwatoh ęyeti:yǫ’ dwaga:sǫ’ǫh ne;’ sǫga;’ tę’ ahsǫh deyagonęnagradǫh

Ęgwaihwa̱ hsrǫ:ni’ ne:’ i:’ ǫgwa:węh ohę:dǫ’ ha’węhni ̱sradenyǫ:gye:’ ne:’ gwatoh ęyagwadrǫ:go’ i:’ ǫgwa:węh ganai:’/sęh niyǫgwaiho’dę:

Guovdageaidnu, Sápmi, Sa’kneh 2011 Asa Simma a’ehya:dǫ’ (Sámi), ne: a’ǫdadyena:wa’s Darlene Johnson (Dunghutti) and accepted agodihwaye:na:’ ne:’ gwatoh gae:yę:dei’ ne:’ Indigenous Film Conference gęgyohgwa’ sęhǫ: Kautokeino, Sámpi, Sa’kneh 2011.

Nya:węh/Miikwech/Thanks ne:’ International Sámi Film Institute sęh ne:’ atgae:kahsi’ nę:gyęh sęhǫ: Festival ohyado̱hsrǫ:dǫ’ ne:’ ǫgwa:węh. Ha’deyoihwage ęwa:dǫ’ ęse:tsęi: ne:’ nę honadrihwasdi:sdǫh, sekdǫ: nętoh: isfi.no.

Translation by Kaniehtenhawi Deer (Cayuga)

FESTIVAL GREETINGS

Tansi,

Aniin,

I extend my sincere greetings to you all.

Welcome to the 24th imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival! The last year has been filled with so much reflection and growth. We are honoured to present this year’s Festival and thankful to have you join us.

Welcome to the city of Toronto, which resides along the beautiful shores of Niigaani Gamig (Leading Lake in Ojibwe) also known as Lake Ontario.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to start by thanking you, the community and our sponsors. Your generosity, honesty, and acceptance have enabled imagineNATIVE to continue to grow and evolve. We are positive this year’s Festival will build on the conversations we have had throughout the year to deliver an enthralling experience both in-person and for those joining us online.

The Festival comes together as Turtle Island (North America) ushers in the brilliance of Takwâkin (Fall-time in Plains Cree), which is the time of celebration of the many gifts provided by our Mother Earth, she who since the beginning of time has nurtured and provided for all of Creation. It is during Fall-time a wonderful memory of my Family comes to mind; in the darkness of the early Dawn my Father and Uncles would offer up the Sacred Pipes, sending up prayers and songs of Thanksgiving and Gratitude for the bounty of the Harvest, while my Mother and Aunties were busy preparing for the feast to come. This memory is filled with the smell of Traditional Medicines, Muskeg Tea, and the love of my Family which continues to warm my heart.

One of the best things about being on the Board for imagineNATIVE is witnessing the team behind it. This year has been no different. The Festival has been able to progress because of the staff’s unwavering dedication and their own evolution. For that, myself, the Board, and the community at large are extremely grateful. All of these things combined give us the confidence that this year will deliver another exciting Festival and put us in a great position to knock it out for our milestone 25th year!

It is in this Spirit that the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival comes together from the Four Directions, Our Family, to honour the weaving of our reclaimed stories and continuing to strengthen our Ancestral ties and giving voice to our Nations.

Happy Festival! Thank you for being with us and we hope you continue to join us as we reach new heights in the future.

Hiy Hiy to the Festival team all for the boundless, inspirational work you do throughout the year to bring us all together. Blessings for a wonderful time!

Migwetch, Melanie Nepinak Hadley Chair, imagineNATIVE Board of Directors Ojibway

Kinanâskomitinâwâw (Thank you all), Piyesiw Iskwe (Thunder Woman) Kokum Pauline Shirt Cultural Advisor, imagineNATIVE Plains Cree Nation, Treaty 6 Territory

FESTIVAL GREETINGS

Shé:kon,

Wa’tkwanonhwerá:ton!

Here we are, getting into the Festival groove once more! We are happy to roll out the red carpet and provide this series of extraordinarily jam-packed days at the 24th imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.

It’s a pleasure to welcome you to another amazing year of imagineNATIVE. I am honoured to be joining the imagineNATIVE team as Festival Director. I hold this space with great respect and will do my utmost to continue the important endeavour of uplifting our artists and their work.

Foremost, I want to thank all the artists who are presenting their work at the Festival. The messages and stories you share are vital to generating a better understanding of this world and each other. Supporting authentic Indigenous voices and experiences is needed now more than ever. Creating and sharing artistic work involves a person tapping into their human vulnerability, and we acknowledge that it takes a great deal of fortitude and courage to get to this presentation phase of the work. We are thankful you chose us as a space to share your vision.

Nyawen’kó:wa (great thanks) to all the artists who have submitted to this year’s Festival. We had a record number of submissions, reflecting the growth of Indigenous talent and storytelling in the industry, with every work contributing to a new age of representation that future generations of artists will build upon, continuing to uplift authentic Indigenous narrative sovereignty. Congratulations to you all. I invite our audiences to stick around after screenings to join our artists for Q&As.

The imagineNATIVE team is comprised of caring individuals who want to host the best possible experience. Their faces are within this Festival catalogue, Board and staff alike. Please find us and say “hello” and share your thoughts throughout the week. A big thank you to our many volunteers, those who donate their time to make this week what it is; we truly couldn’t do this without you! A heartfelt thank you to all of those who have had a piece in making imagineNATIVE what it is today — staff, Board, friends, and cousins alike. Finally, thank you for showing up and continuing to support Indigenous artists and their work. Enjoy the show!

Nyá:wen to our programming team and jury members, who have contributed their time and energy to adjudicating and deliberating to lock in strong programs for you to enjoy and choosing our award winners. I want to acknowledge and honour you for your efforts. This year we wanted to bring artists, partners, industry leaders, and community members together in a way that feels like visiting their Totahs. The Matriarch’s home is the place where legacies live, languages and cultures thrive, and everyone feels safe and cared for. This is what we strive to bring to you all. So we welcome you back with open arms to meet with family and friends old and new, revel in the beautiful works that our communities have to offer, and celebrate each other because we are here, we are thriving, and we are making our ancestors proud!

Nia:wen, Naomi Johnson Executive Director Kanyen'kehá:ka (Mohawk)

I look forward to spending time with you all and hope you enjoy this year’s Festival. Lindsay Monture Festival Director Kanyen′kehá:ka

FESTIVAL GREETINGS

Supporting Indigenous creators and producers is critical to our industry’s success at home and around the world—and the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival has made an unparalleled contribution to that success for more than two decades.

Hello and welcome back! First, thank you for the continued support you’ve shown imagineNATIVE these past 24 years. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone in our community for the enthusiasm we see every year. This includes our Board of Directors, the artists, our partners and funders, our donors, and our audiences.

The Canada Media Fund is proud to return as lead sponsor of the Festival for the third year in a row. A big thank you to imagineNATIVE’s organizers, Board, staff, and volunteers for once again bringing us together to experience and celebrate Indigenous storytelling across all platforms.

Our team has worked incredibly hard to present this year’s offerings, and we’re so excited to share them with everyone. It’s always incredible to see so many stories in various mediums and to gather in a shared space.

Enjoy the Festival! I look forward to it every year. Throughout the Festival, I hope you have an opportunity to experience everything we have to offer, whether it’s VR in our iNdigital Space, a screening for an emerging filmmaker, an exhibition at one of our partner galleries, or one of our audio works.

Valerie Creighton President + CEO, Canada Media Fund

Have a great week! Mahsi Cho, David Morrison Associate Director Dene

FESTIVAL GREETINGS

We are excited to welcome you to the 24th imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival!

Boozhoo, Aanii. The imagineNATIVE Institute welcomes you to the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and to Industry Days!

This year we saw a renewed commitment from many long-standing partners along with passionate new ones. Every single donor, partner, funder, and foundation allows us to continue our work to the highest standard.

Industry Days takes place in-person October 18-21 and online from October 23-27 and will host a number of offerings designed for Indigenous creatives in the film and television industry.

Miigwetch for the returning support and commitment of our Presenting Partner, the Canada Media Fund, who has enabled us to reach new levels of excellence.

The imagineNATIVE Institute will be presenting the imagineNATIVE Originals Program, which will include the world premieres of Indigenous-made short films, web series, and a music video. The projects screened in this program are created through the Institute’s yearround mentorships, commissions, and collaborations.

To all imagineNATIVE supporters, we are continually grateful for all your generosity and excitement for all that we do. With your support, we are able to continue to showcase, promote, and celebrate Indigenous storytellers. Maarsii | Miigwetch,

Industry Days will host a full day of Micro Meeting networking sessions aimed at providing a space for Indigenous onscreen creatives and industry decisionmakers to build meaningful connections and work toward future collaborations. This year’s Micro Meetings are open to Industry Days attendees, programmed Festival artists, and industry decision-makers.

Jenna Bjornson Corporate Partnership Manager Métis

Industry Days will also have a web series pitch event, panel discussions, and a special highlight of the feature film scripts developed in the imagineNATIVE Institute’s Screenwriting Features Lab. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the website schedule. Baamaapii, Jamie-Lee Reardon Institute Manager

ABOUT imagineNATIVE

imagineNATIVE is a registered charity committed to inspiring and connecting communities through original Indigenous film and media arts. We are located on the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and the HuronWendat Nations.

imagineNATIVE is a festival that supports the diverse artistic visions and perspectives of Indigenous artists working in the media arts; works selected for programming do not need to have overt Indigenous content or themes. As identified in our mission statement, imagineNATIVE is a charity committed to dispelling stereotypical notions of Indigenous Peoples through diverse media presentations from within our communities, thereby contributing to a greater understanding by all audiences of Indigenous artistic expression.

We acknowledge the Dish With One Spoon covenant, a treaty whose spirit is one based in collective stewardship and the sharing of land and resources, and one which extends to all Nations living in present-day Toronto. Since our first Festival in 2000, the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival has programmed film, video, audio, and digital media works made by Canadian and international Indigenous media artists in key creative roles as producers, directors, and writers. In programming these works over the years, imagineNATIVE has embraced works from Indigenous creators that push artistic boundaries to represent a diversity of ideas, themes, and genres in our programming, seeking representations of subjects that are not necessarily available through mainstream forms of media. In keeping with our artistic policy, the Festival prioritizes works that balance and present unique and new perspectives expressed within the content of the work; cultural, community, and social relevance; a creative approach to form characterized by innovative expression; a distinctive style; personal vision; and a practice of crossing aesthetic borders in terms of genre, medium, and emerging content platforms.

Founded by Cynthia Lickers-Sage and Vtape with the help of other community partners, imagineNATIVE is now the largest Festival of its kind and an international hub for creative excellence and innovation in media arts. In addition to the Festival, the Centre for Aboriginal Media (imagineNATIVE’s legal name) also presents the annual imagineNATIVE Tour and numerous copresentation screenings nationally and internationally which extend our mandate to present Indigenousmade works year-round. In 2017, we launched the imagineNATIVE Institute, which presents professional development opportunities for Indigenous screen content creators all year long.

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

#imagineNATIVE @imagineNATIVE

401 Richmond St W, Suite 446 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3A8 T: +1 416 585 2333

imagineNATIVE is a registered charity (legal entity: The Centre for Aboriginal Media).

info@imagineNATIVE.org imagineNATIVE.org

Charitable Number: 89893 8717 RR0001 To donate, please visit: imagineNATIVE.org/support/donate 8

CODE OF CONDUCT

At imagineNATIVE we strive to create a Festival atmosphere that brings people together in a good way to celebrate our stories, cultures, and arts. All attendees at imagineNATIVE, including Elders, invited delegates, and members of the public, have the right to be free of harassment, discrimination, sexism, and threatening or disrespectful behaviour — either in-person or online — from others attending the Festival. This includes but is not limited to: • O ffensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, or religion; • Deliberate intimidation; • Harassing photography; • Sustained disruption of talks or other events; • Inappropriate physical contact. We reserve the right to refuse entry or revoke accreditation to Festival events and venues without notice for those who engage in such conduct. If you experience a violation of this Code of Conduct at the Festival, please contact a member of the imagineNATIVE staff. All violations of the law should also be reported to local law enforcement. For emergencies, immediately dial 911. We strive to work and walk responsibly, professionally, and caringly at all times and ask that you share this commitment to fostering a supportive, loving, and safe Festival environment.

BOARD + STAFF Board of Directors

MELANIE HADLEY

ALAN BACCHUS

ALISON KOROGYI

Chair

Secretary

Board Member

COLIN VAN LOON

DARLENE NAPONSE

JASON EDWARD LEWIS

Board Member

SUZANNE KITE

TRAVIS MERCREDI

Board Member

VICTORIA ANDERSONGARDNER

Board Member

AMELIA WINGER-BEARSKIN

ANNE PICK

CLAUDIA SKUNK

Board Member

JORDAN MOLARO

KELLY BOUTSALIS

MAIZE LONGBOAT

Board Member

LINDSAY MONTURE

KAITLYNN TOMASELLI

JESSE KING

RAQUEL KESHANEWATETCH

Festival Director

Program Manager

Exhibitions + Program Coordinator

JAMIE-LEE REARDON

BLISS BONDY

WHITNEY HEROUX

Institute Coordinator

Industry Days Coordinator

Board Member

Staff

NAOMI JOHNSON

DAVID MORRISON

Executive Director

Associate Director

MEGAN FEHELEY

COLE FORREST

Programming Administrative Assistant

Print Traffic Coordinator

Institute Manager

Digital + Interactive Coordinator

CHEYANNE JACKO-SAWE

Industry Days Coordinator

BOARD + STAFF

Production Coordinator Erin Fleck Box Office Assistants Agatha Cheng Charlie Greenwood

JENNA BJORNSON Corporate Partnership Manager

ANTHONY GROSBECK Fundraising Administrative Assistant

ANGELA SWEETING

TARA HAKIM

Operations Manager

Production Manager

Front of House Lead Victoria Crough Guest Services Brandon Membrere Victoria Bacani Public Relations Route 504 PR Digital Ad Management Innovate By Day

LU LINARES

AMALIYA LOUIS

CODY ESCUYOS

EMILY REVICZKY

Box Office + Patron Services Manager

Volunteer Manager

Operations Assistant

Volunteer Coordinator

Website Development AKA New Media Festival Photography Lindsay Duncan Festival Videography Peppercorn Imagine Catalogue Design Terry Lau, Beehive Design Katerina Davies, Beehive Design

TEINEISHA RICHARDS Events + Outreach Manager

TIANA OSBORNE

AKRAM HUSSAIN

KATHLEEN WALSH

Events Coordinator

Outreach Intern

Communications Manager

TRAILER TEAM Designer + Animator James Monkman Creative Director Kikki Guerard Sound Designer Nigel Irwin

KIKKI GUERARD Creative Coordinator

HUNACHEW ENGEDA

KATERINA BRODARIC

Website Coordinator

Publications + Archives Coordinator

SUMMER BELLEAU

Communications Assistant

Versioning Jade Yurich, Streamland Media Vanessa John, Extreme Reach

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PROGRAMMING SELECTION COMMITTEE Programming Selection Committees are comprised of filmmakers, artists, and curators. They work to provide additional perspectives on individual titles, overarching themes, and the programming structure. imagineNATIVE’s Festival Director, Lindsay Monture, is joined by Adam Piron, Madeleine Hakaraia de Young, and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers to oversee the selection of the films, with Asha Veeraswamy and Pōhaikealoha Panoke joining us for the selection of Digital + Interactive and Audio works.

Adam Piron

Madeleine Hakaraia de Young

Film + Video

Adam Piron (Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma and Mohawk) is a Southern California–based filmmaker, writer, and curator. He is the Director of Sundance Institute’s Indigenous Program, where he oversees the organization’s support for Indigenous filmmakers globally, and a co-founder of COUSIN: a film collective dedicated to supporting Indigenous artists experimenting with and pushing the boundaries of the moving image. As a film programmer, he has served as a member of the Sundance Film Festival’s short film programming team since 2013 and was previously the film curator for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as well as a former member of the programming teams for AFI Docs, AFI Fest, imagineNATIVE, and the LA Film Festival. His films have screened at Mamá (Mom)’s Doc Fortnight, MOCA Los Angeles, True/False Film Festival, ESPN’s 30 for 30, The New Yorker’s Documentary Series, BlackStar Film Festival, the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Camden International Film Festival, and various other festivals and programs. His writing has appeared in The Criterion Collection’s The Daily, Cinema Scope magazine, Documentary magazine, Metrograph, and CNN.

Madeleine Hakaraia de Young (Ngāti Kapu) is a producer and the Festival Director for the Māoriland Film Festival, New Zealand's international Indigenous film festival held each March in Ōtaki, Aotearoa (New Zealand). The Māoriland Film Festival is the largest international Indigenous film festival in the Southern Hemisphere and is the showcase event of the Māoriland Charitable Trust, a centre of excellence for Māori and Indigenous film and creativity. Māoriland is known for its innovative work with rangatahi (youth). Supported by a team of rangatahi, Maddy has spent the last 10 years developing and overseeing the implementation of Te Uru Maire, the Māoriland Rangatahi Strategy. Te Uru Maire nurtures rangatahi to find their voices through film and develop the practical skills to tell their unique stories. Over 200 short films have been made through this program over the last 10 years with over 2,000 participating rangatahi, both in New Zealand and internationally. Madeleine’s work with Te Uru Maire was recognised at the 2021 New Zealander of the Year Awards where Madeleine was a semi-finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year.

PROGRAMMING SELECTION COMMITTEE

Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers Film + Video Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers is a filmmaker and actor. She is a member of the Kainai First Nation and Sámi from Uŋárga. She starred in, co-wrote and co-directed The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open with Kathleen Hepburn which premiered at the Berlinale in 2019 and was awarded Canadian Screen Awards for Achievement in Direction and Original Screenplay. Tailfeathers’ featurelength documentary, Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy, premiered at the 2021 Hot Docs International Documentary Festival and won the Ted Rogers Best Documentary Feature Award at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards. Elle-Máijá starred in Danis Goulet’s sci-fi apocalyptic film Night Raiders for which she won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She also stars in the independent feature Stellar, directed by Darlene Naponse, which premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Elle-Máijá can be seen starring alongside Alfred Molina in the Amazon series Three Pines, based on the best-selling novels by Louise Penny. Additionally, Elle-Máijá directed the first three episodes of the Crave/APTN limited series Little Bird.

Asha Veeraswamy Digital + Interactive Asha Veeraswamy (Onöndowa'ga:'/Seneca) is a creative technologist, entrepreneur, and new media artist. By leveraging digital technologies, she strives to bridge virtual worlds and economies with the physical realm, creating positive impacts. Her innovative work, backed by organizations like A+E Networks, Time Inc., Oculus, Bose Corp., Mozilla Foundation's Wampum.codes, and imagineNATIVE, showcases her ability to blend technology and creativity. With a business background that spans from grassroots initiatives to venture-backed startups, Veeraswamy currently focuses on transforming local supply chains. She creates vital connections between makers, communities, and digital solutions, driving sustainable growth and fostering community empowerment.

Pōhaikealoha Panoke Digital + Interactive Pōhai is a Kanaka Maoli storyteller, interactive media producer, and emerging filmmaker from Waiʻanae, Hawaiʻi. While working on indie interactives and founding a cultural learning site for Kanaka to reconnect with ancestral knowledge, Pōhai landed a mentorship with Netflix to develop and hone her screenwriting skills. She went on to write and direct her first short film in May of this year alongside her first gig for directing story on a documentary in collaboration with her local waʻa (canoe) community. Whether storytelling in interactives, animation, or film, Pōhai weaves culture and Indigenous resilience into her narratives, hoping to create works that portray the future as one of empowerment and abundance for Native Peoples.

VOLUNTEER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Niá:wen | Miigwetch | Thank You imagineNATIVE Volunteers

Our volunteers are at the very heart of imagineNATIVE’s community and their support and commitment have made the 2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival possible! To our amazing volunteers, your contributions are immensely appreciated and crucial for making a positive impact on the work we do! Thank you.

Remembering Harvey Lalonde April 7, 1962 - February 13, 2023 It is with heartfelt remembrance that we acknowledge the passing of longtime volunteer, Harvey Lalonde. He traveled all over Canada volunteering and working when he could for film and theatre festivals. For decades, imagineNATIVE had the honor to work with Harvey and we will truly miss him not only as a volunteer, but also as a supportive presence with the biggest heart. He leaves us with a reminder of the incredible impact one individual can have on a community.

Photo Credit: Harvey's Facebook Page

IN HONOUR OF SARA ROQUE

Sara Roque, an Anishinaabekwe with a passionate and sincere heart, contributed immensely to Indigenous arts communities and circles throughout her career. She was a supporter, connector, and motivator for many artists and administrators and truly created instrumental change for the better. With her time, she contributed to the arts as an arts activist, producer, and director, as well as an administrator for the Centre for Indigenous Theatre, and her tenure as the Indigenous Arts Officer at the Ontario Arts Council. Sara’s determination, care, and strength ensured meaningful funding and support for Indigenous artists and organizations throughout the province, including imagineNATIVE. Those working behind the scenes as arts administrators in funding are often not acknowledged for the valuable work that they do. We at imagineNATIVE wish to acknowledge and thank Sara and her work; she made an indelible impact on the artistic communities in Ontario and across Canada. Chi Miigwetch Sara. Journey well to the Sky World.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org/festival/schedule.

Special Event

1:00PM

2:00PM

Opening + Closing Screening

3:00PM

4:00PM

5:00PM

6:00PM

7:00PM

Welcome Gathering Native Canadian Centre of Toronto 16 Spadina Rd p. 112

TUES Oct 17

Tautuktavuk (What We See) TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 39 Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 36, 37, 38

WED Oct 18

Short Film Program 2: You Know Who You Are TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 40, 41, 42

Art Crawl + Reception Various Locations p. 26, 29, 117

Vaychiletik TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 51

THU Oct 19

Short Film Program 4: Staying Vigilant TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 49, 50

Café Daughter TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 48

ISHI TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 52

1:00PM

2:00PM

3:00PM

4:00PM

5:00PM

6:00PM

7:00PM

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Sensory Friendly Screening

7:00PM

8:00PM

Special Screening

9:00PM

10:00PM

Feature Film

11:00PM

Short Film Program

12:00AM

1:00AM

2:00AM

12:00AM

1:00AM

2:00AM

Opening Night Screening: Fancy Dance TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 35 Opening Night Party Steamwhistle Brewery 255 Bremner Blvd, Bay 6 p. 113 Short Film Program 3: A Mother's Love TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 43, 44, 45 I'm Just Here for the Riot TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 46

Telefilm: Arctic Program TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 47

TV Watch Party: Reservation Dogs, Season 3 TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 57 Short Film Program 5: Queerdom TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p.53 Double Bill: Veins of the Amazon + Sunflower Siege Engine TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 56

7:00PM

8:00PM

9:00PM

10:00PM

11:00PM

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org/festival/schedule.

Special Event

1:00PM

2:00PM

3:00PM

Opening + Closing Screening

4:00PM

5:00PM

6:00PM

7:00PM

Red, White & Brass TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 59 imagineNATIVE Originals TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 60, 61

FRI Oct 20 APTN lumi Web Series Screening + Q&A TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 58 Awards Presentation TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 126 CFMDC: Saugeen Takes On Film TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 69

SAT Oct 21

Inky Pinky Ponky TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 75

Indigenous Storytellers in Animation Spotlight on “ONLY YOU: Animated Shorts” Creators TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 70, 71

Short Film Program 8: Into the Unknown TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 72, 73

APTN Presents: WaaPaKe TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 84

SUN Oct 22

Short Film Program 10: Long Line Of Ladies TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 85, 86, 87

Mamá (Mom) TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 91 Short Film Program 11: Embracing Loss TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 88, 89

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 81, 82, 83 1:00PM

2:00PM

3:00PM

4:00PM

5:00PM

6:00PM

7:00PM

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Sensory Friendly Screening

7:00PM

8:00PM

Special Screening

9:00PM

Feature Film

10:00PM

11:00PM

Short Film Program

12:00AM

1:00AM

2:00AM

Short Film Program 7: Witching Hour TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p.67, 68

The New Boy TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 P. 65 The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 P. 66 Short Film Program 6: "That's My Baby!" TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 62, 63, 64 Double Bill: Muru + He Pounamu Ko Āu TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 76

Café Daughter (Sensory Friendly Screening) TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 p. 77 Short Film Program 9: From Land to Water TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 p. 78, 79, 80 The Beat TD Music Hall 178 Victoria St p. 30, 82, 113, 115 Closing Night Screening: Hey, Viktor! TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1 p. 92

7:00PM

8:00PM

9:00PM

10:00PM

11:00PM

12:00AM

1:00AM

2:00AM

GUEST SERVICES

Guest Services Team

Hotel Information Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown/Entertainment District

BRANDON MEMBRERE

(he/him) Guest Services Manager bmembrere@imagineNATIVE.org

255 Wellington St W Toronto, ON M5V 3P9 marriott.com 416 581 1800

VICTORIA BACANI

Hilton Toronto Downtown Downtown/Entertainment District

(she/her) Guest Services Coordinator vbacani@imagineNATIVE.org

145 Richmond St W Toronto, ON M5H 2L2 hiltontoronto.com 416 869 3456

Our Guest Services team is here to help! For more information, please visit imagineNATIVE.org/festival/plan-your-visit.

Accreditation Desk: Pass Pickup TIFF Bell Lightbox 350 King St W Toronto, ON M5V 3X5 Tuesday, October 17 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday, October 18 | 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM Thursday, October 19 | 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM Friday, October 20 | 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM + 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM Saturday, October 21, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

GETTING TO TORONTO

Toronto Pearson International Airport The UP Express (Union Pearson Express) train connects the downtown core to Toronto Pearson International Airport in 25 minutes, with trains departing every 15 minutes. UP Express Fare: $12.35/trip

Billy Bishop Airport Located on the Toronto Islands, minutes from the downtown core, Billy Bishop Airport links to the city by a short ferry ride or pedestrian tunnel, with streetcar access on the mainland. There is a complimentary shuttle from Billy Bishop to Union Station every 15 minutes! 5:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Sunday to Friday), 5:00 AM - 8:45 PM (Saturday). Local taxi, Uber, and Lyft services in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) can accommodate travel from the airport and around the city.

Getting Around Toronto The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) provides subways, streetcars, and buses all around Toronto extending throughout the Greater Toronto Area. A single fare ($3.35) can be purchased/paid for at all subway stations, buses, and streetcars. Alternatively, you can purchase a Presto card to pre-load for use on all TTC-operated vehicles at a discounted rate ($3.30). A day pass can be purchased for $13.50, allowing unlimited trips for the day. All fares purchased through the Presto system include a two-hour transfer allowing unlimited entry and exit to the system within the two-hour window. Presto cards can be purchased at all subway stations and Shoppers Drug Mart locations.

TTC Fare: $3.35/trip, $13.50 day pass More information can be found on the Presto website at prestocard.ca. For accessibility, schedules, routes, and additional information please visit ttc.ca. 23

ACCESSIBILITY

Accessible Screenings

The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival strives to provide an accessible environment and positive Festival experience for all patrons. We are committed to developing and maintaining the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards via the path to 2025. All staff and volunteers have completed the AODA online training for more awareness and are attentive to our patrons’ needs.

OPEN CAPTIONS + SUBTITLES While we strive to offer Open Captions on all films in cinema and Closed Captions on all films online, there are a few films that may be presented with English Subtitles only. Please refer to our online listings at imagineNATIVE.org/faq for the most up-to-date information on which screenings offer which type of readable text.

All of our venues are wheelchair accessible. All service animals, guide dogs, and support persons are welcome at the venues.

ASL INTERPRETATION

Tickets to most film screenings have assigned seating, so guests are able to book the seat that is most comfortable for them without worrying about arriving early and waiting in line. Our Awards Presentation will have general seating with accessible seating held until the show begins. If you need assistance or have any questions, please reach out to accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org.

Selected introductions and post-screening Q&As will be presented with ASL interpretation. Please check our online listings for our most up-to-date information. If you have purchased an Industry Days pass and you have accessibility needs, please reach out to accessibility@imagineNATIVE.org. For industry panels, workshops, Micro Meetings, and Industry Days networking receptions and events, ASL interpretation will need to be booked as soon as possible.

For more detailed information on the Festival’s accessibility, visit imagineNATIVE.org/accessibility.

Online Festival Accessibility

SENSORY FRIENDLY SCREENINGS

This fall, we are excited to once again present our annual Festival in a hybrid edition!

These screenings allow guests with various accessibility needs to have a positive sensory friendly and inclusive environment.

We will welcome artists and audiences back to Tkaronto for in-person screenings and events October 17-22, 2023.

This means • Theatre lights are dimmed (not completely off) • Theatre sound levels are slightly lower • No trailers or advertisements play before the screening • Minimal introduction and no Q&As • Guests can move in and out during the screening • Silence is not expected

We will then move online to our screening platform October 23-29, 2023, to ensure that we connect with those who aren’t yet able to attend in-person offerings. You will have access to visit (or revisit) select films featured the previous week. Film availability is subject to geoblocking and film rights.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18

Please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org for the most up-to-date information on all our offerings for both versions of our Festival.

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Content Warning: Coarse language, mild violence.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 Café Daughter 9:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Content Warning: Adult themes, coarse language, nudity, sexual references

ACCESSIBILITY

Health + Wellness Support Workers

Support services provided by Ganohkwasra.

imagineNATIVE greatly values the importance of healing and cultural safety. We understand that some content presented by imagineNATIVE may be upsetting or triggering for both direct and intergenerational survivors of trauma. For this reason support workers will be available for counsel during both our in-person and online Festivals. These services are for anyone, including nonIndigenous people, requiring emotional support or access to traditional medicines. We will strive to provide verbal disclaimers during introductions for in-person programs containing scenes of graphic violence, sexual violence, or which dealing with issues of residential schools. Please check our film listings online for up-to-date content warnings and ratings. Services will be provided at select dates and times on-site at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Please check our website at imagineNATIVE.org for the most up-to-date information.

Schedule Tue Oct 17

7:00PM - 10:30PM

Wed Oct 18

5:00PM - 8:30 PM

Thu Oct 19

4:00PM - 12:00AM

Fri Oct 20

9:00PM - 2:00AM

Sat Oct 21

8:30PM - 11:00PM

Sun Oct 22

1:30PM - 6:30PM

FESTIVAL VENUES University Ave

St Patrick St

Queen St W

McCaul St

John St

Beverley St

Soho St

Spadina Ave

Bulwer St

Queen St W

Osgoode

Richmond St W

2 Nelson St

King St

Simcoe St

Duncan St

John St

Widmer St

Pearl St

University Ave

Adelaide St W Peter St

Charlotte St

Spadina Ave

Adelaide St W

St. Andrew

King St

Wellington St Blue Jays Way

Spadina Ave

Front St

Rogers Centre Bremner Blvd

York St

Simcoe St

CN Tower

FESTIVAL VENUES ZONE 1 Box Office + Cinema

Special Events

TIFF Bell Lightbox 350 King St W Toronto, ON M5V 3X5

Steam Whistle Brewery Opening Night Party 255 Bremner Blvd, Bay 6 Toronto, ON M5V 3M9

Merch Pop-Up Shop The Commons 401 Richmond St W, 4th Floor Toronto, ON M5V 3A8

TIFF Bell Lightbox Awards Presentation 350 King Street W Toronto, ON M5V 3X5

Industry Days Hub For Industry Days venue location, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org.

Art Crawl 2

401 Richmond Building 401 Richmond St W Toronto, ON M5V 3A8

Onsite Gallery 199 Richmond St W, Ground Floor Toronto, ON M5V 0H4

FESTIVAL VENUES

ZONE 2

Zone 2

Special Events

Dundas St

Bond St

Mutual St

Church St

Toronto Eaton Centre

Bond St

Toronto, ON M5B 1T6

Victoria St

Yonge St

TD Music Hall The Beat + Industry Party Speical Events 178 Victoria St TD Music Hall 4 Toronto, (TheON Beat & Industry Party) 178 Victoria St M5B 1T6

Bay St

Dundas

Shuter St

Queen

Queen St

ZONE 3

Zone 3

Special Events 6

Lowther Ave

St George St

Huron St

Madison Ave

r Rd

Spadina Ave

lme Wa

Dalton Rd

Brunswick Ave

Howland Ave

Speical Events Native Canadian Canadian Centre of Toronto 7 Native Centre of Toronto Welcome Gathering (Welcome Gathering) October 17, October 17, 2:00 PM 5:00- 5:00 PM PM 2:00- PM 16 Spadina 16 Spadina Rd Rd Toronto, Toronto, ON ON M5R 2S7 M5R 2S7

Barton Ave

Spadina Bloor St

Elm St

Zone 4

D’Arcy St

Art Crawl 7

Dundas St

St. Patrick Un

AGO 317 Dundas St W Toronto, ON M5T 1G4

Zone 3 Barton Ave

FESTIVAL VENUES

Speical Events

Lowther Ave

St George St

Huron St

Madison Ave

Spadina Ave

d er R

Dalton Rd

Brunswick Ave

Howland Ave

Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (Welcome Gathering) October 17, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 16 Spadina Rd Toronto, ON M5R 2S7

lm Wa

Spadina Bloor St

ZONE 4

Elm St

Zone 4

Art Crawl 7

D’Arcy St

Art Gallery of Ontario Art Crawl 317 Dundas St W 7 AGO Toronto, ON 317 Dundas St W M5T 1G4 Toronto, ON

St. Patrick

Dundas St

University Ave

St. Patrick St

ZONE 5

McCaul St

Grange Ave

Beverley St

Grange Pl

Huron St

M5T 1G4

Harbord St

Art Crawl 8

University of Toronto

Spadina Ave

St George St

Art Museum at the University of Toronto 7 Hart House Cir Toronto, ON M5S 3H3

BOX OFFICE IN-PERSON FESTIVAL

PACKAGES

PRICE

WHAT YOU GET

5 Ticket Package*

$45

5 tickets to any in-person film screening

10 Ticket Package*

$80

10 tickets to any in-person film screening

* There are no restrictions on the number of tickets one can book for a single screening with a ticket package. Ticket packages are not valid for special events or industry events.

SINGLE TICKETS

REGULAR

STUDENTS/SENIORS WITH ID

Screenings

$10

Welcome Gathering

Free Admission

Opening Night Party*

$15

TD Free Friday (October 20)

Free, Ticketed**

The Beat (advance)

$20

The Beat (at the door)

$25

Awards Presentation

Free, Ticketed

Art Crawl

Free, Ticketed

* This ticket does not give patrons access to the Opening Night Screening. Only valid for the Opening Night Party. ** All film screenings on Friday, October 20 are FREE. Tickets can ONLY be collected on October 20 at the in-person imagineNATIVE Box Office located at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. There is a limit of TWO tickets per person. This initiative has been made possible by the generous support of the TD Bank Group.

Free, Ticketed**

BOX OFFICE ONLINE FESTIVAL

ONLINE FESTIVAL

PRICE

WHAT YOU GET

Online Festival Pass

$50

Access to all films offered on our platform, subject to location geoblocking and distribution rights

Single Online Ticket

Access to the selected feature film or short film program

How To Purchase

Tickets are available for purchase via our online ticketing platform, Elevent, on our website at imagineNATIVE.org/festival/box-office. During the in-person Festival, you can also purchase tickets at our physical imagineNATIVE Box Office located at the TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 17 to October 22, 2023. Please refer to our website for the most up-to-date Box Office hours.

RUSH TICKETS:

HST REBATE:

There are NO RUSH TICKETS available. Tickets will go off sale 30 minutes after the start of a screening. Tickets will be available at the in-person Box Office depending on availability.

Status card holders are eligible to claim a rebate of the 8% Ontario portion of HST paid on qualifying goods and services. Please contact boxoffice@imagineNATIVE.org if you wish to use your Status card to purchase packages or tickets online. You can also visit the imagineNATIVE Box Office during our in-person hours starting October 17 and present your Status card when purchasing tickets.

FESTIVAL TOTE BAG

Every year, imagineNATIVE commissions an Indigenous artist to create an image for our Festival Tote Bag. The Tote Bag is offered to delegates attending our Festival and this year, it is also available as part of our official Festival merchandise. The production of the bag is supported by Miziwe Biik. In the ideation of this year's Festival theme, we were inspired by the heartbeat of the drum and how it keeps our community connected. Natalie King has created an image based on these themes and principles. Thank you, Natalie King, for your beautiful artwork! Natalie King is a queer, interdisciplinary Anishinaabe (Algonquin) artist, facilitator, and member of Timiskaming First Nation. King’s arts practice ranges from video, painting, sculpture and installation as well as community engagement, curation, and arts administration.

TUESDAY 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

Opening Night Film

OCT 17

Fancy Dance Director/Writer: Erica Tremblay (Seneca/Cayuga) Co-Writer: Miciana Alise (Tlingit) USA | 2023 | 90 min English, Cayuga | Dramatic Feature Canadian Premiere Content Warning: Adult themes, coarse language, use of alcohol, tobacco products, vapour products, or cannabis

Fancy Dance announces the arrival of a major directorial talent: Erica Tremblay. Her unflinching exploration of marginalization uses a mystery narrative as a springboard for an oblique coming-of-age story, lovingly and luminously enacted by Gladstone and Deroy-Olson. Tremblay’s juxtaposition of settler violence against the strength of Indigenous communities offers a nuanced account of the human costs of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women epidemic and the possibilities of healing for those left behind.

Since her sister’s disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of losing custody to Jax’s father, the pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. What begins as a search gradually turns into a far deeper investigation into the complexities and contradictions of Indigenous women moving through a colonized world and at the mercy of a failed justice system.

Erica Tremblay is an award-winning writer and director from the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Her feature film, Fancy Dance premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and also screened at SXSW. Tremblay lives on Cayuga Lake in upstate New York, where she studies her Indigenous language.

OCT 18

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies

WEDNESDAY 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Sensory Friendly Screening Sensory Friendly Screenings are screenings where the environment is adjusted to accommodate people who would appreciate a positive, inclusive space, such as a relaxed attitude towards noise and movement, slightly lowered volume, lights at a dim level, and a minimal introduction with no Q&A. People also are more than welcome to leave their seats to roam around.

Regular Screening Sunday, October 22 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies A whimsical trek through the woods, connecting with and standing up for the earth, reconnecting with the past and present.

OCT 18

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies

WEDNESDAY 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Starlight Sojourn

NANGULVI

Directors: Darcy Tara McDiarmid (Han/Northern Tutchone), Chantal Rousseau Canada | 2023 | 4 min No Dialogue | Experimental Short, Animation Ontario Premiere A vibrant animation with natural soundscapes depicting Yukon wildlife traversing through the night.

Director/Writer/Producer: Segundo Fuérez (Kichwa Otavalo) Co-Writers: Luis Bonilla (Kichwa Otavalo), Wayra Ana Velásquez (Kichwa Otavalo), Gandhy Rubio, Sandy Realpe Ecuador | 2022 | 5 min Spanish | Dramatic Short, Animation Canadian Premiere

Darcy Tara McDiarmid is a Han and Northern Tutchone artist from the Crow Clan. Darcy draws inspiration from nature, trying to capture the pristine beauty of our natural world.

An adorable stop-motion animation short about a bear and a musician who recruit their friends to help a group of Indigenous women fight a mining corporation on their lands. Segundo Fuérez is a dedicated freelance animator who specializes in stop-motion, 2D animation, and motion graphics animation. Segundo has worked professionally in the industry for over 10 years.

Ni Wapiten (I see)

Directors: Julie Ottawa (Atikamekw), Noémie Echaquan (Atikamekw) Canada | 2022 | 3 min Atikamekw | Dramatic Short Ontario Premiere

Director/Writer: Brent Owen Beauchamp (Onondaga/ Anishinaabe) Canada | 2023 | 3 min Anishinaabemowin | Dramatic Short, Animation Content Warning: Excessive flashing/strobing lights

A child’s call for action to the people of the world to do better for Mother Earth and future generations.

A boy learns not to run off on his mother and that not everything is what it seems.

Julie Ottawa is a young Atikamekw woman from Niherowisiw, Manawan. She is very involved in community and regional projects.

Brent Owen Beauchamp is an Indigenous artist, animator, and designer f rom Six Nations of the Grand River.

Noémie Echaquan is an Atikamekw woman from the community of Manawan. She is a student at the general education centre in Trois-Rivières. 37

OCT 18

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies

WEDNESDAY 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Nemi

Rieban - The Fox

Director/Writer/Producer: Nicolás Zarco (Xochimilca) Mexico | 2021 | 8 min Spanish | Dramatic Short, Animation Canadian Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Sara Margrethe Oskal (Sámi) Norway | 2023 | 8 min Sámi | Dramatic Short Toronto Premiere

An elderly woman missing her family journeys to the past to revisit her younger self and reunite with her loved ones.

After struggling to hunt fish and satisfy her hunger, a mischievous fox gets creative when she comes upon a fisherman heading home with his catch of the day.

Nicolás Zarco is an audiovisual artist from southern Mexico. He is currently a university educator, digital animator, producer, and independent director.

Sara Margrethe Oskal is a Sámi director and scriptwriter from Norway. She holds a PhD from the Oslo National Academy of Arts researching humour and storytelling.

The Bull of Cold

Whistling Woods

Director: Alexander Moruo (Sakha) Producers: Anna Borisova (Sakha), Roman Okoneshnikov (Sakha) Kazakhstan | 2023 | 9 min Sakha | Dramatic Short, Animation Toronto Premiere

Director/Writer: Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree) Canada | 2022 | 11 min Cree, English | Dramatic Short Ontario Premiere Content Warning: Coarse language, mild violence When a group of kids reach the limits of their boredom they turn to each other for entertainment, playing Truth or Dare, telling spooky stories, and doing what we’re all told not to do: whistle in the woods.

A young Sakha boy apprentices under his reluctant grandfather as they build an ice sculpture of the Bull of Cold, but something goes wrong when the boy takes the project into his own hands.

Barry Bilinksy is a professional theatre creator and director of Cree, Métis, and Ukrainian heritage currently based in Montréal.

Alexander Moruo is a film and creative director based in New Zealand. He grew up in Siberia with deep roots in his Sakha culture and heritage.

Tautuktavuk (What We See)

WEDNESDAY 5:00 PM - 6:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

OCT 18

Tautuktavuk (What We See) Directors: Carol Kunnuk (Inuit), Lucy Tulugarjuk (Inuit) Canada | 2023 | 82 min Inuktitut | Documentary Feature Content Warning: Domestic violence, use of alcohol, tobacco products, vapour products or cannabis, and triggering historical trauma Carol Kunnuk has worked in independent television and film production since 1994 as a writer, camera operator, production supervisor, 1st AD, actor, and editor.

Love, pride, hope, and joy f ind their way to the surface in this meditation on hardship and survival. Featuring some familiar faces f rom previous Isumaproduced f ilms and f ilmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, this hybrid work blurs the lines between f iction and documentary, offering an honest portrait of how two sisters work through shared histories of pain and strength. Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk’s Tautuktavuk (What We See) transcends any f ixed ideas on Inuit culture and community and stands as an aff irmation of lateral love and community care. It is truly singular in its approach to visual storytelling, using f ilm as a tool for justice, redemption, and healing.

Lucy Tulugarjuk is an actor, creative performer, and the Executive Director of Nunavut Independent Television Network (NITV).

OCT 18

Short Film Program 2: You Know Who You Are

WEDNESDAY 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Short Film Program 2: You Know Who You Are What does it mean to be Indigenous when you are away from home? You Know Who You Are explores connection to country and identity as diasporic Indigenous peoples across the great ocean of the Pacific.

OCT 18

Short Film Program 2: You Know Who You Are

WEDNESDAY 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Babanil

Plastic - A love letter to the estranged

Director/Writer/Producer: Marlikka Perdrisat (Nyikina) Australia | 2023 | 6 min Nyikina, English | Documentary Short International Premiere

Director/Writer: Va’a Magalogo (Samoan) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 14 min English, Samoan | Documentary Short International Premiere

Country is where you belong. From Indigenous Australia, Babanil explores how connection to country links its people to the ancestors across generations and millenia.

Plastic/fake/other. What can be done when a community doesn't accept their own blood? What can be done when a community won’t share their culture with their own? What does it mean to be a Pacific person living in the diaspora?

Marlikka Perdrisat grew up in Nyikina Country, influencing her understanding of time, which is felt through her editing. Babanil is Marlikka’s first short film.

Va’a Magalogo is a proud Samoan, born and raised in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Plastic is his first short film that he made as a part of his last assignment at University.

Belonging

Pasifika Drift

Directors/Writers/Producers: Lucía Ortega Toledo (Zapotec), Daniel Califf-Glick USA | 2022 | 14 min Spanish, English | Dramatic Short International Premiere Content Warning: Coarse language

Director: Alana Hicks (Papua New Guinea) Writer: Natasha Henry (Papua New Guinea) Australia | 2023 | 12 min Tok Pisin, English | Dramatic Short International Premiere A new baby is on its way and the aunties have arrived to bring their children home.

A semi-autobiographical story of immigration, the struggle to fit in, and a particularly loud rooster.

Alana Hicks is a Papua New Guinea/Australian writer, director, and dance floor starter.

Lucía is Zapotec (from Mexico). In 2020, she directed her first film and was a 2021 Fourth World Indigenous Lab fellow.

OCT 18

Short Film Program 2: You Know Who You Are

WEDNESDAY 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

The Mainland Director/Writer/Producer: Conrad Lihilihi (Kanaka Maoli) USA | 2021 | 18 min English | Dramatic Short Canadian Premiere Use of alcohol, tobacco products, vapour products, or cannabis In Hollywood, an aspiring Hawaiian actor faces a dilemma. Does he honour his own identity or play at being ethnically ambiguous to fit a cynical diversity agenda? Conrad Lihilihi is a Kanaka Maoli filmmaker who is renowned for his stories of Hawai‘i and its diaspora. As he prepares to embark on his first feature film, his commitment to representing Hawai‘i and its people remains unwavering.

Short Film Program 3: A Mother's Love

WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

Short Film Program 3: A Mother's Love A Mother’s Love is resilient, strong and determined. It transcends physical boundaries. It finds a village, shared among sisters and aunties, and it does it on its own. This program honors the ways motherhood can exist.

OCT 18

Short Film Program 3: A Mother's Love

WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

istén:′a

Entre Nous Locataires (Between Us Tenants)

Director: KJ Edwards (Kanien′kehá:ka) Canada | 2023 | 5 min English | Experimental Short Toronto Premiere

Director/Producer: Elijah Alexander Chenoweth (Cree) Canada | 2022 | 7 min English | Documentary Short Ontario Premiere

A woman visits her late mother in her dreams. A reminder that when our loved ones pass, they are never really far away.

In the midst of an impending redevelopment eviction, three mothers share their stories of raising their children at the Alma Blackwell Co-op, a residential safe space meant for families escaping domestic violence.

KJ Edwards is a Kanien′kehá:ka, mixed-settler filmmaker and media artist, born and raised on Treaty 6 Territory in Edmonton.

Elijah Alexander Chenoweth is a Cree (George Gordon First Nation) filmmaker from East Vancouver. He loves to make thrillers.

The Sky is Very Pretty

Camping

Director/Writer: Aracely Méndez (Maya Tseltal) Mexico | 2022 | 17 min Spanish | Documentary Short Ontario Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Derek Quick (Ottawa) USA | 2023 | 8 min English | Dramatic Short A working homeless mother struggles to make ends meet, but does her best to provide her daughter with a safe and loving environment despite living out of their car.

Mothers bear the weight of uncertainty for their futures while their daughters continue to live out their childhood playing and dreaming within the walls of a Mexican migrant and refugee shelter.

Derek Quick (Negane Meno) is an Ottawa/Hispanic film director and Disabled USA Coast Guard veteran.

Aracely Méndez is a Tseltal, feminist, sociologist, and filmmaker. She collaborates with organizations that defend the human rights of migrant women and Native people.

Short Film Program 3: A Mother's Love

WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

OCT 18

AYKUO

He Karu He Taringa

Director: Ayaal Adamov (Yakut) Russian Federation | 2023 | 20 min Yakut | Dramatic Short North American Premiere Content Warning: Sexual activity

Director/Writer: Tahuaroa Ohia (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) Producer: Jess Berghan (Te Rarawa) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 13 min Māori, English | Dramatic Short Canadian Premiere

In this dream-like experimental drama, roles of motherhood shift between sisters when a student returns to her rural Yakut home after her sister passes.

Seen through the eyes of a young boy sensitive to the world’s intense sights and sounds, a mother desperately advocates to get a diagnosis to help him.

Ayaal Adamov grew up in the north in Oymyakon, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). He graduated from SaintPetersburg State Institute of Film and Television.

Tahu was diagnosed with Autism and Global Developmental Delay when he was six years old. He is passionate about sharing stories that uplift Indigenous people all over the world.

NIGIQTUQ ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind) Director/Writer/Producer: Lindsay McIntyre (Inuit) Canada | 2023 | 16 min Inuktitut, English | Dramatic Short World Premiere An Inuk mother lives under the watchful eye of her RCMP officer husband, falling under pressure for her and her daughter to assimilate to their new life in the south. Lindsay McIntyre is an award-winning filmmaker of Inuit/ mixed-settler descent working with themes of personal histories and bridging gaps in collective experience.

OCT 18

I’m Just Here for the Riot

WEDNESDAY 8:45 PM - 10:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

I’m Just Here for the Riot Directors/Producers: Asia Youngman (Cree/Métis), Kathleen Jayme Canada | 2023 | 78 mins English | Documentary Feature Content Warning: Violence

Asia Youngman is an award-winning Indigenous director based in Vancouver, Canada. Named one of Playback’s “10 to Watch,” Asia wrote and directed the short film Hatha (2021) and her short documentary This Ink Runs Deep (2019) premiered at the 44th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

After the Vancouver Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup in 2011, Canucks fans stunned the world with an all-out riot on the streets of downtown Vancouver. Asia Youngman and Kathleen Jayme’s thought-provoking film engages with Canucks fans who chose to riot and the aftermath of their choices. Interviews with witnesses and experts provide a fulsome portrait of the world’s “first smartphone riot.” In a country that trades on its reputation for politeness, this documentary offers an alternate narrative of Canada, one in which everyday citizens engage in explosive and violent behaviours if their hockey team loses a game. I’m Just Here for the Riot places settler rage, consumer chaos, mob-mentality, and social media vigilantism under the microscope, offering a fresh perspective on an illuminating moment in Canadian history.

Arctic Indigenous Witness Short Film Series

WEDNESDAY 9:15 PM - 11:15 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Arctic Indigenous Witness Short Film Series The short films that make up the Witness series are produced by Indigenous filmmakers in their own home communities. They focus on climate change and how it is affecting their everyday lives and traditional livelihoods in the Arctic. The Witness short film series is co-produced with the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund and Telefilm Canada. This program includes films from Dennis M, Svetlana Romanova, Isaac Partridge, Hansa Pieski, Kawahine Danner, and Sadetlo Scott.

OCT 18

OCT 19

Café Daughter

THURSDAY 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

Café Daughter Director/Writer/Producer: Shelley Niro (Mohawk) Canada | 2023 | 90 min English, Cree | Dramatic Feature World Premiere Content Warning: Coarse language; violence; use of alcohol, tobacco products, vapour products, or cannabis

This screen adaptation is the latest in the expansive and prolific oeuvre of director Shelley Niro. Rooted in the experiences of Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck, Order of Canada, Niro and the film’s cast compose a story of inspiration and champion what is possible in overcoming adversity and forging your own path. Shelley Niro is a multidisciplinary artist and a member of the Six Nations Reserve, Turtle Clan, Bay of Quinte Mohawk. Her work challenges stereotypical images of Indigenous Peoples. Though she delves into serious issues and uses rich, poignant imagery, Niro inserts humour into her practice.

Based on the play of the same name by Kenneth T. Williams, and inspired by true events, Café Daughter is a coming-of-age story about Yvette Wong, a young Chinese Cree girl in 1960s Saskatchewan, who explores and embraces her Cree identity after the passing of her mother. Her journey to reconnect is further bolstered by Maggie Wolf, a part Mi’kmaq girl, who encourages her to take pride in who she is and where her family comes from. When Yvette’s ancestry is revealed, the attitudes of her fellow students and teachers soon turn to discrimination against her and her dreams of going to medical school. In the face of all of this, Yvette chooses to persevere and succeed.

Sensory Friendly Screening Saturday, October 21 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Short Film Program 4: Staying Vigilant

THURSDAY 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Short Film Program 4: Staying Vigilant Sometimes when injustices happen, we have to take things into our own hands. Those moments that give us a heightened sense of awareness of what is going on around us are no accident. Stay proactive, stay vocal, stay vigilant.

OCT 19

Short Film Program 4: Staying Vigilant

THURSDAY 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Redlights

No Māori Allowed

Director/Writer/Producer: Eva Thomas (Walpole Island First Nation/Tohono O'odham/Cherokee) Canada | 2023 | 14 min English | Dramatic Short Content Warning: Adult themes, coarse language, violence

Director/Writer: Corinna Hunziker (Ngāpuhi, Ngātu Kahu) Producer: Reikura Kahi (Māori/Cook Island) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 44 min Māori, English | Documentary Short North America Premiere Content Warning: Adult themes

A woman vigilantly trails the cops who picked her friend up after a night out. She doesn’t know where they are taking her, but she knows she will not become a victim.

The rural town of Pukekohe in Auckland is shaken when confronted with its hidden past; the segregation and racism towards Māori is uncovered.

Eva Thomas is a writer, director, and producer. She has worked on Still Standing, Shelved, Zarqa, Acting Good, and Don’t Even.

Corinna Hunziker is an Indigenous storyteller whose work highlights the many Māori voices of Aotearoa (New Zealand).

To Be Silent Director/Writer: Tace Stevens (Noongar/Spinifex) Producer: Skye Leon (Yangal/Worimi) Australia | 2022 | 9 min English | Documentary Short Toronto Premiere A personal story about the subtle ways in which racism can show itself in the workplace, and a lesson in trusting your gut when things don’t feel right. Tace Stevens is a Noongar and Spinifex woman from Western Australia. She’s a photographer and emerging filmmaker based in Sydney.

Vaychiletik

THURSDAY 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

OCT 19

Vaychiletik Director/Writer: Juan Javier Pérez (Tsotsil) Mexico | 2021 | 83 min Tsotsil, Spanish | Documentary Feature Ontario Premiere Juan Javier Pérez was born in Chiapas in the Tsotsil village of Zinacantán. Since childhood, he has participated in ceremonies of his community as a companion of his father, a renowned traditional musician. He studied Intercultural Communication at the UNICH and Documentary at the Escuela de Cine Documental de San Cristóbal de las Casas.

"Dreams are not to be told. They are a secret just for you."

- José Pérez Lopez.

In this mesmerizing portrait of his family, filmmaker Juan Javier Pérez offers a unique glimpse into the beauty and the burden of his aging father’s ancestral gift. José has been granted the rare power of being in communion with his ancestors in the dream world. With this gift comes the sacred responsibility of ceremony and a life of servitude to his community. This gentle but fierce documentary looks at the cost of honouring a sacred vow when the growing desire is to simply live as an everyday person. Vaychiletik (dreams in the Mayan Tzotzil language) is a stunning work of poetry that reminds us to trust in the power of dreams.

OCT 19

ISHI

THURSDAY 6:15 PM - 8:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

ISHI Director: Dana Claxton (Hunkpapa Lakota) Canada | 2023 | 113 min English | Documentry Feature, Experimental World Premiere In August of 1911, a Native American man mysteriously appeared in the town of Oroville, California. He walked out of the bush, starving, not speaking, and visibly traumatized. Town residents, unable to determine where he came from, called in University of California anthropologists Alfred Kroeber and T. T. Waterman, who determined the man was from the Yahi people from the Nation of Deer Creek. The man was brought back to the UC campus and given the name Ishi, meaning man in the Yahi language. As with most history, the story of the Yahi is tragic. After the California gold rush in 1849, Ishi’s people were massacred. It is estimated that around 1908, Ishi escaped the massacre by hiding in the bush, surviving on his own, lonely, without community and forced to hide from a world now filled with his people’s executioners.

This hybrid feature documentary is based on the performance of James Luna, who toured a performance piece called ISHI: The Archive Performance reflecting on Ishi's story and the impact of colonization that exists today. Dana Claxton is a Hunkpapa Lakota filmmaker, photographer, and performance artist. Her work looks at stereotypes, historical contexts, and gender studies of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, specifically those of the First Nations. In 2007, she was awarded an Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art.

Short Film Program 5: Queerdom

THURSDAY 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Short Film Program 5: Queerdom This series is crafted by Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer filmmakers, revealing the magic and vulnerability of the community, but above all, it is a celebration of Queer joy. From leaky roofs to deep introspections, this short film program explores themes of identity and the immense power it holds on screen and behind the camera.

OCT 19

Program 5: Queerdom

THURSDAY 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Headdress

pî-kiwîk

Director/Writer: Taietsarón:sere “Tai” Leclaire (Mohawk/Mi’kmaq) USA | 2022 | 10 min English | Dramatic Short International Premiere Content Warning: Coarse language

Director/Producer: Keisha Erwin (nīhithaw (Woodland Cree) Canada | 2023 | 10 min Woodland Cree, English | Documentary Short World Premiere Content Warning: Triggering Historical Trauma

Amidst a music festival, a Queer Native Person witnesses a Non-Native wearing a ceremonial headdress, prompting a deep introspection to deliver the ultimate retort.

In this heartfelt, short documentary, Keisha Erwin shares their transformative journey of reconnecting with their family and culture in Northern Saskatchewan, demonstrating the power of healing through reconnection.

Taietsarón:sere “Tai” Leclaire is a Mohawk and Mi'kmaq director, writer, and actor from the Mohawk community of Kahnawá:ke.

Keisha is a Two-Spirit nīhithaw emerging artist, academic, and band member of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band in Saskatchewan.

Can I Love You?

I AM HOME

Director/Writer: Kymon Greyhorse (Navajo/Tongan) Producer: JoJo Threehairs (Navajo) USA | 2022 | 14 min Diné Bizaad, English | Dramatic Short International Premiere Content Warning: Adult themes, coarse language, use of illegal substances, sexual reference, violence

Director/Writer: Kymon Greyhorse (Navajo/Tongan) Producer: JoJo Threehairs (Navajo) USA | 2021 | 3 min Navajo | Dramatic Short A heartfelt, poetic journey, an intimate love letter that delves into self-discovery and cherishing one’s roots. Kymon Greyhorse is a Navajo, Tongan, and TwoSpirit film director, cinematographer, editor, and screenwriter. Greyhorse’s work explores the human experience, normalizing Indigenous existence.

When an acceptance letter to college arrives, a Navajo girl faces the challenge of relinquishing her role as a mother figure. Kymon Greyhorse is a Navajo, Tongan, and Two-Spirit film director, cinematographer, editor, and screenwriter. Greyhorse’s work explores the human experience, normalizing Indigenous existence. 54

Program 5: Queerdom

THURSDAY 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Dear Kin Director/Writer/Producer: Alexis Anoruk Sallee (Inupiaq) Co-producer: Jenny Irene Miller (Inupiaq) USA | 2021 | 24 min Tlingit, English | Documentary Short (Series) International Premiere A captivating web series intertwined with evocative photographic portraits celebrating Indigenous LGBTQ2S+ individuals and their unique narratives. Alexis "Alex" Anoruk Sallee is Inupiaq from Anchorage, Alaska, with family ties in Shishmaref and Nome. She leads Inua Productions, a high-quality cinematic film production company that creates work through an Indigenous lens.

The Roof Director: Alexander Bocchieri (Kānaka Maoli) Writer: W.A.W. Parker (Northern Cheyenne) Producer: Blake Pickens (Chickasaw) USA | 2023 | 20 min English | Dramatic Short International Premiere A leaky roof leads a Northern Cheyenne teen on a soulstirring journey, revealing an unexpected truth and a profound bond with family and community beyond their wildest imagination. Alex is an award-winning Native Hawaiian filmmaker who lives and works in Honolulu and Los Angeles. In 2022, Alex was selected to be a part of the Disney Launchpad Program. 55

OCT 19

Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon)

THURSDAY 9:30 PM - 11:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon) Directors/Producers: Alvaro Sarmiento (Quechua), Diego Sarmiento (Quechua) Co-Director: Terje Toomistu Peru | 2021 | 72 min Spanish | Documentary Feature North American Premiere From brothers Alvaro and Diego Sarmiento and collaborator Terje Toomistu, Veins of the Amazon is a gorgeously rendered portrait of a part of the world that is rarely seen through a lens of such honesty, dignity, and care. Transfixing and poetic, this film is an ode to the Indigenous bodies that labour under the forces of capitalism and modernity along the Amazon River. Foregoing conventional linear narratives, Veins of the Amazon asks the viewer to simply be present as these artfully captured moments in time drift by in a steady current offering a collective account of a world both fluid and static.

Sunflower Siege Engine Director: Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) USA | 2022 | 12 min English | Experimental Short Canadian Premiere Content Warning: Excessive flashing/strobing lights Movements of resistance are collapsed and woven together. These are gestures that meditate on the carceral nature of the reservation system and where sovereignty and belligerence intersect and diverge.

Alvaro and Diego Sarmiento are two Peruvian filmmaker brothers. Green River. The Time of the Yakurunas, their debut feature, premiered at the 67 Berlin Film Festival (Forum 2017) and was featured at the MOMA’s Doc Fortnight in New York.

Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) was born and raised in Ferndale, Washington, and spent a number of years in Palm Springs and Riverside, California; Portland, Oregon; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His video, photo, and text work centre around personal positions of Indigenous homelands and landscapes, and designs of language as containers of culture expressed through personal, documentary, and non-fiction forms of media.

THURSDAY 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

TV Watch Party: Reservation Dogs

OCT 19

Reservation Dogs: Season 3 Director, Writer, Showrunner, Executive Producer: Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muscogee) Co-Creators/Co-Executive Producers: Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muskogee), Taika Waititi (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) USA | 2023 | 90 min (3 episodes) English, Kiowa | TV Series Content Warning: Triggering historical trauma

FX’s Reservation Dogs is a half-hour comedy that follows the exploits of Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs), Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) and Cheese (Lane Factor), four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma.

Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muscogee) is an award winning filmmaker from Holdenville, Oklahoma. Now based in Tulsa, Harjo is the co-creator and showrunner of Reservation Dogs (FX Productions), a comedy series following four Indigenous teenage friends living on a reservation in Oklahoma. After its first season, Reservation Dogs won a 2022 Peabody Award, 2022 Television Academy Honors Award, 2022 Independent Spirit Award for Best Comedy Series, was an American Film Institute Awards Honoree, and won Best Breakthrough Series Under 40 Minutes at the 2021 Gotham Awards.

Join us for a binge session of the first three episodes of the third and final season, followed by a Q&A with showrunner Sterlin Harjo, Producer Migizi Pensoneau and cast. New episodes of FX's Reservation Dogs stream Wednesdays on Disney+ in Canada.

OCT 20

APTN lumi Web Series

FRIDAY 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Tales From The Rez Director: Trevor Solway (Blackfoot) Producer: Ahnahktsipiitaa Colin Van Loon (Blackfoot) Canada | 2023 | Episodes 1 + 2 English | Web Series Ontario Premiere Content Warning: Use of illegal substances, adult themes, domestic abuse

APTN lumi Web Series Screening + Q&A

Tales from the Rez is a unique blend of horror and comedy, an anthology series that breathes life into popular Indigenous traditional tales and urban legends. Our Rez Keeper, Uncle Randalf, stands at the crossroads between the living and the spirit world, introducing each episode with a macabre sense of humor and a voracious appetite for good stories.

The imagineNATIVE Institute welcomes APTN lumi, along with past participants of the imagineNATIVE + APTN lumi Web Series Pitch, to the Industry Days stage for the premiere of Tales From the Rez and D dot H. This screening will be followed by a moderated Q&A where the artists will discuss the motivation behind and the creation of their projects.

Trevor Solway, Sinakson, is a Blackfoot filmmaker from Siksika Nation. Trevor writes and directs both documentary and narrative films.

D dot H Director: Meegwun Fairbrother (Anishinaabe), Mary Galloway (Cowichan) Canada | 2023 | Episodes 1 + 2 English | Web Series World Premiere Doug wakes up in an alley and meets the mysterious "H". After a very strange encounter, she disappears only to reappear moments later, and does not recognize Doug at all. Meegwun Fairbrother is an Anishinaabe actor and filmmaker from Treaty 3, whose focus is bringing Indigenous stories to international screens. Mary Galloway is an award-winning, Cowichan and mixed settler descent filmmaker, actor, and a fierce trailblazer for Indigiqueer content creation. 58

Red, White & Brass

FRIDAY 5:45 PM - 7:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

OCT 20

Red, White & Brass Director/Writer: Damon Fepulea’i (Samoan) Co-Writer/Producer: Halaifonua Finau (Tongan) Co-Producers: Ainsley Gardiner (Te-Whānau a Apanui/ Ngāti Pikiao/Ngāti Awa), Taika Waititi (Māori), Carthew Neal, Georgina Conder, Morgan Waru Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 85 min Tongan, English | Dramatic Feature Ontario Premiere

With Red, White & Brass, director Damon Fepulea’i whips up a charming tale of what’s possible when you band together against improbable odds and set your sights on a goal that’s just out of reach. Foliaki leads the film’s colourful ensemble through their many hilarious misadventures and feel-good finale. Damon Fepulea’i is an Aotearoa-born director of Samoan and European heritage. Damon has been committed to Pacific storytelling throughout his career and is best known for his directing work on the hit New Zealand shows Jono and Ben, Head High, and Mean Mums. Red, White & Brass is Fepulea’i’s feature film debut.

When the window for securing a ticket to the Tonga versus France Rugby World Cup game closes, Maka (John-Paul Foliaki) is forced to get creative for his chance to see his favourite team. The only way he can make it work is to perform with his brass band at this monumental match. The problem is that he doesn’t have a band, instruments, or any musical ability at all. To make this group a reality, he’ll have to convince his friends and family in Wellington’s Tongan community to join him in his quixotic endeavour.

OCT 20

imagineNATIVE Originals

FRIDAY 6:30 PM - 8:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

imagineNATIVE Originals The imagineNATIVE Originals program includes the premiere of Through Brown Glass, Burned, and Frank Gets the Job Done, created through imagineNATIVE Institutes commission mentorships, in partnership with Charles Street Video (CSV), the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF), Capilano University, and Telus STORYHIVE. This year the imagineNATIVE Originals program also includes the anticipated premiere of the web series KIN. All of the projects in the imagineNATIVE Originals program have received support through imagineNATIVE Institute's year-round offerings.

imagineNATIVE Originals

FRIDAY 6:30PM - 8:45PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 20

Burned

Through Brown Glass

Director/Writer: Jordan Wanakamik (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 9 min English | Dramatic Short World Premiere Content Warning: Coarse language

Director/Writer: Keenan Grom (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 9 min English | Dramatic Short World Premiere Content Warning: Use of illegal substances; use of alcohol, tobacco products, and vapour products or cannabis; coarse language

Eve is a line cook who is at the end of her rope. Burnt out and longing for change, she finds unexpected advice from a new hire named Isaac.

A son and grandfather share a parting glass as their bootlegging business goes down the drain.

Jordan Wanakamik is an emerging filmmaker from Thunder Bay, Ontario, focusing on writing, directing and camera work.

Keenan Grom is a filmmaker based out of Moosonee, Ontario. With his directorial debut, Keenan is enthusiastic to share a story close to his heart.

Frank Gets The Job Done

KIN.

Director/Writer: Dallas Soonias (Chippewa/Cree) Canada | 2023 | 15 min English | Dramatic Short World Premiere Content Warning: Nudity, sexual activity, sexual references or slurs

Director/Writer: Justin Ducharme (Métis), Theo Cuthand (Cree) Co-Writer: Arielle Twist (Cree) Canada | 2022 | 35 min English | Web Series World Premiere Content Warning: Adult themes, coarse language and sexual references.

Frank Gypsum needs to deliver a pizza or he’ll be fired from the last pizza place in town. Problem is, he’s delivering to an active crime scene. The would-be recipient? Murdered!

An honest and comedic exploration of the urban queer and trans Indigenous experience centred around a group of friends and their social media-engrossed lives. Justin Ducharme is a writer, filmmaker and curator originally from the Métis community of St. Ambroise, Manitoba (Treaty 1 Territory).

Dallas Soonias dove face first into writing and developing shows after retiring from a 15 year career as a professional athlete. He is also a sports analyst for CBC.

Theo Cuthand makes videos, films, and performance art, about sexuality, madness, queer identity, love, and Indigeneity, which have screened in festivals and galleries internationally. He is Plains Cree/Scots, a member of Little Pine First Nation, and resides in Toronto, Canada. 61

OCT 20

Short Film Program 6: "That's My Baby!"

FRIDAY 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Short Film Program 6: "That's My Baby!" Big hair, big fashion, makeup, dance, drag, vogue, catwalk. Whatever way you werk it, you’ll leave grandma screaming, “That’s My Baby!”

Short Film Program 6: "That's My Baby!"

FRIDAY 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

OCT 20

Club Kid Alley

Ancestral Threads

Director/Writer/Producer: Tyler J Sloane (Anishinaabe/Oji-Cree) Canada | 2022 | 4 min English | Music Video World Premiere

Director/Writer: Sean Stiller (Secwépemc) Canada | 2023 | 12 min Cree, English | Documentary Short Content Warning: Triggering historical trauma Former model, Joleen Mitton is on a mission to use fashion as medicine for Vancouver’s Indigenous community. She takes us inside Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, a multifaceted celebration of traditional and contemporary Indigenous identity.

In this love letter to queer nightlife, let Bom Bae bring you into Toronto’s Club Kid Manor as they prepare for a glittery night out. Tyler J Sloane (they/them) is an Anishinaabe (Oji-Cree), Chinese, white, mixed race, nonbinary artist.

Sean Stiller is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in documentary and Indigenous commercial and commissioned films.

BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI

Brolesque

Director/Writer/Producer: Veialu Aila-Unsworth (Kairuku/Papua New Guinea) USA | 2023 | 7 min Tok Pisin, English | Dramatic Short International Premiere Content Warning: Flashing Lights

Director/Writer: Libby Hakaraia (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, Ngāti Kapu) Producer: Matilda Poasa (Samoan) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2023 | 15 min Māori, English | Dramatic Short International Premiere

Raya loves makeup, but her family does not. Torn between her dreams and her Papua New Guinean family’s strict religious beliefs, she finds comfort in her ancestors.

How far would you go to make your grandmother happy? A young Māori man ventures far outside his comfort zone to create an experience for his grandmother that she will never forget.

Veialu Aila-Unsworth is a filmmaker of mixed Kairuku (Papua New Guinea) and Aotearoa (New Zealand) settler descent.

Libby Hakaraia is a writer, director, and producer who has dedicated her career to the power of culturally authentic storytelling.

OCT 20

Short Film Program 6: "That's My Baby!"

FRIDAY 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

The Alexander Ball Director/Producer: Jessica Magro (Samoan) Australia | 2022 | 30 min English | Documentary Short Canadian Premiere Content Warning: Adult themes, flashing/strobing lights, coarse language, sexual references Samoan-Māori-Australian trans woman of colour, Ella Ganza, and the Meanjin (Brisbane) ballroom scene prepares for one of biggest ballroom events of the year: The Alexander Ball. Jessica Magro is a proud Samoan/Maltese/Australian producer, director, and founder of the independent production company Purple Carrot Entertainment.

The New Boy

FRIDAY 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

OCT 20

The New Boy Director/Writer: Warwick Thornton (Kaytetye) Australia | 2023 | 116 min English | Dramatic Feature

Warwick Thornton is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. His debut feature film, Samson and Delilah, won the Caméra d’Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival along with many other awards around the world. His second film, Sweet Country, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. In recent years, his documentary We Don’t Need a Map opened the Sydney Film Festival, his TV series The Beach sold to A24, and he co-created Firebite, an AMC TV series.

With the arrival of a mysterious nine-year-old Aboriginal boy (Aswan Reid), the lives of the denizens of a rural monastery in 1940s Australia slowly come out of balance. Secrets are uncovered and tensions are stretched to their breaking points as the boy begins to display otherworldly gifts, driving the head nun, Sister Eileen (Cate Blanchett), to the brink of spiritual madness. The latest film by the prolific Warwick Thornton (who wrote, directed, and lensed this film), The New Boy meditates on the nuances of survival, belief, and collective joy in the face of some of colonialism’s worst efforts. The film paints a world where its inhabitants ride the edge of darkness and the divine and are forced to rely on each other to endure. Buttressed by powerhouse performances from Reid and Blanchett, Thornton’s vision of a new possibility for cross-cultural understanding and acceptance questions what angles we have not approached to heal the scars of struggle.

OCT 20

The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana

FRIDAY 9:45 PM - 11:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana Director/Writer: Hiona Henare (Māori) producer: Sharlene George (Māori) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 72 min Māori | Dramatic Anthology International Premiere

Hiona Henare is an award-winning filmmaker whose work is representative of Fourth Cinema and indigenous epistemology. She is a two-time participant in Berlinale Talents, and her films have screened at HIFF, FIFO, imagineNATIVE and NZIFF. Henare is a protégé of celebrated indigenous filmmakers Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Tusi Tamasese, and Auraeus Solito.

A dramatic anthology, woven together by three whakapapa stories of the ancient Ngai Tara people. In a battle against time, three unlikely youths are forced into heroism when their ancestors call on them to lead and protect their people and customary traditions. With an all-Māori cast that includes New Zealand's rising stars Mairehau Grace-Smith, Isis Bradley-Kiwi and Paku Fernandez; alongside veteran actors of stage and screen Lawrence Makoare, Mere Boynton, Tanea Heke and Helen Otene-Pearse. The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana celebrates the renaissance of the endangered Māori language and promises audiences an epic indigenous experience.

Short Film Program 7: Witching Hour

FRIDAY 11:59 PM - 1:30 AM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

Short Film Program 7: Witching Hour What will begin with satirical laughs will leave you feeling spooked and disturbed. Proceed with caution.

OCT 20

Short Film Program 7: Witching Hour

FRIDAY 11:59 PM - 1:30 AM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

Dear Stephen King, instead of using Indian Burial Grounds in your books, have you thought of using European Burial Grounds?

Unborn Biru Director/Writer: Inga Elin Marakatt (Sámi) Producer: Per-Josef Idivuoma (Sámi) Norway | 2022 | 19 min Northern Sámi | Dramatic Short Toronto Premiere Content Warning: Bloodletting

Director/Writer: Joey Clift (Cowlitz) USA | 2023 | 1 min English | Dramatic Short, Animation Content Warning: Violence

A desperate Sámi widow steals silver from a dead body in order to survive and feed her daughter and unborn child. But the silver is cursed, and it has consequences for all of them.

An open letter to Stephen King asking him why he's so scared of Native American people. Joey Clift is a comedian, TV writer, and enrolled Cowlitz Indian Tribal Member based out of Los Angeles, California.

Inga Elin Marakatt was born and raised in a Sámi reindeer herding family in Sweden. She is an author, journalist, and reindeer herder. Unborn Biru is her debut as a director and a scriptwriter.

Skádja

Cu-Ckoo

Director/Writer: Eili Bråstad (Sámi) Norway | 2022 | 17 min Northern Sámi, English | Experimental short Content Warning: Nudity, sexual references

Director/Writer: Evgeny Nikolaev (Yakut) Co-writer: Nikita Davydov (Yakut) Producer: Dmitrii Davydov (Yakut) Russian Federation | 2023 | 22 min Yakut | Dramatic Short North American Premiere Content Warning: Adult themes

Inspired by the power of nature, Skádja is a queer story from Sápmi about regaining freedom and autonomy. Eili is a Sámi artist from Norway. She creates films and expanded cinema with queer and eco-feminist content.

In the depths of winter, a Yakut man moves to an abandoned house where he begins to experience strange events. As he tries to understand the unknown he unwittingly exposes a shocking secret. Evgeny Nikolaev was born in 1995 in the village of Myandigi. In 2017, he graduated from the Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts as a director and producer of cultural and leisure programs. 68

Saugeen Takes on Film

SATURDAY 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 21

Saugeen Takes on Film This program showcases some of the 16mm films made during the Saugeen Takes on Film (STOF) intergenerational workshops from 2018 to 2023. Animating archival photographs, artifacts, and traditional knowledge, the filmmakers tap into their vibrant community, Saugeen First Nation, using handprocessing techniques with flowers.

OCT 21

Indigenous Storytellers in Animation

SATURDAY 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Indigenous Storytellers in Animation - Spotlight on ONLY YOU: Animated Shorts Creators The Only You: An Animated Shorts Collection is the result of the Max x WBD Access Animated Short Film Program, launched to provide animators from underrepresented communities with resources to develop their original animated short films. Join filmmakers from the program as they reflect on their journey from creation to distribution.

Indigenous Storytellers in Animation

SATURDAY 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

MONSTR Director/Writer: Tank Standing Buffalo (Potawatomi) Canada | 2023 | 6 min English | Dramatic Short, Animated Content Warning: Flashing/strobing lights, violence, bloodletting, torture, mutilation or criminal activity, use of alcohol, tobacco products, and vapour products or cannabis How do you go on when you lose everything? A true story of an artist confronting his inner demons while apprenticing with a northwest totem carver after his beloved’s death. Tank Standing Buffalo is a director, writer, and animator from Caldwell First Nation. Since he first held a pencil, Tank has never put the pencil down. Tank uses art as a way to understand himself and his place in the world.

KIMOTIWIN: Act of Stealing Created By: Keara Lightning (Cree), Caeleigh Lightning (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 6 min English | Dramatic Short, Animated To steal back a flower that is special to her lover, Tiska embarks on a dangerous journey across an overgrown landscape, fighting demons in a post-apocalyptic city. Keara and Caeleigh Lightning are the two sisters that make up Studio Ekosi, an Independent indigiqueer games and animation studio. In addition to their first animated short, an eco-apocalyptic love story titled Kimotiwin: The Act of Stealing, they have also developed a video game, Mikiwam.

OCT 21

Short Film Program 8: Into the Unknown

SATURDAY 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Short Film Program 8: Into the Unknown Futuristic technologies blur the lines of reality, apocalyptic events, alien abductions, mythological creatures, and portals into other worlds. These short films expand the realms of possibility.

Short Film Program 8: Into the Unknown

SATURDAY 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

OCT 21

Memories

Home

Director: Adriel (Strenneth), Rosenfeldt (Anishinabe) Musician/Producer: Robin Cisek (Métis) Canada | 2022 | 4 min English | Music Video Ontario Premiere

Director/Writer: Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree) Producer: Grace Hardy (Métis) Canada | 2023 | 17 min Cree, English | Dramatic Short Ontario Premiere Content Warning: Coarse language

Robin’s mind is full of her memories and experiences and is home to a figure of her consciousness who makes decisions to keep Robin safe and happy. This figure is faced with a challenge. She must make the hard decision: whether to destroy the bad memories and everything connected to them or to try to live with them in harmony.

Disaster strikes Kikino during the annual baseball extravaganza, forcing those that can to bunker down. Local internet celebrity Kit Kat Thompson escaped this place once before, what makes this time any different? Everyone struggles to determine what the future might hold, how to survive, and where exactly is Home.

Adriel Rosenfeldt is an Anishinabe filmmaker who found his interest in filmmaking at a young age while learning computer effects to elevate his visuals.

Barry Bilinksy is a professional theatre creator and director of Cree, Métis, and Ukrainian heritage, currently based in Montréal.

Ta′i

Starbound

Director/Producer: Mii Taokia (Cook Islands) Writer: Astarlii Taokia (Cook Islands/Samoan) Cook Islands | 2023 | 3 min English | Animation Short World Premiere Content Warning: Excessive flashing/strobing lights

Director/Writer: Madison Thomas (Ojibwe) Producer: Darcy Waite (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 11 min English | Dramatic Short World Premiere Content Warning: Intergenerational trauma

Ta′i lives in a world that is both beautiful and dangerous. The Pacific Islands that were once teeming with life are now being destroyed by the island eaters. These machines are massive, towering beasts that consume everything in their path, leaving nothing but barren wasteland in their wake.

Starbound is a short sci-fi family drama that explores the return of eight-year-old Billy Campbell after being abducted by aliens four years earlier. Madison Thomas is a storyteller of mixed ancestry whose nuanced and unique work has played festivals and won awards worldwide.

Mii Taokia is a filmmaker, musician, and multidisciplinary artist of Cook Island descent. 73

OCT 21

Short Film Program 8: Into the Unknown

SATURDAY 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Do Digital Curanderas Use Eggs In Their Limpias?

Katele (Mudskipper) Director/Writer: John Harvey (Saibai Island, Torres Strait Islander) Co-Writer: Walter Waia (Saibai Island, Torres Strait Islander) Producer: Gillian Moody (Wadi Wadi) Australia | 2022 | 13 min Kalaw Kawaw Ya, English | Dramatic Short North American Premiere

Director/Writer: Roberto Fatal (Raramuri/Tewa Pueblo/Ute) USA | 2022 | 13 min English, Spanish | Dramatic Short Toronto Premiere Content Warning: Slurs A struggling Latinx healer considers abandoning the physical world for promises of a digital utopia.

Martha, an Indigenous woman, works tirelessly in a laundromat loading machines and folding washing, ready for the collection of her boss. When a mysterious visitor arrives, Martha is reminded of the life she has left behind.

Roberto Fatal (they/them/ellos) is a Meztize Chicana filmmaker and storyteller. Their Queer, gender-fluid, Mestize/Mixed identity informs the sci-fi films they make.

John is a writer, director, and producer across theatre and film, and the Creative Director of Brown Cabs.

N'xaxaitkw Director/Writer: Asia Youngman (Cree/Métis) Canada | 2022 | 16 min English | Dramatic Short Content Warning: Coarse language; adult themes; use of alcohol, tobacco products, vapour products, or cannabis After moving to a new town, a teenager must navigate peer pressure when her next-door neighbour convinces her to explore a nearby island in search of a legendary lake monster. Asia Youngman is an award-winning director and screenwriter based in Vancouver, Canada, who was named one of Playback’s “10 to Watch” in 2021. 74

Inky Pinky Ponky

SATURDAY 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 21

Inky Pinky Ponky In Inky Pinky Ponky, co-directors Damon Fepulea’i and Ramon Te Wake form a portrait of hope, pride, and persistence in the face of intolerance. Anchored on a magnetic performance by Faletau-Prescott, Te Wake and Fepulea’i bring us into Lisa’s world, a reality of pain and joy, and show that the latter will always win out.

Directors: Damon Fepulea’i (Samoan), Ramon TeWake (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) Writers: Amanaki Prescott-Faletau (Tongan), Leki Jackson-Bourke (Niue) Producers: Elizabeth Koroivulaono (Fijian), Hope Papali’i (Samoan) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2023 | 60 min Tongan, English | Dramatic Feature International Premiere Content Warning: Sexual references, slurs

Damon Fepulea’i is a Samoan director and writer with over 20 years of experience in the television and film industry making drama and documentaries. He directed and co-wrote the New Zealand feature film Red, White & Brass.

Lisa (Amanaki Faletau-Prescott), a young fakaleiti (3rd Spirit), has ambitions beyond her seemingly small world and dreams of being her school’s Queen of the Ball. It won’t be an easy road, but as she deals with her mother’s rejection of her identity and the open bigotry she faces at her high school, she never loses sight of who she is or what she wants. After her romance with Mose (JP Foliaki), the school’s rugby captain, is targeted by her fellow classmates, tensions rise as Lisa bravely refuses to not be true to who she is, and more importantly, who she wants to be.

Ramon Te Wake is a director, producer, storyteller, actor, published writer, and singer/songwriter. Ramon has made more than 350 stories across many genres: magazine style, current affairs, and documentary.

OCT 21

Muru

SATURDAY 8:30 PM - 10:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

Muru Director/Writer: Tearepa Kahi (Ngāti Paoa, Waikato) Producers: Reikura Kahi (Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Waikato Tainui), Selina Joe Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 102 min Māori, English | Dramatic Feature Content Warning: Triggering historical trauma When Community Sergeant “Taffy” Tawharau (Cliff Curtis), a Māori police officer, returns home, he is faced with a dilemma. Indigenous activists in the vicinity have been holding militant boot camps and are suspected of plotting to kill the country’s Prime Minister… or so the police have said. Taffy is given the choice to infiltrate the activists’ group and become an informant, a decision that will soon blur the lines between who he is as a proud Māori and his sworn duty as an officer.

He Pounamu Ko Āu Director/Writer/Producer: Tia Barrett (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tamainupō) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 4 min Māori, English | Experimental Short

With Muru, director Tearepa Kahi weaves a tense thriller that finds pressure in questions of competing loyalties between colonial forces, community, and the struggle for liberation. Aided by Curtis’ onscreen presence as Taffy, Kahi’s film builds its powder-keg narrative from historical events circa 2007 and leads its audiences on a charged ride to its explosive finale.

This kaupapa explores wahine Māori identity unfolding through moving image, pounamu pūrākau (storytelling), mōteatea (sung Māori poetry), and ambient sound. Tia Barrett is a Māori moving image practitioner and photographer with an art practice primarily grounded in celebrating Māori identity through the lens.

Māori filmmaker Tearepa Kahi has written and directed award-winning shorts, the dramatic feature Mt. Zion, and two feature music documentaries: Poi E: The Story of Our Song (2016) and Herbs - Songs of Freedom (2019). Tearepa’s work explores race, history, politics, language, and issues within Māori communities.

Café Daughter

SATURDAY 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 21

Regular Screening Thursday, October 19 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 21

Short Film Program 9: From Land to Water

SATURDAY 9:15 PM - 10:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Short Film Program 9: From Land to Water Compelling experimental short films that weave soundscapes with the evolution, formation, and connection to land and water.

Short Film Program 9: From Land to Water

SATURDAY 9:15 PM - 10:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

OCT 21

Baigal Nuur - Lake Baikal

Distant

Director/Writer/Producer: Alisi Telengut (Mongolian/ Telengut) Canada | 2023 | 9 min Buryat-Mongolian | Experimental Short Ontario Premiere

Director/Producer: Keli Mashburn (Osage) Writer: Elise Pschen (Osage) USA | 2022 | 7 min English | Experimental Short International Premiere

The formation and history of Lake Baikal in Siberia are reimagined with handmade animation, featuring the voice of a Buryat woman who can still recall some words in her endangered Buryat-Mongolian language.

A "pandemic dream film," inspired by the work of Elise Paschen, this film mirrors itself as rich soundscapes play over vast landscapes, creating a lonely tension between the visible and the invisible. .

Alisi Telengut is a Canadian artist of Mongolian origin living between Berlin and Tiohti:áke (Montréal). Her work has received multiple awards and nominations.

Keli Mashburn is a photographer and filmmaker living and working in the Tallgrass Prairie on the Osage Reservation in Northwestern Oklahoma.

Drumoh

The Golden Age

Director/Writer/Producer: Armando López Castañeda (Purepecha) Mexico | 2022 | 3 min Drumoreh (Fictional Language) | Experimental Short Canadian Premiere

Directors/Producers: Bawaadan Collective, Yuma Hester (Anishinaabe/Cree) Writers/Co-Producers: Bawaadan Collective, Mimi O’Bonsawin (Anishinaabe/Cree/Abenaki) Canada | 2022 | 20 min English | Documentary Short Toronto Premiere

Drumohre is the language of the first that lived here. The more days go by, the less they speak it. Here you no longer see anyone who understands it.

A morality tale for adults played out as an allegory to the loss of connection between humans and animals, and the global pandemic.

Armando López Castañeda (Mexico) studied graphic communication design. He has dedicated himself to communication projects for institutions and private industry.

The Bawaadan Collective is a group of Indigenous artists and non-Indigenous accomplices working in contemporary media production.

OCT 21

Short Film Program 9: From Land to Water

SATURDAY 9:15 PM - 10:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

kobechenonk

Biolumin

Director/Writer: Zephyr McKenna (Lunaape/ Anishinaabe) Canada | 2022 | 3 min English | Experimental Short World Premiere

Directors/Writers/Producers: Moe Clark (Métis), Victoria Hunt (Māori), James Brown Canada | 2021 | 5 min Cree, Māori | Experimental Short Toronto Premiere Content Warning: Nudity

Documentation of time spent stewarding the ReSistering/Queering Place garden on the Niwa'ah onega'haih'ih/Kobechenonk/Humber River, and reflections on water and grief.

An experimental examination of threshold states. Moving through deep space-time in underwater realms, mirrored bodies spiral, suspend, and dance through te reo Māori and nêhiyawêwin lamentations.

Zephyr McKenna is a Lunaape/Anishinaabe, TwoSpirit, Tkaronto-based artist utilizing game design, illustration, and drag to embody cultural and language revitalization.

âpihtawikosisâniskwêw multidisciplinary artist Moe Clark is a Two-Spirit singing thunderbird, working across disciplines of vocal improvisation, sound design, and performance to create meaning rooted in embodied knowledge.

Ajá (Water) Director/Writer: Dennis Noel López Sosa (Chontal) Mexico | 2022 | 5 min Spanish | Experimental Short Canadian Premiere An exploration and reinterpretation of the chontal people’s mystic ceremony of rain pleading. Dennis Noel López Sosa is a documentary filmmaker, experimental visual artist, director, and multi-platform, transmedia producer. His work explores the intersections of memory, territory, and identity.

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies

SUNDAY 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies A whimsical trek through the woods, connecting with and standing up for the earth, reconnecting with the past and present.

OCT 22

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies

SUNDAY 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Starlight Sojourn

NANGULVI

Darcy Tara McDiarmid is a Han and Northern Tutchone artist from the Crow Clan. Darcy draws inspiration from nature, trying to capture the pristine beauty of our natural world.

Ni Wapiten (I see)

Directors: Julie Ottawa (Atikamekw), Noémie Echaquan (Atikamekw) Canada | 2022 | 3 min Atikamekw | Dramatic Short Ontario Premiere

Director/Writer: Brent Owen Beauchamp (Onondaga/ Anishinaabe) Canada | 2023 | 3 min Anishinaabemowin | Dramatic Short, Animation Content Warning: Excessive flashing/strobing lights

A child’s call to action for the people of the world to do better for Mother Earth and future generations.

A boy learns not to run off on his mother and that not everything is what it seems.

Julie Ottawa is a young Atikamekw woman from Niherowisiw, Manawan. She is very involved in community and regional projects.

Brent Owen Beauchamp is an Indigenous artist, animator, and designer f rom Six Nations of the Grand River.

Noémie Echaquan is an Atikamekw woman from the community of Manawan. She is a student at the general education centre in Trois-Rivières. 82

Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies

SUNDAY 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

OCT 22

Nemi

Rieban - The Fox

Director/Writer/Producer: Nicolás Zarco (Xochimilca) Mexico | 2021 | 8 min Spanish | Dramatic Short, Animation Canadian Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Sara Margrethe Oskal (Sámi) Norway | 2023 | 8 min Sámi | Dramatic Short Toronto Premiere

An elderly woman missing her family-journeys to the past to revisit her younger self and reunite with her loved ones.

After struggling to hunt fish and satisfy her hunger, a mischievous fox gets creative when she comes upon a fisherman heading home with his catch of the day.

Nicolás Zarco is an audiovisual artist from southern Mexico. He is currently a university educator, digital animator, producer, and independent director.

Sara Margrethe Oskal is a Sámi director and scriptwriter from Norway. She holds a PhD from the Oslo National Academy of Arts researching humour and storytelling.

The Bull of Cold

Whistling Woods

Director: Alexander Moruo (Sakha) Producers: Anna Borisova (Sakha), Roman Okoneshnikov (Sakha) Kazakhstan | 2023 | 9 min Sakha | Dramatic Short, Animation Toronto Premiere

Director/Writer: Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree) Canada | 2022 | 11 min Cree, English | Dramatic Short Ontario Premiere Coarse language, mild violence When a group of kids reach the limits of their boredom, they turn to each other for entertainment, playing Truth or Dare, telling spooky stories, and doing what we’re all told not to do: whistle in the woods.

A young Sakha boy apprentices under his reluctant grandfather as they build an ice sculpture of the Bull of Cold, but something goes wrong when the boy takes the project into his own hands.

Barry Bilinksy is a professional theatre creator and director of Cree, Métis, and Ukrainian heritage currently based in Montréal.

Alexander Moruo is a film and creative director based in New Zealand. He grew up in Siberia with deep roots in his Sakha culture and heritage.

OCT 22

WaaPaKe

SUNDAY 1:30 PM - 3:15 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

APTN Presents: WaaPake Director/Writer: Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 80 min Cree, English | Documentary Feature Ontario Premiere

Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin’s (Attawapiskat First Nation) arts practice involves the use of film, photography, documentary, creative writing, and installation art. Her work is influenced and inspired by her Ancestral ties to MoshKeKoWok. Conveying InNiNiNeWak teachings in storytelling form is an integral way to ensure our Ancestors’ voices are remembered and heard for generations to come.

"WaaPake means tomorrow… Tomorrow means hope. It means we have a future."

- Dr. Jules Koostachin

Through candid interviews with family members and children of survivors, filmmaker Jules Koostachin offers a gentle yet unflinching look at the lasting legacy of the Indian Residential School System in Canada. Reflecting on motherhood through the lens of intergenerational strength, Koostachin creates a tender portrait of how we shift from a traumacentric conversation to one of actionable healing and acceptance within family- with community, land, love, and culture. WaaPaKe is a testimony of courage, care, and respect.

Short Film Program 10: Long Line Of Ladies

SUNDAY 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Short Film Program 10: Long Line Of Ladies Coming of age, uplifting the inherent divine connection to land, and falling back on ancestral knowledge. A Long Line of Ladies captures the strength of women upholding generational power and breaking cycles.

OCT 22

Short Film Program 10: Long Line Of Ladies

SUNDAY 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

Nisihkason Lex

Whirlflow

Director/Writer: Kaayla Whachell (Ryukyan/Métis) Canada | 2022 | 14 min English | Documentary Short World Premiere Content Warning: MMIWG2S, intergenerational trauma

Director/Producer: Kathleen Mantel (Māori) Writer: Amber Esau (Māori/Samoan) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2023 | 5 min English | Experimental Short International Premiere

Alexa navigates the world around her as a young Indigenous woman. Through her Digital Voice project, she creates a safe space for herself and her friends to speak about life’s hardships.

A spoken word poetry piece that flows from darkness to light, signalling a breakthrough from the cycles that we find ourselves in. Kathleen Mantel is an award-winning documentary filmmaker from Aotearoa (New Zealand). Her documentaries explore the human condition.

Kaayla Whachell is an award-winning cinematographer who strives to create a safe film environment for all individuals to work in.

Mother (EADNI)

Gabriela

Director/Writer: Liselotte Wajstedt (Sámi) Sweden | 2023 | 7 min Sámi, English | Dramatic Short, Animation

Director/Writer: Evelyn Lorena (Mayan K’iche/Romani) USA | 2023 | 16 min Kaqchikel, English, Spanish | Dramatic Short International Premiere

With captivating animation that skews the lines between reality and imagination, Mother (EADNI) is a retelling of childhood memory and the inherent connection to land between mother and daughter.

A coming of age story about a young, undocumented Guatemalan woman at odds between her socioeconomic status and her dreams of being on a prestigious country club swim team.

Liselotte Wajstedt is a Sámi multimedia artist from Kiruna whose work spans film and video, collage, painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, and installation.

Evelyn Lorena is an actress and filmmaker whose latest short, Gabriela, was the recipient of the prestigious Netflix and LALIFF Indigenous Latino Fellowship.

Short Film Program 10: Long Line Of Ladies

SUNDAY 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 22

Metal Belt

Our Grandmother The Inlet

Director: Blackhorse Lowe (Navajo) USA | 2023 | 14 min English, Spanish | Dramatic Short Canadian Premiere Content Warning: Excessive flashing/strobing lights; violence, bloodletting, torture, mutilation, or criminal activity; nudity, sexual activity, or adult themes; coarse language

Directors/Writers: Kayah George (Tsleil-Waututh/ Tulalip), Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos Canada | 2023 | 9 min English | Documentary Short Ontario Premiere An ancestral connection and love for the water runs deep between a grandmother and granddaughter, sustaining the fight against the impacts of industrialization.

With the help of a sister, a Navajo woman escapes New Mexican militia slave traders to find her way back home.

Kayah George “Halth-Leah” proudly carries the teachings of her Tulalip and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and is an Indigenous environmental leader, activist, poet, and filmmaker.

Blackhorse Lowe is a filmmaker from the Navajo Nation. He is a writer, director, producer, and editor known for 5th World, Shimasani, Chasing the Light, and Fukry.

Long Line of Ladies Directors: Shaandiin Tome (Diné/Navajo), Rayka Zehtabchi Producers: Pimm Allen (Karuk/Yurok), Garrett Shiff USA | 2022 | 20 min English | Documentary Short Ontario Premiere A young girl coming into her womanhood is embraced by her family and empowered to continue the Flower Dance Ceremony, a celebration gifted by the Creator to her people. Shaandiin Tome is a recognized writer, director, and cinematographer from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She aims to bring resonating imagery in a blend of convergence with story, illustrating her perspective as a Diné woman.

OCT 22

Short Film Program 11: Embracing Loss

SUNDAY 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Short Film Program 11: Embracing Loss A large part of the human experience is learning how to deal with the multitude of ways we can experience and process grief. Whether the grief is deep, spiritual, steeped in love, cultural, physical, sudden, or anticipated, learning to embrace loss is a life skill.

Short Film Program 11: Embracing Loss

SUNDAY 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

OCT 22

Heart Like a Pow Wow

Four Nights and a Fire

Director: Chief Lady Bird (Chippewa/Potawatomi) Writer: Tara Williamson (Cree) Producer: Christa Couture (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 5 min English, French | Documentary Short, Animation Canadian Premiere

Director/Writer: Alex Nystrom (Ojibwe) Producers: Jeremy Charler (Cherokee), Jeff Walker, Lisa Normand USA | 2023 | 13 min English | Dramatic Short Content Warning: Coarse language

A beautifully poetic animated short illustrated by Chief Lady Bird and spoken by Tara Williamson, Heart Like a Pow Wow shares the evolution of grief through love from an Anishinaabe perspective.

A man’s spirit lingers, watching over his son as he processes his grief while keeping a sacred fire to light his father’s journey back home to the spirit world. Alex Nystrom is an Ojibwe director, writer, and producer. Alex’s work focuses on Native identity through contemporary stories.

Chief Lady Bird is a Chippewa and Potawatomi artist from Rama First Nation and Moose Deer Point First Nation. She’s currently based in Rama and works out of a private studio.

A Bear Named Jesus

A Boy and His Loss

Director: Terril Calder (Métis) Writer: Archer Pechawis (Cree) Producer: Christa Couture (Cree) Canada | 2023 | 5 min Cree, English, French | Documentary Short, Animated Content Warning: Use of alcohol, tobacco products, vapour products, or cannabis

Director/Writer/Producer: Michelle Derosier (Anishinaabe) Canada | 2022 | 7 min English | Dramatic Short, Animated Toronto Premiere A boy carrying the heavy burden of loss decides to join the dead in order to free himself of his grief until a divine intervention shows him the way of letting go.

What does it look like to be in the presence of someone who looks and sounds like a loved one but is unrecognizable at the same time?

Michelle Derosier is an artist, activist, and storyteller from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Terril Calder is a Métis artist born in Fort Frances, Ontario, currently residing in Toronto. Compelled by the love of hybrid media and fusion art, she currently experiments with the amalgamation in her stop-frame animated films that she writes, directs, crafts, and animates. 89

OCT 22

Program 11: Embracing Loss

SUNDAY 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Grape Soda in the Parking Lot

Fast Eddie

Director: Megan Kyak-Monteith (Inuit) Writer: Taqralik Partridge (Inuit) Producers: Christa Couture (Cree), Michelle St. John Canada | 2023 | 8 min English, French | Documentary Short, Animated

Director/Producer: Keely Meechan (Whakatōhea) Aotearoa (New Zealand) | 2022 | 14 min English | Documentary Short North American Premiere A film memorializing a man who lived his life to the fullest, shooting for one last adventure with the love and support of his family by his side.

This animated short paints a mosaic of Taqralik Partridge’s childhood memories and the loss of her grandmother’s Scottish Gaelic and her father’s Inuktitut languages that English had caused.

Keely Meechan is an emerging writer and director from Aotearoa (New Zealand).

Megan Kyak-Monteith is an oil painter and digital illustrator from Nunavut. Cultural observations are made in her paintings which come from childhood memories growing up in Nunavut and Nova Scotia.

I won’t remain alone Director/Producer: Yaser Talebi (Mazandarani) Iran | 2022 | 15 min Persian | Documentary Short An elderly couple struggles with the decision to donate their son’s organs while coming to terms with his impending death. Yaser Talebi is an award-winning, Northern Iranian film director, producer, screenwriter, editor, and creative director.

Mamá (Mom)

SUNDAY 5:00 PM - 6:45 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3

OCT 22

Mamá (Mom) Director/Writer: Xun Sero (Maya Tzotzil) Mexico | 2022 | 79 min Maya Tzotzil, Spanish | Documentary Feature

Xun Sero studied documentary in the workshops of Ambulante Más Allá and in the Documentary Film School of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. He currently works as a cinematographer on documentary film productions.

Mamá is an intervention of memory and a revelation of love in the wake of generational violence. Filmmaker Xun Sero elegantly weaves a portrait of his mother through frank and open dialogue. His examination of how gendered violence was and is normalized within his own family and community offers profound insight into how Indigenous men can contend with all that is learned and all that must be unlearned. In centring his mother’s pain, survival, joy and independence, he endeavours to understand her choices and motivations within the reality of Indigenous motherhood under capitalism in Mexico.

OCT 22

Closing Night Film

SUNDAY 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Hey, Viktor! Director/Writer: Cody Lightning (Samson Cree) Co-Writer: Samuel Miller Producers: Joshua M. Jackson (Enoch Cree), Sara Corry, Kyle Thomas, Blake McWilliam Canada | 2023 | 102 min English | Mockumentary Content Warning: Adult themes, coarse language, nudity, sexual references

Filmed in a startlingly fresh and hilarious mockumentary style, Cody Lightning’s directorial debut, Hey, Viktor!, marks an exciting new chapter in his prolific filmography. Equal parts gut-busting comedy and existential self-inquiry, Lightning’s film takes no prisoners and, in a hyper-meta approach, looks at the absurdity that goes into making a film. Cody Lightning is a world-class, generation-defining actor, iconic for his performance as Little Viktor in 1998’s Smoke Signals. Hailing from Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada, Cody began acting at age five in the film Geronimo. Since then, he has become one of Hollywood’s most active Indigenous actors, best known for his roles in Smoke Signals, Johnny Depp’s directorial debut, The Brave, Rian Johnson’s Brick, and many, many more.

In the quarter-century since the release of Smoke Signals, Cody Lightning, one of its former child actors, has seen better days. He’s spent the years since milking his 15 minutes sour as a Z-list celebrity whose swings at reviving his career via self-made zombie films are matched only by his hard partying. A light at the end of the tunnel comes in the form of a financier who wants to produce Smoke Signals 2, an effort that will call on him to reunite with much of the original film’s cast and his ineptitude to take on any professional or adult responsibilities.

iNdigital Space

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

OCT 18-22

iNdigital Space Lead Sponsor:

iNdigital Space Sponsors:

iNdigital Space Introducing the iNdigital Space, now bigger and better than ever before! We’re proud to present an amazing curated collection of Digital + Interactive and Audio Works inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery! Experience an immersive journey where you can see, listen, and engage with our diverse Official Selection, encompassing VR, 360 media, AR, video games, interactive web projects, and digital media. In addition to these works, we are thrilled to showcase the imagineNATIVE arcade games created over the summer by the iNdigital Youth Collective. Join us on October 18 and 19 for iNdigital Days, a thrilling two-day professional development event filled with excitement and inspiration! The iNdigital Space is open to all to explore and enjoy, free of charge. We have diligently worked to ensure it is accessible and inclusive, with trained volunteers and staff available to support your enjoyment of these unique creations. Thank you to SEGA, Ontario Creates, and East Side Games for supporting the iNdigital Space! If you’re not able to make it to the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery, then join us online! From October 23-29 you can experience our Festival from the comfort of your home. Mark your calendars!

OCT 18-22

Audio Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Saltwater Soundwalk

Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s (Episode 1)

Artists: Rachel Lam (Anigiduwagi/Malaysian), Jenny Asarnow USA | 2022 | 54 min English | Experimental Audio

Artist: Connie Walker (Cree) USA | 2022 | 34 min English | Podcast Investigative journalist Connie Walker dives deep into her own past, aiming to uncover the secrets of her family and how their story fits into one of Canada's darkest chapters: the residential school system.

This rhythmic and watery audio experience weaves sound and narration in complex ways, immersing us in streams of stories that ebb and flow as we explore Indigenous relationships and responsibilities to the Salish Sea.

Connie Walker (Cree) is a Pulitzer Prize and Peabody Award–winning investigative journalist and host of the acclaimed podcast Stolen from Gimlet, a Spotify Studio Production.

Rachel Lam: Tsigiduwagi, tsitsaniyi-aniugama, nole tsiyunega. Seattle digwatvsv’i nole agitsi sidanelv’i Gugo’i, Ogalihoma diyunilosv’i. Sgi Doyi nole Denali Udatlohida – udohiyu sdvyali’elitseho’i.

ISO Presents: Storytellers

canadaLANDBACK: Reclamation at Stoney Point (Parts 1 + 2)

Artist: Kim Wheeler (Mohawk/Anishinaabe) Canada | 2023 | 36 min English, Inuktitut | Podcast

Artists: Karyn Pugliese (Algonquin), Kim Wheeler (Anishinaabe/Mohawk) Canada | 2022 | 93 min English | Podcast

Multi-disciplinary artist Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory shares the "virtual" reality of filmmaking as she explores the challenges of VR production in Nunavut and how her unique story can only be told by an Inuk.

Three generations of Stoney Pointers discuss how every system failed them, leading to their takeover of a military base in 1993. Why have these scenes become so acceptable in Canada, and is there a way out?

Karyn Pugliese, a.k.a. Pabàmàdiz, is currently the editorin-chief of CANADALAND and occasionally a guest panelist on CBC’s Rosie Barton Live. Kim Wheeler has brought positive Indigenous stories to mainstream and Indigenous media since 1993. She is a writer and a multi-award-winning producer. 94

OCT 18-22

Audio Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Turtle Island Talks (Episodes 3 + 4)

Seedcast, Season 2 Episode 14: The LifeGiving Pottery of Katsitsionni Fox

Artists: Kim Wheeler (Mohawk/Anishinaabe), Pamela Palmater (Mi’kmaq) Producer: Kaylen Belair (Métis) Canada | 2022 | 120 min English | Podcast

Artist: Jessica Ramirez (Mexican of Indigenous Descent) Producer: Taylor Hensel (Cherokee) USA | 2022 | 28 min English | Podcast

Host Pam Palmater talks to guests about the importance of the history and the future of traditional and contemporary powwow music and delves into Indigenous education with knowledge-holders from a range of traditional teachings and land-based education.

Katsitsionni Fox tells a story full of heart, warmth, and the power of intention as she takes us inside her studio to share how making clay pots connects her to her ancestors. Award-winning, Oklahoma-based writer, director, and producer. Citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Taylor’s work has screened at festivals globally, including Sundance.

Kim Wheeler has brought positive Indigenous stories to mainstream and Indigenous media since 1993. She has carved out a career as a writer, publicist, and audio producer across a variety of disciplines. Pamela Palmater is a Mi'kmaw podcaster, filmmaker, and producer from Eel River Bar First Nation.

Warriors Paradox Artists: Bawaadan Collective, Dante Biss-Grayson (Osage) USA | 2022 | 2 min English | Film Score Content Warning: Adult themes

(Re)Story Podcast (Episode 1) Artists: Carly Morriseau (Cree/Métis), Danielle Wray Producer: Dr. Michelle Johnson-Jennings (Choctaw) Canada | 2023 | 29 min English | Podcast

Venture into a compelling spoken-word piece by the Bawaadan Collective. Explore the intricate emotions and experiences of tribal warriors and veterans grappling with historical trauma, their commitment to serve, and their journey to healing.

A refreshing collection of uplifting dialogues, this podcast highlights stories of revitalization, reconnection, and reclamation, re-storying how Indigenous people continue to thrive despite historical and present-day oppression.

Dante Biss-Grayson is a multifaceted Native American artist, writer, and fashion designer who uses his art to empower and inspire.

Michelle Johnson-Jennings, PhD, is a Choctaw Nation Enrolled Tribal Member.

OCT 18-22

Audio Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Spilling Labrador Tea Under Cedar Trees: Say, Don’t Colonize

Protect Bald Eagles: Warrior Kids Podcast

Artists: Katelynne Herchak (Inuit), Madeleine Begin (Mi’kmaq) Canada | 2022 | 40 min Inuktitut, Mi’kmaw, English | Podcast

Artist: Pamela Palmater (Mi’kmaq) Canada | 2022 | 17 min English | Podcast Delight in this educational podcast tailored for children and families. Filling a gap in Indigenous-centric youth content, it celebrates Indigenous culture, the significance of bald eagles, and inspires activism in social justice and climate change.

Today we are leaving the country (at least in our imaginations) and traveling to Korea! Come with us and hopefully we all learn something new along the way! Just two Indigenous girls tryna make it in an urban world.

Pamela Palmater is a Mi'kmaw podcaster, filmmaker, and producer from Eel River Bar First Nation.

STAR WOMEN

Onyota’a:ka Culture, History and Healing

Artist: Ramon Mahegkan Kataquapit (Mushkego Cree/ Taino) Canada | 2023 | 4 min English | Song

Artists: Judith Schuyler (Onyota’a:ka (Oneida)) Canada | 2023 | 22 min Onyota’a:ka, English | Podcast

Experience a lyrical tapestry woven by the artist in a one man band approach as the rapper, singer, writer, animator, producer, and mixer. This creation passionately expresses Indigenous experiences, reaching the hearts of today's youth and the artist's community.

Travel on an enlightening auditory journey composed of interviews with Onyota’a:ka Knowledge Keepers. Discover historical narratives, cultural insights, and personal healing stories accompanied by ancestral songs directly from the voices of Elders.

Ramon Mahegkan Kataquapit is a young Indigenous artist representing his home community, Attawapiskat, based in Ontario, with the goal of helping his community through art and music.

Judith Schuyler is a filmmaker from the Onyota’a:ka (Oneida) Nation, currently working full-time on developing her craft in screenwriting and directing. This audio piece was crafted from interviews that were a part of Schuyler’s cultural development for her feature film Strippers Have No Names. 96

OCT 18-22

Audio Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

The River

The Conduit

Artists: Piata Gardiner-Hoskins (Māori), Todd Karehana (Māori) New Zealand | 2023 | 85 min Māori, English | Experimental Audio

Artist: Lacey Hill (Oneida/Mohawk) Canada | 2022 | 4 min English | Song Step into a soulful music video intertwining human energies. With emotive melodies and an impressive guitar solo, experience the ordinary and extraordinary facets of life on the rez, narrating the artist's journey through music.

Submerge yourself in an immersive audio drama that narrates Aria Hikirangi's quest for her missing cousin. With the secrets of Kingswood and the Waihara River unravelling, the use of spatial audio draws listeners directly into the heart of the story.

Lacey Hill is Oneida/Mohawk of Six Nations, Wolf Clan. She is a singer/songwriter and has released three albums independently.

With over 10 years of experience as a director, Piata Gardiner-Hoskins makes emotional, human-centred work and is a passionate advocate of te reo Māori. With over seven years of experience as a writer, script editor, and director, Todd Karehana makes work that explores the nuances of being human.

The Aunties Dandelion Podcast: Interview with Jeremy Dutcher Artist: Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore (Kanyen′kehà:ka) Canada | 2022 | 69 min Kanyen′ké:ha, Wolastqiyik, English | Podcast Tune into this podcast for a thought-provoking interview with opera-singing, Indigiqueer futurist Jeremy Dutcher. Embark on an exploration of rematriation, cultural evolution, and the wisdom of powerful Native Aunties, revitalizing communities through storytelling. Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore, The Aunties Dandelion, is a Kanyen′kehà:ka podcaster and filmmaker from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. 97

OCT 18-22

Digital + Interactive Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Tartupaluk

SkoBots: Language Revitalization Robots

Director/Writer: Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory (Inuk) Producers: Emile Péronard (Inuk), Charles-Stéphane Roy Canada | 2023 Kalaallisut, Inuktitut, English | Virtual Reality

Artist: Danielle Boyer (Ojibwe) USA | 2022 Anishinaabemowin, English | Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Robot Installation

With stunning visuals and playful narratives, this VR experience invites you to the imaginary Republic of Hans Island, a.k.a Tartupaluk. Explore the island and presidential suite, guided by the “President” herself.

Designed to revitalize Indigenous languages, SkoBots light up and respond to human presences with Indigenous phrases and songs. This initiative represents a step toward preserving our cultures and traditions powered by Indigenous Futures.

Laakkuluk is an Inuk multidisciplinary artist who is based in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Danielle Boyer is a 22-year-old Ojibwe (Sault Tribe) robotics inventor and founder of The STEAM Connection, a charity creating free educational robots.

SCRATCHED

Resonance

Artist: Mitchell Johns (Mohawk) Canada | 2023 English | Video Game

Artist: Dolleen Tisawii′ashii Manning (Anishinaabe) Canada | 2022 Anishinaabemowin, English | Virtual Reality, Video Dome

In a world of never-ending pixels and pathways, players navigate home with the help of quirky characters and camouflaged clues. But how do you find your way home if you can’t remember where that is?

Resonance is a VR environment that instantiates the theory of mnidoo worlding. In this non-linear story, viewers explore a microscopic universe contained in a drop of water.

Mitchell Johns is an Indigenous youth from Southern Ontario.

Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning is an artist, a faculty member in Philosophy and Cultural Studies at Queen’s University, and a member of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation.

OCT 18-22

Digital + Interactive Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Gathering

Anchorage

Artist: Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning (Anishinaabe) Canada | 2023 English | Virtual Reality, Video Dome

Artist: Taylor McArthur (Nakota) Canada | 2023 English | Projection Installation

Instantiating the theory of “mnidoo worlding,” this captivating experience explores Indigenous relational ontologies in a microscopic universe filled with storyplanets and dynamic soundscapes, all contained within a drop of water.

Between moments of bliss and fascination, Anchorage visualizes the feeling of holding onto time as it passes, like a current of water washing over you, harmonizing with a voice inside. “Just let go—it’s okay—let go.” Taylor McArthur (Pogé hąská wašté wiyá/Hummingbird Woman) is a digital artist working with 3D animation, video game design, and video.

Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning is an artist, a faculty member in Philosophy and Cultural Studies at Queen’s University, and a member of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation.

Toes

Digital Constellations: Making Our Own Seat at the Table

Artist: Nadine Chantal Marie Leclerc (Mi’kmaw) Canada | 2023 English | Interactive Installation

Artist: Amanda Amour-Lynx (L’nu) Canada | 2023 English | Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality

In a vivid memory of the artist, this visual storyscape recalls summers spent visiting grandpapa’s cabin. Wearable components encourage participation in the present while reflecting on past stories of water creatures, monsters, and kin.

Cultural connection is potent when we share meals, stories, and craft at the table. This celestial space subverts the colonial gaze and heteropatriarchy, creating a hypersurreal landscape where Indigenous futurisms, dreams, and stories can exist.

As a visual artist with a new media background, Nadine translates memories and moments into visual stories.

Amanda Amour-Lynx (they/she/nekm) is a Two-Spirit, neurodivergent, urban L’nu (Mi’kmaw)–Scottish interdisciplinary artist and facilitator currently living in Guelph, Ontario.

OCT 18-22

Digital + Interactive Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Ełeghàà ; All At Once

House of Moiré

Artist: Casey Koyczan (Dene) Canada | 2022 English | Virtual Reality

Artist: Chloe Alexandra Thompson (Cree), Matthew Edwards Canada | 2022 English | Virtual Reality

Presenting multiple overlapping timelines of Denendeh, this imaginative VR film ponders what our world was, what it is now, and how it might be in the future, as giant animals roam the North.

House of Moiré invites users into a void-like realm, where one’s experience is defined by the curiosity of their eyes and ears.

Casey Koyczan is a Dene interdisciplinary artist from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, specializing in installation, 3D/VR/AR/360, video, and audio works to communicate how culture and technology can grow together in order for us to develop a better understanding of our past, present, and future.

Chloe Alexandra Thompson is a Cree interdisciplinary artist and sound designer. She approaches sound as a mode of connection—embracing the kinesthetic agency of sound to compose abstract feats of spatialized audio recording and synthesis.

Lay pijedá, nuestro pueblo.

YOU WERE ALWAYS HERE

Artists: Dennis Noel López Sosa (Chontal), Marilut Castro Sosa (Chontal) Mexico | 2022 Chontal | Video Game

Artist: Joshua Conrad (Stó:lō) Canada | 2023 English | Augmented Reality YOU WERE ALWAYS HERE plays on the theme of reconnection, place-finding, and belonging in the everchanging urban landscapes.

Discover the roots and heart of Oaxaca’s Chontal people, learning their past and present through traditions, costumes, and legends.

Joshua Conrad is a Stó:lō new media artist who weaves dreams and memories, inviting the viewer to explore lucid, dream-like realms using all their senses.

Documentary filmmaker, visual artist, director, and multiplatform, transmedia producer. Dennis’ work explores the intersections of memory, territory, and identity through the dialogue between experimental practice and documentary, combining analogue and digital mediums. 100

OCT 18-22

Digital + Interactive Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Between Us

DeneQuest: Inkoze

Artist: Melissa Johns (Kanien′keha:ka) Canada | 2023 English | Screen Installation

Artists: Eileen Beaver (Dene Dedlıne Yatı), Kyle Napier (Dene/Nêhiyaw Métis) Canada | 2023 Dene Dedlıne Yatı | Video Game

Existing somewhere between still life, video art, and poetry, Between Us is a reflection that digs deep into the artist’s family history, resulting in an exercise in vulnerability and tenderness.

This immersive 48-bit language learning game invites players — whether at home or in a classroom — onto the land. Gain animal friends with special abilities and learn Dene, all while going back to the lost community of Rocher River.

Melissa Johns is a multimedia visual artist and educator from a mixed Kanien′keha:ka (Mohawk, Turtle Clan) and French Canadian background, born and based in Tkaronto.

Eileen Beaver, who lives in Fort Smith, speaks numerous languages including Dëne Dédliné Yatıé, which she is fluent in and has dedicated her life to teaching. Kyle Napier is a university instructor, researcher, and media designer prioritizing Dene Dedlıne Yatı language learning.

Ancestors’ Gate

Galup VR Experience

Artist: Steve Tekaronhiake Diabo (Mohawk) Canada | 2023 Mohawk, English | Interactive Installation

Director: Ian Wilkes (Wadjuk/Ballardong) Producer: Poppy van Oorde-Grainger Consultant: Doolann-Leisha Eatts (Whadjuk Bibbumen Noongar) Australia | 2022 Noongar, English | Virtual Reality

Bridging vintage electronics with modern tech, this thought-provoking and nostalgic mixed media installation acts as a temporal bridge across Indigenous generations. Immerse yourself in the storytelling, languages, and music of generations past by entering Ancestors’ Gate.

Sit with an Aboriginal Elder by the fire in this intimate and cinematic VR experience highlighting the ongoing impact of colonization. This intimate truth-telling session will resonate with you long after you leave.

With roots in both Kahnawake and Ireland, Steve Diabo is a multidisciplinary, interactive artist and creative technologist.

Ian Wilkes is a Noongar theatre-maker, dancer, and performer, and artistic associate for the Perth Festival.

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OCT 18-22

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

Digital + Interactive Works

I WOULD LIKE TO BE MIDNIGHT/ I WOULD LIKE TO BE SKY

BOLIVIA PROFUNDA (DEEP BOLIVIA) Artist: José Celestino Campusano (Indios Pampa) Argentina | 2023 Spanish | Virtual Reality

Artist: Amelia Winger-Bearskin (Seneca) USA | 2023 English | Screen Installation

The first virtual reality film shot in Bolivia, Bolivia Profunda explores a multitude of scenarios, suburban legends, and rural myths among the extraordinary multiculturalism of this Andean nation.

Who determines the protocol for looking at the sky? This video work reimagines sky ownership with the absence of human architecture, inviting you on a mesmerizing journey through time and ancestral celestial expanses.

José Celestino Campusano, born in Quilmes, Argentina, is a filmmaker and the author of Argentine Marginal Mythology. With his production company Cinebruto, he embraces suburban myths, challenging norms in content, performance, production, and diffusion.

Amelia Winger-Bearskin is a Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Arts at the Digital Worlds Institute at the University of Florida.

la raíz es más importante que la flor (the root is more important than the flower)

Hill Agency: PURITYdecay Artist: Meagan Irene Byrne (Métis) Canada | 2023 Cree, English | Video Game

Artist: Cristina Kotz Cornejo (Huarpe) Argentina | 2021 Spanish | Virtual Reality

In this Indigenous cybernoir detective game, players explore what our world might look like on the brink of freedom from colonial oppression in a thriving Néhinaw metropolis.

In this 360º personal documentary, a filmmaker and Huarpe descendent is introduced to her Huarpe culture and the plight of modern day Huarpe descendents in what is now known as San Juan, Argentina.

Meagan Byrne is a game designer, writer, philosopher, and the founder of Achimostawinan Games (AchimoGames), an indie game studio out of Hamilton, Ontario.

Cristina is an award-winning, independent filmmaker and media educator creating work in documentary, fictional narrative, and immersive media spaces.

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Digital + Interactive Works

12:00 PM - 7:00 PM Daily TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

The Sound of You Collapsing Director: Rylan Friday (Cote First Nation) Canada | 2023 English | Screen Installation Beautifully cinematic and raw, this short film is an audio sensory experience that follows a sleepless Noah as they navigate a dreamscape filled with old memories of their current relationship with Connor, someone who he cannot fix. Rylan Friday is an award-winning, Indigiqueer filmmaker from the Cote First Nation, Saskatchewan. He has directed Terror/Forming and The Sound of You Collapsing.

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OCT 18-22

OCT 18

iNdigital Days

Wednesday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

iNdigital Days: Wednesday Attention to all developers, digital artists, and visionaries: Welcome to iNdigital Days! This extraordinary two-day event is back, offering a unique chance to expand your skills and forge connections with fellow digital creatives. Mark your calendars for October 18 and join us at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery for an immersive experience dedicated to artists who are passionate about pushing the boundaries of new media. The iNdigital Days’ journey starts with an inspiring Elder address, setting the tone for the event, followed by a captivating keynote delivered by a seasoned industry artist. These thoughtprovoking talks will set the stage for what’s to come. And that’s not all! We have an exciting iNdigital Youth Collective Showcase providing a platform to showcase the incredible talent of our Indigenous youth. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of iNdigital Days. Join us on October 18 to witness the cutting edge of digital creativity and to connect with like-minded individuals. See you there!

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Elder Opening Address TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Keynote TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Panel: Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

6:15 PM - 8:15 PM

Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org/festival/schedule.

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iNdigital Showcase TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

iNdigital Days

Thursday 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

OCT 19

iNdigital Days: Thursday Welcome to Day 2 of iNdigital Days! Join us on October 19 at the exquisite TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery as we delve even deeper into the intersection of art, technology, and culture. This event promises to captivate your imagination and showcase innovative concepts that make these experiences accessible to all. Today’s program is packed with exciting activities, including a special networking collaboration with the Institute, providing Indigenous digital creatives with the opportunity to connect, and the unique chance to build your very own SkoBot! Explore the world of robotics as our instructor guides you through the process of creating your personalized SkoBot cousin. Listen to our panelists as they speak on the next creative wave! As the sun sets, the celebration ends with the vibrant tunes of DJ Sunna. Join us at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery on October 19 and be a part of an unforgettable experience!

Please note: Schedule is subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org/festival/schedule.

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11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Digital + Interactive Networking Event TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Hands-On Activity: Crafting your own AR SkoBot TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Celebration with DJ Sunna TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

OCT 18

Industry Days

Wednesday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Industry Days: Wednesday

Welcome to Industry Days!

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Industry Days Opening Ceremony TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

10:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Cross-Cultural Collaboration Conversation TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

11:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Industry Lounge space

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

New Media Masterclass TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

Two-Spirit + Indigiqueer Storytelling Panel TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Industry Days’ offerings are crafted to support the professional development and interests of Indigenous creatives in the screen industry. imagineNATIVE Industry Days opens on Wednesday, October 18 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox with an opening ceremony followed by an audience-engaged conversation focused on creating cross-cultural/crossregional productions in partnership with Nia Tero and Kin Theory, a masterclass on new media storytelling, and a panel highlighting the importance of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer stories. We will wrap up the day with a conversation with imagineNATIVE Institute Features Lab participants to chat about their experience in the lab and the stories they created throughout the yearlong mentorship. The Industry Days venue will be open throughout the day as an Industry Lounge space.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Please note: These events are only open to Industry and Artist Pass Holders. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org.

Cross-Cultural Collaboration Conversation in partnership with Nia Tero, Kin Theory, and Recipocity Project

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Features Lab Panel TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4

Industry Days

Thursday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

OCT 19

Industry Days: Thursday On Thursday, October 19, we welcome Industry Days attendees, Festival artists, and industry decision-makers to participate in our annual Micro Meetings networking event to begin, or continue to build, meaningful connections and potential collaborations. Industry and Artist screenings will take place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Please note: These events are only open to Industry and Artist Pass Holders. For the most up-to-date information and Industry Days Venue location, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org.

Industry Days Schedule 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Micro Meetings

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Industry + Artist Screening TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

1:15 PM - 3:15 PM

Micro Meetings Schedule 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Industry + Artist Screening TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 1

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Festival Programmers + Curators

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Buyers, Sales, + Acquisitions

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Production + Development

3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Distribution

OCT 20

Industry Days

Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinemas 3 + 4

Industry Days: Friday On Friday, October 20, Industry Days presents the imagineNATIVE + APTN lumi Web Series Pitch Forum, where six live web series pitches will take place and receive feedback from industry leaders, followed by a screening and a Q&A of the APTN lumi web series Tales from the Rez and D dot H. Be sure to join us on Friday evening for the imagineNATIVE Originals Program showcasing the projects developed in the Institute’s year-round commissions mentorships in partnership with the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), Charles Street Video (CSV), the Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF), Pinewood Studios, ACTRA Toronto, Capilano University, and Telus STORYHIVE, including the anticipated premiere of the web series KIN.

Please note: For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org.

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11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

imagineNATIVE + APTN lumi Web Series Pitch Forum TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 This event is only open to Industry and Artist Pass Holders.

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

APTN lumi Web Series Screening + Q&A TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4 This event is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

imagineNATIVE Originals Screening + Q&A TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 3 This event is open to the public and ticketed. Please book your ticket in advance via our Box Office.

Industry Days

Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

OCT 21

Industry Days: Saturday For the final part of Industry Days, Saturday, October 21, we begin with a panel on support for film and television, followed by an in-depth conversation around distribution, a discussion with artists on the collaboration with, and impacts of, AI in the industry, and a panel that will dive into the differences, similarities, and challenges of directing for film and television. We will wrap up Industry Days with a Closing Ceremony.

Please note: These events are only open to Industry and Artist Pass Holders. For the most up-to-date information and Industry Days Venue location, please visit our website at imagineNATIVE.org.

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Support for Film + TV Panel

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Lets Talk Distribution Panel

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

AI + the Industry Panel

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Directing from Film to TV Panel

Sunday 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM TIFF Bell Lightbox, Gallery

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

OCT 22

Special Event: imagineNATIVE Through the Ages

The industry has shifted immensely over imagineNATIVE's 24-year history. As we prepare to look ahead to future festivals, join us for a round table talk with established and emerging artists who share their perspectives on where we've come from and their hopes for what the future holds. Moderated by imagineNATIVE's Festival Director Lindsay Monture and former Executive Director Jason Ryle.

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SPECIAL EVENTS

Get ready to be swept away by the 24th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival! We are thrilled to welcome you with open arms to an extraordinary lineup of events. Feast on traditional delights, witness mesmerizing performances by Indigenous artists, and discover unique treasures crafted by local artisans at the Welcome Gathering. Let loose at our Opening Night Party and dance the night away to the pulsating beats of Indigenous DJs, savouring delicious treats that will tantalize your taste buds. Join us in honouring the remarkable achievements of Indigenous creatives at the electrifying Awards Presentation, where sensational singers will ignite the stage. And of course, don’t miss the heart-pounding excitement of The Beat, where DJs, dancers, and singers will keep you on your feet all night long! This Festival is about creating unforgettable and heartfelt memories together. We can’t wait to share this incredible journey with you. Welcome to imagineNATIVE, where warmth, excitement, and pure magic await! Teineisha Richards Events + Outreach Manager Mi’kmaq

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Tiana Osborne Events Coordinator Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk)

WELCOME GATHERING

Welcome Gathering Tuesday, October 17 | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) 16 Spadina Rd Free admission + open to the public We are eager to welcome everyone to another exciting Festival! Come enjoy traditional singing, dance performances, spoken word poetry, and an opening prayer from our cultural advisor, plus a delicious community feast prepared by NCCT. Shop for artwork made by local, Indigenous artisans and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous cultures.

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OPENING NIGHT PARTY

Opening Night Party Tuesday, October 17 | 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM Steam Whistle Brewery 255 Bremner Blvd, Bay 6 Tickets: $15 Featuring: DJ Kimiwan, DeeJay Jams, and Boogey The Beat Celebrate the annual Festival launch with some of the top Indigenous DJs! Arrive early to enjoy a variety of free culinary delectables and create lasting memories with our glam 360 photo booth. The red carpet awaits you! *Sales are subject to availability.

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THE BEAT

The Beat Don’t skip a beat! Get ready to party at TD Music Hall and be captivated by extraordinary Indigenous performing artists. You won’t want to miss a special performance by DJ Kookum co-presented by Fab Collab! Thank you to the Slaight Family Foundation for their support of The Beat and Indigenous performing artists

Friday, October 21 | 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM TD Music Hall 178 Victoria St Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door* Featuring: Mr. Sauga, Semiah, Chandra Melting Tallow, and DJ Kookum

*Sales are subject to availability.

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ART CRAWL

Art Crawl Wednesday, October 18 | 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM Free ticketed admission

Art Crawl Schedule

Every year imagineNATIVE collaborates with established and local artist-run galleries in the downtown Toronto area to present national and international exhibitions featuring Indigenous artists who continue to push the boundaries and expectations of what Indigenous storytelling is. The Art Crawl began unofficially in the early 2000s and has been a staple of the Festival since 2012.

Onsite Gallery 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM A Space Gallery 4:45 PM - 5:05 PM

We are excited to partner with A Space Gallery, Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Bachir/Yerex Presentation Space, Onsite Gallery, Trinity Square Video, Art Museum at the University of Toronto, and YYZ Artists’ Outlet for the 2023 Art Crawl.

Trinity Square Video 5:10 PM - 5:30 PM YYZ Artists' Outlet 5:35 PM - 5:55 PM

We would like to acknowledge Vtape, our co-founders. We value all the work Vtape has put into imagineNATIVE and their continuous support. Thank you!

Operating Funders:

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Bachir/Yerex Presentation Space 6:05 PM - 6:25 PM Art Museum at the University of Toronto 7:00 PM - 7:40 PM Art Gallery of Ontario Closing Reception 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

EXHIBITIONS

Onsite Gallery June 14 - December 9 199 Richmond St W, Ground Floor

On Americanity and Other Experiences of Belonging Spotlight Artists: Tarralik Duffy, Caroline Monnet Onsite's Host/Presenter: Ryan Rice Onsite Gallery, OCAD University’s public art gallery supporting professional creative practices through a diverse curatorial platform for art, design, and new media, spotlights artists Tarralik Duffy and Caroline Monnet for the 2023 Art Crawl.

Ryan Rice, Kanien′kehá:ka of Kahnawake, is the Executive Director and Curator of Indigenous Art at OCAD University’s Onsite Gallery. His curatorial career spans 30 years in the community, museums, public spaces, and galleries.

This exhibition is guest curated by Analays Álvarez Hernández and Colette Laliberté.

Tarralik Duffy is a multidisciplinary artist and writer who lives and works between Salliq (Coral Harbour), Nunavut, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. From jewelry and apparel to graphic works and soft sculpture, Duffy’s work shares distinctly Inuit experiences, which are often infused with a dose of humour and pop culture.

Tarralik Duffy animates the gallery’s façade at street level, bringing her unique and critical vision to downtown Toronto, connecting the North to the South. Her commissioned digital mural is part of the series Up Front: Inuit Public Art at Onsite Gallery, which is presented in partnership with the Inuit Art Foundation.

Caroline Monnet is a multidisciplinary artist with roots in Anishinaabe and French communities. Monnet has become known for minimalist yet emotionally charged works that use industrial materials and combine the vocabulary of popular and traditional visual cultures with the tropes of modernist abstraction to create unique hybrid forms.

Caroline Monnet is one of eight artists featured in the current gallery exhibition On Americanity and Other Experiences of Belonging. Monnet’s work explores the broad concept of “Americanity” alongside aspects of Indigeneity to interrogate the possibility of shifting existing continental identities and experiences of belonging. Both artists contribute to building an Indigenous and contemporary art discourse that stimulates conversations on relevant issues of our time.

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EXHIBITIONS

A Space Gallery October 17 - December 9 401 Richmond St W, Suite 110

Celestial Bodies Artists: Dayna Danger, Duane Isaac, Roberto Fatal Curator: Jesse King The exhibition Celestial Bodies explores the experience of Indigenous identities, Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer folks, and gives a space for the rarely recognized voices to be heard by like-minded individuals. The exhibition permits viewers to experience and question the colonial presence of societal normalities regarding identity, gender, and sexuality. The exhibition aims to deconstruct and abolish gender roles through the themes of desire, euphoria, despair, and dysphoria.

Duane Isaac, a talented artist of Mi’gmaq descent, hails from Listuguj, Quebec. His unique artistic vision combines photography with contemporary fantastical masks, inspired by both Indigenous knowledge and the queer gaze. Using found objects, recycled materials, and basic supplies, Isaac’s work is of an ephemeral nature as the pieces created are temporary, eventually lost in time. Roberto Fatal (they/them/ellos) is a filmmaker and storyteller. They come from Rarámuri, Tewa Pueblo, Ute, and Spanish ancestors and Mexican American culture. Their Queer, gender fluid, Mestize/Mixed identity informs the video art and sci-fi films they make. Their work centres on humans who sit at the intersections of time, space, and culture. Fatal is a Sundance Film Festival Indigenous Film Lab and imagineNATIVE Director’s Lab alumnus.

Jesse King, born Ojibwe from Wasauksing First Nation, is based in Toronto. They have completed an undergraduate photography degree at OCAD University. King’s work and curatorial interests frequently explore the many facets of identity, including discussions of queerness, gender, and the importance of cultural representation.

elestial Bodies was made possible through the C curatorial residency at daphne (with funding from the Conseil des arts de Montreal's Indigenous Residency program) and articule (with funding from the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts).

Dayna Danger is a Two-Spirit/Queer, Métis/Saulteaux/ Polish visual artist raised in Winnipeg, Manitobia. Danger holds an MFA in photography from Concordia University. Using photography, sculpture, performance, and video, Dayna Danger’s practice questions the line between empowerment and objectification. Danger’s current use of BDSM and beading leather fetish masks explores the complicated dynamics of sexuality, gender, and power in a consensual and feminist manner.

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EXHIBITIONS

Trinity Square Video October 14 - November 25 401 Richmond St W, Suite 121

Alteration Artists: Elyssia Wilson Heti, Falencie Filipo, Jaimie Waititi, Moe Laga-Toleafoa, Nahora Ioane, Pati Tyrell, Tanu Gago, Tapuaki Helu, Tim Swann, Māhia Dean, Hōhua Ropate Kurene FAFSWAG is a Queer Indigenous arts collective committed to social change through arts and innovation, producing bespoke cultural activations that are cutting edge, culturally responsive, and socially relevant. Operating across a multitude of interdisciplinary art forms and genres, FAFSWAG artists work collaboratively to activate public and digital spaces, speaking to our contexts as Queer Indigenous arts practitioners.

Meeting at the intersections of cultural archival practices, digital technology, and queer Indigenous storytelling, Alteration presents a series of intertextual lenses on the pluralities of Queer Indigenous identity. This body of work redefines its own grand cultural ambitions and aspirations to be more than just the recipients of colonial violence and historical trauma. Alteration is the culmination of 10 years of archival practice and two years of co-design, co-curation, research, and production. It is a mixed media, archival exhibition of significant works created between 2013 and 2023 that seeks out a vision of Queer Indigenous Futurism that dares to be abundant and visionary. This compilation renders the experiences of our communities in full resolution, piecing together pixels of queer life as Moana Peoples, in constant motion and growth, rebelling against a now predictable and fixed colonial oppression.

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EXHIBITIONS

Bachir/Yerex Presentation Space October 11 - 28 401 Richmond St W, Suite 452

The Dreaming: Dana Claxton’s Video Art Artist: Dana Claxton Curator: Winston Xin Co-Presented with Vtape programmer. Xin has also worked as a programmer for Video In Studios (ViVo) and co-founded Asian Heritage Month Vancouver. His video shorts and curated programs have been shown nationally and internationally. He currently sits on the board of OnMain and has been Dana Claxton’s editor for over 25 years.

Dana Claxton is an award-winning, multidisciplinary artist in video, film, performance art, installations, and photography. The Dreaming is a survey of her video works, which deal with anti-colonialist tactics and Lakota mysticism, ideologies, and aesthetics mixed with her observations of our current contemporary culture.

Xin’s artistic and curatorial practice revolves around the intersection of queerness and race.

Winston Xin is a Malaysian-born artist and curator living in Vancouver. Xin was involved in the Toronto fanzine movement of the 1980s, along with Hal Kelly and Angela Ciavarella. They published The Trash Compactor zine about disposable cultures. Xin also was a writer for the Canadian indie music magazine, Exclaim.

Dana Claxton is a critically acclaimed artist who works with film, video, photography, single/multi-channel video installation, and performance art. Her practice investigates Indigenous beauty, the body, the sociopolitical, and the spiritual.

He moved to Vancouver in the 90s, wrote for Xtra West, and joined the Out On Screen: Vancouver Queer Film & Video Festival as part of their collective and as a

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EXHIBITIONS

YYZ Artists' Outlet September 30 - December 16 401 Richmond St W, Suite 140

Processing Racism Table Artist: Theo Jean Cuthand

Theo Jean Cuthand has been making short, experimental narrative videos and films since 1995 about sexuality, madness, Queer identity and love, and Indigeneity. He holds a BFA from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and an MA in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University. He is a trans man who uses He/Him pronouns. He is of Plains Cree and Scots descent, a member of the Little Pine First Nation.

Through conversations with several Indigenous people who have lived in Saskatchewan, where the population is 13.5% Indigenous, Cuthand follows the common thread of experiences with anti-Indigenous racism. Cuthand discovers personal stories illuminating the difficult moments of trying to thrive in a racist province, from encounters with the police to issues in the workplace.

The artist would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Canada Council for the Arts for this project.

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EXHIBITIONS

Art Museum at the University of Toronto September 7 - November 25 7 Hart House Cir

The Children Have to Hear Another Story Artist: Alanis Obomsawin Curators: Richard William Hill, Hila Peleg The Children Have to Hear Another Story celebrates the lifework of one of the world’s most acclaimed Indigenous documentary film directors, Alanis Obomsawin. Organized by Richard William Hill and Hila Peleg, the exhibition features unprecedented access to Obomsawin’s films and the archives related to their production. The decade-by-decade survey also includes her artworks, prints, and music along with ephemera, documents, and media coverage that provide new insight into her work and her decades-long activism. Listening to Indigenous voices and making visible the struggles for rights and recognition in the face of the generational effects of colonization, Alanis Obomsawin’s work continues to mobilize against the hauntings of cultural erasure, testifying to the resilience and recovery sustained as much by children’s voices as by the warriors who stand their ground for their land. In this capacity, she has been at the forefront of transformational change in Canada and internationally.

Richard William Hill, Smith Jarislowsky Senior Curator of Canadian Art at the Vancouver Art Gallery, has worked as a curator, critic, and art historian for three decades. Hila Peleg is a curator and editor based in Berlin and Tel Aviv. She has curated interdisciplinary cultural events and exhibitions in public institutions internationally and is the founder of the Berlin Documentary Forum. The Children Have to Hear Another Story: Alanis Obomsawin is made possible through a partnership between Haus der Kultural der Welt, the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, and the Vancouver Art Gallery in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada and with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Embassy of Canada, Berlin, and CBC/ Radio Canada. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

Alanis Obomsawin (b. 1932) is a member of the Abenaki Nation. She has written, directed, and produced over 56 films, and, as a singer, writer, and storyteller, she has performed at universities, residential schools, prisons, and festivals across North America and Europe. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honours, including the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement (2008). In 2023, she became the first female film director to receive the prestigious Edward MacDowell Medal. 123

EXHIBITIONS

Art Gallery of Ontario 317 Dundas St W Guided Tour

AGO Guided Tour with Curator Wanda Nanibush

Wanda Nanibush is the inaugural Curator of Indigenous Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Nanibush is an Anishinaabe-kwe curator, image and word warrior, and community organizer from Beausoleil First Nation. Nanibush has a Master’s degree in Visual Studies from the University of Toronto. Her curatorial credits include the exhibitions Rita Letendre: Fire & Light (AGO), Toronto: Tributes + Tributaries, 1971-1989 (AGO), Sovereign Acts II (Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery), and the awardwinning KWE: The work of Rebecca Belmore (Justina M. Barnicke Gallery) among many others. Nanibush has published widely on the subject of Indigenous art and women’s issues and is currently working on her first book, Violence No More: The Rise of Indigenous Women. She has taught graduate courses at the University of Toronto and currently teaches at OCADU. Over the past two decades, Nanibush has served in various capacities, from programmer and festival coordinator to Aboriginal arts officer and executive director. She has worked with organizations such as imagineNATIVE, LIFT, Optic Nerve Film Festival, Reframe Film Festival, the Ontario Arts Council, Aboriginal Curatorial Collective, and the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts (ANDPVA)

Live Performance by TechnoTihuacan TechnoTihuacan is a live, multimedia work created and performed by video artist Roberto Fatal and DJ Bianca Oblivion. The performance uses video DJ technology to edit together a feature-length, immersive experimental film live in front of the audience. TechnoTihuacan explores the intersectional story of Latinx Indigenous contemporary life, including border politics, decolonialism, queer sexuality, Afro Latinx visibility, pop culture, spirituality and, Two-Spirit and Trans identity. These videos, a mix of original creations and curated works, are synced with techno/cumbia/ merengue/vogue music remixes that respond to and support the digital visuals. TechnoTihuacan uses DJing and video mixing and remixing to sew together the often-fractured narratives of Latinx life into a cohesive, large-scale video mural.

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AUGUST SCHELLENBERG AWARD The August Schellenberg Award of Excellence was launched in partnership with Joan Karasevich to honour her late husband, legendary actor August (Augie) Schellenberg, and the spirit of his work. This award is presented to gifted Indigenous actors from across Turtle Island based on the longevity and impact of their careers, as well as their professionalism and involvement in mentorship and community work. This award is supported by ACTRA National and individual donations.

imagineNATIVE is honoured to present the 2023 August Schellenberg Award of Excellence to Jennifer Podemski.

Jennifer Podemski is a director, writer, producer, and actor. Born and raised in Toronto, Jennifer makes her home in Barrie, Ontario. Of mixed Anishinaabe (First Nation) and Ashkenazi (Jewish) decent, Jennifer’s professional acting career began when she was 17. Her breakout role was as Sadie in Bruce McDonald’s iconic film, Dance Me Outside, a performance that garnered critical acclaim, solidifying her place in Canada’s film and television canon.

recent credits include five seasons of the paranormal television series The Other Side (APTN), the awardwinning feature film Empire of Dirt, and two seasons of the documentary series Future History (APTN) for which she received the 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Director, Factual. Jennifer has maintained a successful career as an actor, with roles in Degrassi: The Next Generation, Republic of Doyle, Take This Waltz, Blackstone, Hard Rock Medical, and Cardinal. She is most proud of her starring role in her own film, Empire of Dirt, which was nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards in 2015 including Best Actress (Cara Gee), Best Supporting Actress (Jennifer Podemski), Best Editing (Jorge Weisz), Best Film (Jennifer Podemski), and won for Best Screenplay making Shannon Masters the first Indigenous woman to receive this honour.

In 1999, Jennifer shifted her focus to producing as a way to address the lack of Indigenous representation in the film and television industry. She launched Big Soul Productions with Laura Milliken, Canada’s first Indigenous owned and operated, full-service film and television production and post-production company. Big Soul Productions produced a variety of documentary television series, scripted short films, and the award-winning, multiseason, all Indigenous dramatic television series Moccasin Flats for Showcase Television and APTN.

In 2020, Jennifer launched The Shine Network, a digital platform designed to amplify the voices of Indigenous women content creators and offer professional development opportunities to Indigenous women.

In 2005, Jennifer branched out independently and has been creating, producing, writing, and directing content through her production company Redcloud Studios Inc. Her most 125

LIST OF AWARDS 2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Awards We are excited to celebrate Indigenous achievements in film and media arts with generous support from our partners and individual donors. Each year, the imagineNATIVE Awards Presentation showcases the selection of exceptional works from our Festival. Innovation in Storytelling Award With support from Kent Monkman and D.R. Sobey Foundation $7,500

New Voice in Storytelling Award With support from Humber College and the CJ Foundation $5,000

Animated Short Award With support from Blue Ant Media $2,500

Sun Jury Award With support from the Directors Guild of Canada $2,500

Documentary Short Award With support from Blue Ant Media $2,500

Moon Jury Award With support from the Directors Guild of Canada $2,500

Documentary Feature Award in honour of Alanis Obomsawin With Support from TVO $5,000

Live Action Short Award With support from Vtape and Jason Ryle $7,500 Dramatic Feature Award With support from Telefilm Canada $7,500

Experimental Audio Award With support from Meriläinen Müsic Inc. $1,500 Narrative Audio Award With support from Meriläinen Müsic Inc. $1,500

August Schellenberg Award of Excellence With support from With Support from Joan Karasevich and ACTRA National $2,500

New Artist in Digital + Interactive Award With support from Air Canada $2,000

Audience Choice Feature Award With support from Shutterstock $2,500

Digital + Interactive Award With support from imagineNATIVE $2,500

Audience Choice Short Award With support from BMO $2,500

Indigenous Language Production Award With support from Indigenous Media Initiatives and the Indigenous Screen Office $7,500

Jeff Barnaby Award With support from imagineNATIVE $2,500

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AWARDS JURIES imagineNATIVE is proud to be able to provide annual cash awards to artists spanning 17 awards categories. We have four different juries to select the award winners across our Film + Video, Digital + Interactive, and Audio Official Selection.

Sun Jury

Water Jury

The Sun Jury is responsible for adjudicating the following awards: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, New Voice in Storytelling, and the Sun Jury Award.

The Water Jury is responsible for adjudicating the following awards: New Artist in Digital + Interactive and the Digital + Interactive Award.

Noel Habel (Dakota)

Skawennati Fragnito (Mohawk)

Liisa Holmberg (Sámi)

Maize Longboat (Kanien'kehá:ka)

Land Jury The Land Jury is responsible for adjudicating the following awards: Experimental Audio and the Narrative Audio Award. David Hernández Palmar (Wayuu)

Moon Jury The Moon Jury is responsible for adjudicating the following awards: Dramatic Feature, Live Action Short (Dramatic Short), Animated Short, Innovation in Storytelling (Experimental), Indigenous Language Production, and the Moon Jury Award.

Travis Mercredi (Métis)

Suzanne Morrissette (Métis/Cree)

The Jeff Barnaby Award

Alex Lazarowich (Cree)

Jeff Barnaby was an exceptional storyteller in Indigenous genre filmmaking, often melding horror, sci-fi, and thrillers interchangeably. A fearless auteur, Jeff’s style defied the western gaze on Indigenous Peoples, hailing them as resilient and strong survivors and heroes. To honour his memory, imagineNATIVE is proud to celebrate his impact on Indigenous, genre-bending films with the Jeff Barnaby Award.

Sterlin Harjo (Seminole)

Kaniehtiio Horn (Kanien'kehá:ka/ Mohawk)

Renae Maihi (Ngāti Whakaue & Ngāpuhi) 127

Danis Goulet (Cree-Métis)

PRINT SOURCE A Ajá (Water) (p. 80) Print Source: Dennis Noel López Sosa wezzer793@gmail.com Alexander Ball, The (p. 64) Print Source: Jessica Magro purplecarrotentertainment@gmail.com

Burned (p. 61) Print Source: Jordan Wanakamik jordanwanakamik@gmail.com BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI (p. 63) Print Source: Veialu Aila-Unsworth veialu.au@gmail.com C

E Ełeghàà ; All At Once (p. 100) Print Source: Casey Koyczan caseykoyczan@gmail.com Entre Nous Locataires (Between Us Tenants) (p.44) Print Source: Elijah Alexander Chenoweth elijahchenoweth@gmail.com

Ancestors’ Gate (p. 101) Print Source: Steve Diabo stevediabo@gmail.com

Café Daughter (p. 48) Print Source: Level Film ib@levelfilm.com

Ancestral Threads (p. 63) Print Source: Sean Stiller hello@seanstiller.com

Camping (p. 44) Print Source: Fourwalled Films derekquick@fourwalled.com

Fancy Dance (p. 35) Print Source: Tommy Oliver at Confluential Films tommy@confluentialfilms.com

Anchorage (p. 99) Print Source: Taylor McArthur tpmk93@gmail.com

Can I Love You? (p. 54) Print Source: Kymon Grey horse kymongreyhorse@gmail.com

Fast Eddie (p. 90) Print Source: Keely Meechan keelymeechan@gmail.com

Aunties Dandelion Podcast: Interview with Jeremy Dutcher, The (p. 97) Print Source: The Aunties Dandelion Podcast theauntiesdandelion@gmail.com

canadaLANDBACK: Reclamation at Stoney Point (Part 1 + 2) (p. 94) Print Source: Kim Wheeler kimage.wheeler@gmail.com

Follow (p.37) Print Source: Brent Owen Beauchamp b.beauchamp99@gmail.com

AYKUO (p. 45) Print Source: Ekaterina Rusakovich at Eastwood Agency ekaterina@eastwood.agency B Babanil (p.41) Print Source: Regen Studios jayde@regenstudios.com Baigal Nuur - Lake Baikal (p. 79) Print Source: Alisi Telengut alisi.telengut@gmail.com Bear Named Jesus, A (p. 89) Print Source: Christa Couture at One Foot Tapping Media Inc. christacouture@gmail.com Belonging (p.41) Print Source: Lucía Ortega Toledo lucia@catamountfilms.com Between Us (p. 101) Print Source: Melissa Johns melissajohnsart@gmail.com Biolumin (p. 80) Print Source: Moe Clark moe.clark@gmail.com BOLIVIA PROFUNDA (DEEP BOLIVIA) (p. 102) Print Source: Dolores Tezanos dolorestezanos@gmail.com Boy and His Loss, A (p. 89) Print Source: Michelle Derosier at Thunderstone Pictures Inc. thunderstone.pictures@gmail.com

Club Kid Alley (p. 63) Print Source: Tyler J Sloane tyler.j.sloane@gmail.com Conduit, The (p. 97) Print Source: LaceyHill laceyhill.music@gmail.com Cu-Ckoo (p. 68) Print Source: Ekaterina Rusakovich at Eastwood Agency ekaterina@eastwood.agency D D dot H (p. 58) Print Source: Meegwun Fairbrother bmeegwun@gmail.com Dear Kin (p. 55) Print Source: Alexis Anoruk Sallee alexsallee@gmail.com Dear Stephen King, instead of using Indian Burial Grounds in your books, have you thought of using European Burial Grounds? (p. 68) Print Source: Joey Clift joeyclift@gmail.com DeneQuest: Inkoze (p. 101) Print Source: Kyle Napier knapier@ualberta.ca Digital Constellations: Making Our Own Seat at the Table (p. 99) Print Source: Amanda Amour-Lynx amour.lynx@gmail.com Distant (p. 79) Print Source: Keli Mashburn xuthadawin@gmail.com

Brolesque (p. 63) Print Source: Madeleine de Young at Māoriland Production maddy@maorilandfilm.co.nz

Do Digital Curanderas Use Eggs In Their Limpias? (p. 74) Print Source: Roberto Fatal robfatal@gmail.com

Bull of Cold, The (p.38) Print Source: Alexander Moruo tundraanimation@gmail.com

Drumoh (p. 79) Print Source: Armando López Castañeda armlopcast@gmail.com

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Four Nights and a Fire (p. 89) Print Source: Alex Nystrom alexanderrnystrom@gmail.com Frank Gets The Job Done (p. 61) Print Source: Dallas Soonias dallas.soonias@gmail.com G Gabriela (p. 86) Print Source: Evelyn Lorena ev.lorena1@gmail.com Galup VR Experience (p. 101) Print Source: Poppy van Oorde-Grainger info@samedrum.com Gathering (p. 99) Print Source: Dolleen Tisawii’ashii Manning dolleenmanning@gmail.com Golden Age, The (p. 79) Print Source: Bawaadan Productions Bawaadancollective@gmail.com Grape Soda in the Parking Lot (p. 90) Print Source: Christa Couture at One Foot Tapping Media Inc. christacouture@gmail.com H He Karu, He Taringa (p.45) Print Source: Māoriland Productions maddy@maorilandfilm.co.nz He Pounamu Ko Āu (p. 76) Print Source: Tia Barrett tia.barrett@outlook.co.nz Headdress (p. 54) Print Source: Taietsarón:sere Leclaire tai@taileclaire.com Heart Like a Pow Wow (p. 89) Print Source: One Foot Tapping Media Inc. christacouture@gmail.com

PRINT SOURCE Hey, Viktor! (p. 92) Print Source: Visit Films ts@visitfilms.com

Lay pijedá, nuestro pueblo (p. 100) Print Source: Dennis NoelLópez Sosa wezzer793@gmail.com

Hill Agency: PURITYdecay (p. 102) Print Source: Achimostawinan Games questions@achimogames.ca

Long Line of Ladies (p. 87) Print Source: Rayka Zehtabchi rayka@junkdrawer.com

Home (p. 73) Print Source: Grace Hardy graciehardy@gmail.com

House of Moiré (p. 100) Print Source: Lola Baraldi distribution@mutek.org

Mainland, The (p.42) Print Source: Conrad Lihilihi lihilihi@gmail.com

Memories (p. 71) Print Source: Robin Cisek Music robincisek@gmail.com

I Am Home (p. 54) Print Source: Kymon Grey horse kymongreyhorse@gmail.com

Metal Belt (p. 87) Print Source: Blackhorse Films blackhorselowe@gmail.com

I won’t remain alone (p. 90) Print Source: Yaser Talebi talebi.yaser@gmail.com

Mamá (MOM) (p. 91) Print Source: Xun Sero tono.xun@gmail.com

I WOULD LIKE TO BE MIDNIGHT/I WOULD LIKE TO BE SKY (p. 102) Print Source: Amelia Winger-Bearskin studioamelia@gmail.com

MONSTR (p. 71) Print Source: Calgary Animated Objects Society puppetflogger@animatedobjects.ca

I'm Just Here for the Riot (p.46) Print Source: Maria Delgado maria.delgado@espn.com

Mother (EADNI) (p. 86) Print Source: Paranord Film linn@paranordfilm.no

Inky Pinky Ponky (p. 75) Print Source: Lisa Taouma Lisa@tikiproductions.net

Muru (p. 76) Print Source: Reikura Kahi reikura.k@gmail.com

ISHI (p. 52) Print Source: Heather Haynes hhaynes@hotdocs.ca

ISO Presents: Storytellers (p. 94) Print Source: Kim Wheeler kziervogel@yahoo.ca istén:'a (p.44) Print Source: Kathleen Edwards m.kathleenedwards@gmail.com K Katele (Mudskipper) (p. 74) Print Source: John Harvey at Brown Cab Productions Pty Ltd john@browncabs.com KIMOTIWIN: Act of Stealing (p. 71) Print Source: Keara Lightning keara.lightning@gmail.com KIN. (p. 61) Print Source: Justin Ducharme justin.aj.ducharme@gmail.com kobechenonk (p. 80) Print Source: Zephyr McKenna zephyrmckenna87@gmail.com L la raíz es más importante que la flor (the root is more important than the flower) (p. 102) Print Source: Cristina Kotz Cornejo info@wildwimminfilms.com

NANGULVÍ (p. 37) Print Source: Segundo Fuérez mushuksisa@hotmail.com N'xaxaitkw (p. 74) Print Source: Asia Youngman asiayoungman@gmail.com Nemi (p.38) Print Source: Nicolás Zarco gszarco@gmail.com New Boy, The (p. 65) Print Source: Kath Shelper kath@scarlettpictures.com.au Ni Wapiten (I see) (p. 37) Print Source: Wapikoni Mobile distribution@wapikoni.ca Nigiqtuq ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind) (p.46) Print Source: Tiny Moving Pictures & Loud Whisper Productions email.linds@gmail.com Nisihkason Lex (p. 86) Print Source: Out There Productions Inc. jeffleepetry@gmail.com No Māori Allowed (p.50) Print Source: Reikura Kahi reikura.k@gmail.com

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O Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon) (p. 56) Print Source: Diego Sarmiento wantutrifor@gmail.com Onyota’a:ka Culture, History and Healing (p. 96) Print Source: Judith Schuyler jschuyler15@gmail.com Our Grandmother The Inlet (p. 87) Print Source: Boldly Creative Agency Inc. angelica@boldly.ca P Pasifika Drift (p.41) Print Source: Australian Film Television and Radio School distribution@aftrs.edu.au pî-kiwîk Print Source: Keisha Erwin wapahkesis@gmail.com Plastic - A love letter to the estranged (p.41) Print Source: Va'a Magalogo vaamagalogo25@gmail.com Protect Bald Eagles: Warrior Kids Podcast (p. 96) Print Source: Pamela Palmater myraraworld@hotmail.com R (Re)Story Podcast, The (p. 95) Print Source: FelipeContreras felipe@ifnotusthenwho.me Red, White & Brass (p. 59) Print Source: Piki Films Limited carthew@pikifilms.com Redlights (p. 50) Print Source: Eva Thomas msevathomas@yahoo.com Reservation Dogs (p. 57) Print Source: Crazy Eagle Media bronnsoncem@gmail.com Resonance (p. 98) Print Source: Dolleen Tisawii'ashii Manning dolleenmanning@gmail.com Rieban - The Fox (p. 38) Print Source: Sara Margrethe Oskal saramargretheoskal@gmail.com River, The (p. 97) Print Source: Todd Karehana tkarehana@gmail.com Roof, The (p. 55) Print Source: Lissa Khoshbakhti lissa.khoshbakhti@disney.com

PRINT SOURCE S Saltwater Soundwalk (p. 94) Print Source: JennyAsarnow jenny.asarnow@gmail.com SCRATCHED (p. 98) Print Source: Meech None mickymonky1@gmail.com Seedcast Season 2, Episode 14: The LifeGiving Pottery of Katsitsionni Fox (p. 95) Print Source: Julie Keck consultingproducer@niatero.org Skádja (p. 68) Print Source: Eili Bråstad eili@trapesfilm.no SkoBots: Language Revitalization Robots (p. 98) Print Source: Danielle Boyer thesteamconnection@gmail.com Sky Is Very Pretty, The (p. 44) Print Source: Aracely Méndez aracely.normg@gmail.com Sound of You Collapsing, The (p. 103) Print Source: RylanFriday r.friday@live.ca Spilling Labrador Tea Under Cedar Trees (p. 96) Print Source: Katelynne Herchak spillinglabteaundercedartrees@gmail. com STAR WOMEN (p. 95) Print Source: Ramon Mahegkan ramonkataquapit@gmail.com Starbound (p. 73) Print Source: Darcy Waite at Turtle Mountain Media d.r.w.waite@gmail.com

Through Brown Glass (p. 61) Print Source: Keenan Grom k_grom@live.ca To Be Silent (p. 50) Print Source: Kym-Louise Barton distribution@aftrs.edu.au Toes (p. 99) Print Source: Nadine Chantal Marie Leclerc leclercnadinec@gmail.com Turtle Island Talks (Episodes 3 + 4) (p. 95) Print Source: Kim Wheeler kimage.wheeler@gmail.com U Unborn Biru (p. 68) Print Source: Per-Josef Idivuoma per-josef@forestpeople.no Untold Tales of Tūteremoana, The (p. 66) Print Source: Kim Stringer kim@sweetshopgreen.com V Vaychiletik (p. 51) Print Source: Juan Javier Pérez yibelbalamil@hotmail.com W WaaPake (p. 84) Print Source: National Film Board of Canada festivals@nfb.ca Warriors Paradox (p. 96) Print Source: Dante Biss-Grayson dantebissgrayson@gmail.com Whirlflow (p. 86) Print Source: Kathleen Mantel kathleen@blackiris.co.nz

Starlight Sojourn (p. 37) Print Source: Video Pool Inc. vpadmin@videopool.org

Whistling Woods (p. 38) Print Source: Grace Hardy graciehardy@gmail.com

Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s (Episode 1) (p. 94) Print Source: Ellen Frankman cwalker@spotify.com

Sunflower Siege Engine (p. 56) Print Source: Sky Hopinka emir@skyhopinka.com

YOU WERE ALWAYS HERE (p. 100) Print Source: Slow Studies Creative hello@slowstudies.com

T Ta'i (p. 73) Print Source: Mii Taokia xiikstudios@gmail.com Tales From The Rez (p. 58) Print Source: Colin Van Loon cvl@blackfootnationfilms.com Tartupaluk (p. 98) Print Source: Charles-Stéphane Roy info@scintillaxp.com Tautuktavuk (What We See) (p. 39) Print Source: Isuma Distribution International daniel@isuma.tv

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ARTIST INDEX A Adamov, Ayaal AYKUO (p. 45) Aila-Unsworth, Veialu BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI (p. 63) Amour-Lynx, Amanda Digital Constellations: Making Our Own Seat at the Table (p. 99) Asarnow, Jenny Saltwater Soundwalk (p. 94) Aunties Dandelion The Aunties Dandelion Podcast - Interview with Jeremy Dutcher (p. 97) B Barrett, Tia He Pounamu Ko Āu (p. 76) Bathory, Laakkuluk Williamson Tartupaluk (p. 98)

Conrad, Josh YOU WERE ALWAYS HERE (p. 100)

Bråstad, Eili Skádja (p. 68)

Herchak, Katelynne Spilling Labrador Tea Under Cedar Trees (p. 96)

Echaquan, Noémie Ni Wapiten (I see) (p. 37) Edwards, KJ istén:'a (mother) (p. 44) Erwin, Keisha Pî-kiwîk (p. 54)

Fairbrother, Meegwun D dot H (p. 58)

Byrne, Meagan Hill Agency: PURITYdecay (p. 102)

Fatal, Roberto Do Digital Curanderas Use Eggs In Their Limpias? (p. 74)

Fepulea'i, Damon Red, White & Brass (p. 59) Inky Pinky Ponky (p. 75)

Campusano, José Celestino Deep Bolivia (p. 102)

Friday, Rylan The Sound of You Collapsing (p. 103)

Castañeda, Armando López Drumoh (p. 79)

Fuérez, Segundo NANGLUVÍ (p. 37)

Lightning, Caeleigh KIMOTIWIN: Act of Stealing (p. 71) Lightning, Cody Hey, Viktor! (p. 92) Lightning, Keara KIMOTIWIN: Act of Stealing (p. 71) Lihilihi, Conrad The Mainland (p. 42) López Sosa, Dennis Noel Lay pijedá, nuestro pueblo. (p. 100) Lorena, Evelyn Gabriela (p. 86) Lowe, Blackhorse Metal Belt (p. 87)

Hill, Lacey The Conduit (p. 97)

Hopinka, Sky Sunflower Siege Engine (p. 56)

Magalogo, Va'a Plastic - a love letter to the estranged (p. 41)

Hunt, Victoria Biolumin (p. 80)

Magro, Jessica The Alexander Ball (p. 64)

Mahegkan, Ramon STAR WOMEN (p. 95)

K Kahi, Reikura Terina No Māori Allowed (p. 50) Kahi, Tearepa Muru (p. 76) Karehana, Todd The River (p. 97) Koostachin, Dr. Jules Arita WaaPake (p. 84) Koyczan, Casey Ełeghàà ; All At Once (p. 100)

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Lam, Rachel Saltwater Soundwalk (p. 94)

Hicks, Alana Pasifika Drift (p. 41)

Johns, Melissa Between Us (p. 101)

Brown, James Biolumin (p. 80)

Calder, Terril A Bear Named Jesus (p. 89)

Hensel, Taylor Seedcast, Season 2 Episode 14: The Life-Giving Pottery of Katsitsionni Fox (p. 95)

Lady Bird, Chief Heart Like a Pow Wow (p. 89)

Leclerc, Nadine Chantal Toes (p. 99)

Henare, Hiona The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana (p. 66)

Ducharme, Justin KIN. (p. 61)

Harvey, John Katele (mudskipper) (p. 74)

Diabo, Steve Ancestors' Gate (p. 101)

Kyak-Monteith, Megan Grape Soda in the Parking Lot (p. 80)

Leclaire, Taietsarón:sere Headdress (p. 54)

Harjo, Sterlin Reservation Dogs (p. 57)

Derosier, Michelle A Boy and His Loss (p. 89)

Kunnuk, Carol Tautuktavuk (What We See) (p. 39)

Grom, Keenan Through Brown Glass (p. 61)

Hakaraia, Libby Brolesque (p. 63)

Contreras, Felipe The (Re)Story Podcast (p. 95)

Beaver, Eileen DeneQuest: Inkoze (p. 101)

Boyer, Danielle SkoBots: Language Revitalization Robots (p. 98)

Greyhorse, Kymon Can I Love You (p. 54) I AM HOME (p. 54)

Clift, Joey Dear Stephen King, instead of using Indian Burial Grounds in your books, have you thought of using European Burial Grounds? (p. 68)

Cuthand, TJ KIN. (P. 61)

Bocchieri, Alexander The Roof (p. 55)

George, Kayah Our Grandmother The Inlet (p. 87)

Claxton, Dana ISHI (p. 52)

Beauchamp, Brent Owen Follow (p. 37)

Biss-Grayson, Dante Warriors Paradox (p. 96)

Gardiner-Hoskins, Piata The River (p. 97)

Clark, Moe Biolumin (p. 80)

Bawaadan Collective The Golden Age (p. 79) Warriors Paradox (p. 96)

Bilinsky, Barry Whistling Woods (p. 38) Home (p. 73)

Galloway, Mary D dot H (p. 58)

Chenoweth, Elijah Alexander Entre Nous Locataires (Between Us Tenants) (p. 44)

Cornejo, Cristina Kotz la raíz es más importante que la flor (the root is more important than the flower) (p. 102)

Begin, Madeleine Spilling Labrador Tea Under Cedar Trees (p. 96)

Castro Sosa, Marilut Lay pijedá, nuestro pueblo. (p. 100)

Manning, Dolleen Tisawii'ashii Gathering (p. 99) Resonance (p. 99) Mantel, Kathleen Whirlflow (p. 86) Marakatt, Inga Elin Unborn Biru (p. 68) Mashburn, Keli Distant (p. 79) McArthur, Taylor Anchorage (p. 99) McDiarmid, Darcy Tara Starlight Sojourn (p. 37)

ARTIST INDEX McIntyre, Lindsay NIGIQTUQ ᓂᒋᖅᑐᖅ (The South Wind) (p. 45) McKenna, Zephyr kobechenonk (p. 80) Meechan, Keely Fast Eddie (p. 90) Méndez, Aracely The Sky Is Very Pretty (p. 44) Moruo, Alexander The Bull of Cold (p. 38) N Napier, Kyle DeneQuest: Inkoze (p. 101) Nikolaev, Evgeny Cu-Ckoo (p. 68)

Tremblay, Erica Fancy Dance (p. 35)

Sallee, Alexis Anoruk Dear Kin (p. 55)

Tulugarjuk, Lucy Tautuktavuk (What We See) (p. 39)

Sarmiento, Alvaro Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon) (p. 56)

Sarmiento, Diego Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon) (p. 56)

Wajstedt, Liselotte Mother (EADNI) (p. 86) Walker, Connie Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's (p. 94)

Schuyler, Judith Onyota'a:ka Culture, History and Healing (p. 96)

Wanakamik, Jordan Burned (p. 61)

Sero, Xun Mamá (Mom) (p. 91)

Whachell, Kaayla Nisihkason Lex (p. 86)

Sloane, Tyler J Club Kid Alley (p. 63)

None, Meech SCRATCHED (p. 98)

Soonias, Dallas Frank Gets The Job Done (p. 61)

Wheeler, Kim canadaLANDBACK: Reclamation at Stony Point, (Parts 1 + 2) (p. 94) ISO Presents Storytellers (p. 94) Turtle Island Talks 3 + 4 (p. 95)

Nystrom, Alex Four Nights and a Fire (p. 89)

Sosa, Dennis Noel López Ajá (Water) (p. 80)

Wilkes, Ian Galup VR Experience (p. 101)

Standing Buffalo, Tank MONSTR (p. 71)

Winger-Bearskin, Amelia I WOULD LIKE TO BE MIDNIGHT / I WOULD LIKE TO BE SKY (p. 102)

Niro, Shelly Cafe Daughter (p. 48)

Ohia, Tahuaroa He Karu, He Taringa (p. 45) Oskal, Sara Margrethe Rieban - the Fox (p. 38) Ottawa, Julie Ni Wapiten (I see) (p. 37) P Palmater, Pamela Protect Bald Eagles: Warrior Kids Podcast (p. 96) Perdrisat, Marlikka Babanil (p. 41) Pérez, Juan Javier Vaychiletik (p. 51) Q Quick, Derek Camping (p. 44)

Solway, Trevor Tales From The Rez (p. 58)

Stevens, Tace To Be Silent (p. 50)

Stiller, Sean Ancestral Threads (p. 63)

Youngman, Asia I'm Just Here for the Riot (p. 46) N'xaxaitkw (p. 74)

T Talebi, Yaser I won't remain alone (p. 90)

Z Zarco, Nicolás Nemi (p. 38)

Taokia, Mii Ta'i (p. 73) Telengut, Alisi Baigal Nuur - Lake Baikal (p. 79) TeWake, Ramon Inky Pinky Ponky (p. 75) Thomas, Eva Redlights (p. 50)

Thomas, Madison Starbound (p. 73)

Rosenfeldt, Adriel Memories (p. 71)

Thompson, Chloe Alexandra House of Moiré (p. 100)

Rousseau, Chantal Starlight Sojourn (p. 37)

Thornton, Warwick The New Boy (p. 65) Toledo, Lucía Ortega Belonging (p. 41) Tome, Shaandiin Long Line of Ladies (p. 87)

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COUNTRY INDEX Aotearoa (New Zealand) Brolesque (p. 63) Fast Eddie (p. 90) He Karu He Taringa (p. 45) He Pounamu Ko Āu (p. 76) Inky Pinky Ponky (p.75) Muru (p. 76) No Māori Allowed (p. 50) Plastic - A love letter to the estranged (p. 41) Red, White & Brass (p. 59) The River (p. 97) The Untold Tales of Tūteremoana (p. 66) Whirlflow (p. 86) Argentina BOLIVIA PROFUNDA (DEEP BOLIVIA) (p. 102) la raíz es más importante que la flor (the root is more important than the flower) (p. 102) Australia Babanil (p. 41) Galup VR Experience (p. 101) Katele (Mudskipper) (p. 74) Pasifika Drift (p. 41) The Alexander Ball (p. 64) The New Boy (p. 65) To Be Silent (p. 50) Canada A Bear Named Jesus (p. 89) A Boy and His Loss (p. 89) Ancestors’ Gate (p. 101) Ancestral Threads (p. 63) Anchorage (p. 99) Baigal Nuur - Lake Baikal (p. 79) Between Us (p. 101) Biolumin (p. 80) Burned (p. 61) Café Daughter (p. 48) canadaLANDBACK: Reclamation at Stoney Point (Part 1 + 2) (p. 94) Club Kid Alley (p. 63) D dot H (p. 58) DeneQuest: Inkoze (p. 101) Digital Constellations: Making Our Own Seat at the Table (p. 99) Ełeghàà ; All At Once (p. 100) Entre Nous Locataires (Between Us Tenants) (p. 44) Follow (p. 37) Frank Gets The Job Done (p. 61) Gathering (p. 99) Grape Soda in the Parking Lot (p. 90) Heart Like a Pow Wow (p. 89) Hey, Viktor! (p. 92) Hill Agency: PURITYdecay (p. 102) Home (p. 73) House of Moiré (p. 100) I'm Just Here for the Riot (p. 46) ISHI (p. 52)

ISO Presents: Storytellers (p. 94) Istén:'a (p. 44) KIN. (p. 61) KIMOTIWIN: Act of Stealing (p. 71) Kobechenonk (p. 80) Memories (p. 73) MONSTR (p. 71) Ni Wapiten (I see) (p. 37) Nigiqtuq (The South Wind) (p. 45) Nisihkason Lex (p. 86) N'xaxaitkw (p. 74) Onyota’a:ka Culture, History and Healing (p. 96) Our Grandmother The Inlet (p. 87) Pî-kiwîk (p. 54) Protect Bald Eagles: Warrior Kids Podcast (p. 96) Redlights (p. 50) Resonance (p. 98) Saugeen Takes on Film (p. 69) SCRATCHED (p. 98) Spilling Labrador Tea Under Cedar Trees (p. 96) STAR WOMEN (p. 95) Starbound (p. 73) Starlight Sojourn (p. 37) Tales From The Rez (p. 58) Tartupaluk (p. 98) Tautuktavuk (What We See) (p. 39) The Aunties Dandelion Podcast: Interview with Jeremy Dutcher (p. 97) The Conduit (p. 97) The Golden Age (p. 79) The (Re)Story Podcast (p. 95) The Sound of You Collapsing (p. 103) Through Brown Glass (p. 61) Toes (p. 99) Turtle Island Talks (Episodes 3 + 4) (p. 95) WaaPake (p. 84) Whistling Woods (p. 38) YOU WERE ALWAYS HERE (p. 100) Cook Islands Ta'i (p. 73) Ecuador NANGULVI (p. 37) Iran I won’t remain alone (p. 90) Kazakhstan The Bull of Cold (p. 38) Mexico Ajá (Water) (p. 80) Drumoh (p. 79) Lay pijedá, nuestro pueblo. (p. 100) Mamá (Mom) (p. 91) Nemi (p. 38) The Sky Is Very Pretty (p. 44) Vaychiletik (p. 51)

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New Zealand (see Aotearoa) Norway Rieban - The Fox (p. 38) Skádja (p. 68) Unborn Biru (p. 68) Peru Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon) (p. 56) Russian Federation AYKUO (p. 45) Сu-Ckoo (p. 68) Sweden Mother (EADNI) (p. 86) United States Belonging (p. 41) BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI (p. 63) Camping (p. 44) Can I Love You? (p. 54) Dear Kin (p. 55) Dear Stephen King, instead of using Indian Burial Grounds in your books, have you thought of using European Burial Grounds? (p. 68) Distant (p. 79) Do Digital Curanderas Use Eggs In Their Limpias? (p. 74) Fancy Dance (p. 35) Four Nights and a Fire (p. 89) Gabriela (p. 86) Headdress (p. 54) I AM HOME (p. 54) I WOULD LIKE TO BE MIDNIGHT/I WOULD LIKE TO BE SKY (p. 102) Long Line of Ladies (p. 87) Metal Belt (p. 87) Reservation Dogs: Season 3 (p. 57) Saltwater Soundwalk (p. 94) Seedcast Season 2, Episode 14: The Life-Giving Pottery of Katsitsionni Fox (pg. 94) SkoBots: Language Revitalization Robots (p. 98) Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s (Episode 1) (p. 94) Sunflower Siege Engine (p. 56) The Mainland (p. 42) The Roof (p. 55) Warriors Paradox (p. 96)

GIVEAWAY

For the fourth consecutive year, imagineNATIVE and and the D.R. Sobey Foundation are proud to partner to provide $20,000 worth of gift cards to give away throughout the Festival. We are filled with gratitude to our community and supporters, whose passion has kept us energized since the beginning. We recognize the importance of giving back to those who continue to attend and celebrate with us. Be sure to attend the Festival for your chance to win a $500 CAD gift card to Sobeys!

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PUBLIC FUNDER THANK YOU

Operational funding is crucial to any organization’s success, and it is through the support of our Public Funders that imagineNATIVE has grown and thrived these past 24 years. Through our operational funding, imagineNATIVE can employ Indigenous arts workers in Toronto at a livable wage, provide artists with compensation above the recommended minimum fee, and nurture a workspace and community for Indigenous creatives. Thank you to our public funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Creates, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Miziwe Biik, and Telefilm Canada. Mahsi Cho l Maarsii | Miigwetch David Morrison Associate Director Dene

Public Funders

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FESTIVAL PARTNERS Presenting Partner

Institute Lead Partner

Industry Days Lead Partner

iNdigital Space Lead Sponsor

Major Partners

Foundations

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FESTIVAL PARTNERS Festival Partners ACTRA National ACTRA Toronto Behind the Scenes Services Inc. Bizable Media CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association) Capilano University Charles Street Video Critics Choice Association Fab Collab First Nations House, University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives, University of Toronto Mississauga

Indigenous Education & Engagement, Humber College Kodak Lewis Birnberg Hanet Bobadilla, LLP LIFT (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers Toronto) Long & McQuade Metrolinx

The Shine Network Institute Shutterstock Streamland Media UP Express Vtape WIFT (Women in Film and Television Toronto) William F. White York University

National Screen Institute Ngā Aho Whakaari Niagara Custom Lab Nieuport Aviation Northern Film Initiative

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THANK YOU We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous individual donors who help make our Festival a resounding success.

Major + Recurring Contributors Cameron Bailey

Andrew Johnson

Anne Pick

Elizabeth Czach

Catherine Lathwell

Helen Paul

Marie-Claude Cote-

Moe Laverty

Jamie-Lee Reardon

Villeneuve

Aimee Mitchell

Lianne Reardon

Beth Duffus

Salma Monani

Jason Ryle

Ning Dong

Kent Monkman

Barbara Fingerote

Damien Nelson

Unique Contributors Kate Cornell Ngarongonui Mareikura Justin Paulson Brad Quiring Kalpana Srinarayanadas Lilya Sultanova

Your commitment to uplifting Indigenous storytelling and belief in our mission are deeply appreciated. Your contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for your support. If you wish to make a donation, please visit imagineNATIVE.org/support/donate.

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