Yorkton Film Festival 2022 Program Book

Celebrating 75 years

supporter

Legacy

event contributors

event partners

AWARD PARTNERs

bronze partners

GOLD PARTNER

silver partners

PLATINUM PARTNERS

MAJOR PARTNERS

2022 SPONSORS

Yorkton Regional High School

YORKTON FILM FESTIVAL 49 Smith Street East, Yorkton, Saskatchewan S3N 0H4 Tel: 306.782.7077 Fax: 306.782.1550 Email: info@yorktonfilm.com Web: www.yorktonfilm.com

@yorktonfilm Design by Carmen Wagner| pinkkloud.com Printed by Western Litho Printers

May 26 – 29, 2022

WELCOME Welcome to the Yorkton Film Festival, North America’s longest running film festival. For 75 years, the Yorkton Film Festival has endeavored to highlight and reward the very best in Canadian content.

From Animation to Scripted, Fiction to Non-Fiction, Lifestyle to Mental Health, the Yorkton Film Festival has been a showcase for Canadian content and has established itself as the Big City Festival with a country attitude.

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Whether you’re a filmmaker, an industry insider, or a fan of great Canadian cinema we invite you to take in the inperson events and immerse yourself in everything the Festival has to offer.

CONTENTS 3

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10 BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF 14 CATEGORIES 18 FILM SUBMISSIONS 64 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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MESSAGES HER EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MARY SIMON Governor General of Canada Since 1947, the Yorkton Film Festival (YFF) has fostered a community of filmmakers, artists and enthusiasts from across the globe. As North America’s longest-running film festival, the YFF has created a conduit for storytelling and creativity, and established a platform for artists to share their work with others. These stories have influenced our world by inspiring audiences, empowering communities and provoking thoughtful discussion. Thank you to the organizers, volunteers and all those who are involved in making this year’s 75th anniversary a reality. Your dedicated efforts and passion for storytelling has not gone unnoticed. Finally, to those receiving a Golden Sheaf Award: bravo! I wish everyone in attendance this year a wonderful festival.

HIS HONOUR THE HONOURABLE RUSS MIRASTY Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan It is my sincere pleasure to extend greetings on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, to everyone participating in the 2022 Yorkton Film Festival (YFF). As you mark the 75th anniversary of YFF, I wish to express my gratitude to the hardworking and capable board, staff and volunteers who have carried on the remarkable legacy of this historic festival. Thank you for providing this valuable opportunity for Canadian filmmakers to share their work and make connections. I congratulate everyone who has entered a film this year and I thank you for your creative vision and determination in seeing your film project to fruition. Please accept my best wishes for a successful and memorable 75th Annual Yorkton Film Festival!

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JUSTIN TRUDEAU Prime Minister of Canada I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone attending the 75th Yorkton Film Festival (YFF). Since it was first held in 1947, the YFF has provided a wonderful opportunity for Canadian filmmakers to showcase their talents while networking with industry executives and decision makers. I am certain that everyone in attendance will be entertained and inspired by the diverse selection of films being screened over the next four days. It continues to be a challenging time for planning and hosting events. That is why I would like to thank the organizers for making this year’s festival possible. You can take pride in your commitment to supporting the cinematic arts in Canada. Please accept my best wishes for a memorable and enjoyable experience.

THE HONOURABLE PABLO RODRIGUEZ Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism Welcome to North America’s longest running film festival! The Yorkton Film Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Over the decades, this event has proven itself as a premier showcase for Canada’s best filmmakers and its up-and-coming artists. It’s sure to continue its fine tradition of celebrating Canadian culture and helping support our thriving film industry. We have seen the dramatic impact the arts have had amid the pandemic. They bring joy when we need it most. They also help us celebrate the many unique voices and communities across our country. That is why our government is proud to support this celebration. As the Minister of Canadian Heritage, I’d like to thank the organizers, artists and volunteers for staging this event. Enjoy the shows!

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MESSAGES

MESSAGES

THE HONOURABLE SCOTT MOE Premier of Saskatchewan

MRS. CATHAY WAGANTALL Member of Parliament, Yorkton-Melville

On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, I am pleased to welcome everyone attending and participating in the 2022 Yorkton Film Festival (YFF); I invite you to share in the hospitality of the City of Yorkton. Celebrating 75 years of Canadian filmmaking, the YFF has transformed into a highly anticipated annual event for an ever-increasing audience, providing a remarkable selection of short films and videos from both leading and up-and-coming Canadian filmmakers. As North America’s longest-running film festival, the YFF offers filmmakers, enthusiasts, and industry insiders the unique opportunity to interact and share creative inspiration. During this year’s special celebration, hundreds of Canadian short films and documentaries will compete for the Golden Sheaf Award. Good luck to all the entrants and congratulations to all recipients of this prestigious award. I commend the YFF Board of Directors, staff, adjudicators, volunteers and participants who work tirelessly to make this incredible event possible. I would also like to thank the attendees for your continuous support and appreciation of this iconic festival. Best wishes for a memorable festival.

I’m so pleased to congratulate the “little festival that could” on seventy-five years of incredible storytelling and story-showing. If only those who had a part in its beginnings could attend today to see for themselves what their diligent hard work and vision have accomplished. In an increasingly divided world, story brings people together in remarkable and healing ways. Even more so, the sharing, learning, teaching and enjoyment of each other’s skills helps to knit together a cohesive community—so necessary to us all. Once again, I extend my thanks to the organizers, students, professionals and attendees. It’s always the people who make any event memorable and successful, and you’ve done that so well. Many congratulations to each winner of this year’s Golden Sheaf awards.

THE HONOURABLE LAURA ROSS Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport On behalf of the Saskatchewan government, I congratulate the Yorkton Film Festival on 75 years of amazing history. This event is a premier cultural attraction and North America’s longest continuing film festival, an astonishing achievement for a community of just over 16,000 people located thousands of kilometres from the traditional centres of film development. This celebration of 75 years reflects both the innovation of its founder, Jim Lysyshyn, and decades of energy from countless local leaders to attract celebrated industry professionals to adjudicate the work of some of Canada’s finest filmmakers. Each year, the Yorkton Film Festival sets new standards for artistic and cultural excellence.

I thank the board of directors, festival staff, volunteers and film industry professionals for your commitment to this event. All the best for a very successful festival in 2022.

It is a sincere privilege to welcome all of you, the creative visionaries, contributors and participants to the 2022 Yorkton Film Festival. Yorkton takes great pride in supporting and hosting the longest running film festival in North America. Our community truly gets excited with the “buzz” of seeing the new productions and meeting you all! The Golden Sheaf Awards is world-renowned in having the greatest of talent and creative minds that truly lead the way in the film industry. This year marks the extraordinary 75th ANNIVERSARY of the awards. Our numerous proud volunteers and leaders in our community are honored to be part of the Golden sheaf Awards. The conversations and memories that stem from the event are pinnacle experiences to all who are involved.

Our city’s motto is “Where Good things Happen” and the Golden Sheaf Awards truly exemplifies this motto. I sincerely hope you will leave with great memories of our landmark festival. On behalf of City Council and myself, we wish you numerous successes in life, particularly in creating new visual pieces of art for all to enjoy! For that we are truly grateful for your contributions to our world!

THE HONOURABLE GREG OTTENBREIT MLA, City of Yorkton

MR. CLAUDE JOLI-CŒUR Government Film Commissioner & Chairperson, National Film Board of Canada

As the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Yorkton, I extend the warmest of wishes to everyone partaking and participating in the Yorkton Film Festival, now celebrating 75 years! The Yorkton Film Festival, North America’s longest running film festival, provides an outstanding forum for networking, creativity and is a cultural event like none other uniquely contributing to Saskatchewan and Yorkton. It is a wonderful affair and the Government of Saskatchewan proudly supports this event. In fact, as announced in the 2022-23 Provincial Budget, $10,000,000 is now available through the Creative Saskatchewan Production Grant Program. The goal of these dollars is to draw more and larger projects to Saskatchewan. The increase of funds through the Creative Saskatchewan Production Grant Program are in addition to sponsorships of the Golden Sheaf Awards and funding through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation. In closing, I extend a sincere congratulations to the Board of Directors, Advisory Board, staff and passionate volunteers for once again organizing an amazing festival. Good luck to all competitors and congratulations to this year’s award recipients.

Back in 1947, James Lysyshyn of the National Film Board of Canada had an audacious idea: a world-class film festival right here in Yorkton, in the heart of the Canadian Prairies.

Thanks to the hard work and vision of the Yorkton Film Festival over 75 years, the festival has blossomed into a unique showcase of the cinematic arts. At the NFB, we’re proud to have been a part of this incredible story from the very beginning. Congratulations to the organizers, filmmakers and enthusiastic audiences who have made the Yorkton Film Festival such a special event, each and every year. I wish everyone a safe and happy festival!

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HIS WORSHIP MITCH HIPPSLEY Mayor of Yorkton

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MESSAGES

MS. CHRISTA DICKENSON Executive Director, Telefilm Canada

MS. VAL CREIGHTON President, Canada Media Fund

A celebration of artistry in film, festivals provide an important venue to showcase Canadian creativity across the country and beyond. The dedication and resilience demonstrated by the passionate and hardworking people at Yorkton Film Festival is what we are honoured to be a part of! That is why we are proud to support and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the longest running film festival in North America! This past year more than ever, Canada has shown the many innovative and resourceful ways in which we make our audiovisual industry thrive. We have given the world many reasons to take notice of Canada and why we continue to be a Partner of Choice! Our mission to foster and elevate authentic storytelling from Canadians of all backgrounds, especially those of underrepresented communities, is more pressing than ever before. At Telefilm, our priority to create a more respectfully representative screen-based industry continues as our efforts across all our initiatives, including our funding programs, increase. Stronger together, I want to thank and congratulate the Yorkton Film Festival for its strength to sustain a film festival for 75 years and making meaningful change to uplift a diversity of voices through films, and celebrating the brilliance of Canadian content at home and around the world. As always, continue to watch Canadian films wherever they are available and tell others to do the same!

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) is proud to partner, for the tenth year, with the Yorkton Film Festival. The Festival began in 1947 as the Yorkton Film Council. Its mandate was to act as a volunteer distribution agency for the National Film Board (NFB). Jim Lysyshyn, field man for the NFB, suggested a film festival. When the Council rejected his proposal, he came forward with a more audacious proposal – an international festival. The Council accepted the new idea and organized the first festival in the fall of 1950. I was born two years later! We lived in an entirely different world then. Radio was king, few homes had TVs, movie theatres were at the hearts of our communities, and the internet was decades away. This speaks to the remarkable longevity of the festival. The dedication of all those who have contributed to this enduring legacy by providing a space that fosters creativity and innovation for Canadian content creators to showcase their work is not only in the spirit of Saskatchewan, but nothing short of remarkable!

MR. JASON AEBIG Chair, SK Arts

From all of us at Creative Saskatchewan, congratulations to the Yorkton Film Festival (YFF) on celebrating a monumental 75 years! As the longest continuous film festival in North America, YFF has maintained a reputation for establishing a spectacular platform for local film producers to showcase their work and receive well-deserved recognition via the Golden Sheaf Awards competition. A round of applause to the talented line up of nominees this year, we look forward to another celebration put on by the YFF staff and Board. Creative Saskatchewan is proud to support the 2022 Golden Sheaf Awards as part of the YFF – thank you and best of luck!

Congratulations to the Yorkton Film Festival on 75 years! You have consistently served as a leader in celebrating short film in North America over the decades. The YFF should be very proud of all that you’ve accomplished, particularly during the past two challenging years. Whether online or in person, the festival has given us the opportunity to experience the exceptional talents of Canadian filmmakers. SK Arts is pleased to be a long-term funder of the festival through our partnership with SaskCulture and funding from Sask Lotteries. We are proud of the role public support for the arts has had on the success of the festival and its impact on the arts community, provincially and nationally.

We hope you enjoy the festival!

MR. JAMES INGOLD Chair, SaskCulture Greetings from the SaskCulture President! SaskCulture Inc. congratulates the Yorkton Film Festival on 75 years of celebrating excellence in Canadian short films. The YFF and the Golden Sheaf Awards have been an integral part of the community by bringing people together in a forum for creative discussion and the celebration of short film during the festival weekend and at year-round events and screenings. The YFF showcases the best in storytelling through film, and offers industry expertise, networking, and opportunities for creative and cultural inspiration and growth. I’d also like to acknowledge the contribution of the Sask Lotteries. Sask Lotteries is the main fundraiser for sport, culture and recreation in the province and SaskCulture is in a very privileged position as the manager for the Culture Section of the Trust. Specifically, it provides over $15 million annually to support cultural activity – ranging from galleries and museums to cultural forums, languages, multicultural festivals and more. By purchasing lottery tickets, your money goes back to support many different cultural activities taking place in Saskatchewan communities each year. SaskCulture congratulates all nominees and welcomes all festival participants to Yorkton Thanks to the staff, the many volunteers, and the people of Yorkton, for their dedication to North America’s longestrunning film festival.

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MS. ERIN DEAN CEO, Creative Saskatchewan

KEITH HAYWARD & JOANNE MCDONALD Co-Chairs, Yorkton Film Festival of Canada Welcome to the annual Yorkton Film Festival (YFF) as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding - making the YFF the longest running short film festival in North America!

Seventy-five years is a long time for any organization to be able to celebrate. And we all know how much the world has changed since 1947. But the YFF continues to play an important role in the Canadian film community as well as in the host community of Yorkton. The festival staff and Board remain committed to bringing the best of the best of Canadian short film to the audience in Yorkton. As well, the festival will continue to deliver relevant programming at the industry workshops and sessions. We also take pride in the festival’s enduring legacy and commitment to the film community. The Golden Sheaf Awards allow us to celebrate the many successes of our delegates and are a wonderful promotion of the best screen-based content this country has to offer.

The festival also promotes this content throughout the year at screening and outreach programs. The Yorkton Film Festival’s success and distinction as the longest running short film festival in North America would not be possible without the incredible support of the local Yorkton community and district. Many generous sponsors from within Yorkton’s business community have supported the festival over the last 75 years. The past two years have brought many challenges for everyone. The YFF has faced many challenges over its 75 year history but has always been resilient. This year we are planning to return to an in-person festival. However, this will be contingent on the public health situation in the weeks leading up to the festival dates. We look forward to seeing you this May!

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MESSAGES RANDY GOULDEN Executive Director, Yorkton Film Festival It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Yorkton Film Festival. Established in 1947, and North America’s longest running film festival, YFF is proud to continue the tradition established by our founders. A festival like ours does not continue for 75 years without the passion and dedication of everyone involved. A monumental thank you to our board members, advisory board, jury committee, jury members and volunteers for all the work you do to make our festival a success. We cannot thank you enough for all that you do to keep us going as North America’s longest running film festival. Especially with the challenges of the last two years, we salute everyone for the perseverance in continuing the tradition. I’d also like to extend my sincerest thanks to all our festival partners; from the local, provincial to the national, we are fortunate to have many businesses and organizations who contribute to the success of our festival. Whether they exist within the film industry, or whether they’re supportive of the industry, many have stepped forward and helped us celebrate the best in Canadian short film. And last, but not least, thank you to all the filmmakers who have submitted films to this year’s festival. Our congratulations to all the nominees and recipients of the 2022 Golden Sheaf Awards.

Thank you for joining us and here’s to 75 more years of great Canadian short film!

THE GOLDEN SHEAF AWARD The original award given out by the Yorkton Film Council was a people’s choice certificate of merit voted on by the audience. In 1956, one of the first adjudicators, Frank Moriss of the Winnipeg Free Press, suggested that Yorkton should have a grand prize. The wheat fields surrounding Yorkton inspired the idea for “The Golden Sheaf” award. Unanimously approved, the Winnipeg Brass Company designed and produced the first award. Made of metal, the first statues looked like a bouquet of wheat. An engraved metal plaque was used in the 1960s, with a new statue introduced in the 1970s. Jim Trinder of Yorkton designed the bronze sheaf we know today – a symbol of the Yorkton Film Festival and excellence in Canadian Short Film.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Top row, from left to right: Steve Allen, Cam Bennett, Debbie Hayward, Keith Hayward (Co-Chair) Second row, from left to right: Kelly Herron, Ron Irvine, Ursula Lawson, Dana Lesiuk Third row, from left to right: Shelley MacDougall, Joanne McDonald (Co-Chair)

FESTIVAL STAFF Executive Director Festival Coordinator

Randy Goulden Taynika Walker

HONOURARY PATRONS Festival Ambassador Alan Bailey Her Honour, Madam Justice Nancy Morrison Founding Member, the late Ruth Shaw

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over 46 years of excellent service

386 broadway st. e, yorkton 306-783-9461 www.haasnissan.com

CATEGORIES ANIMATION The Ancestral Tree Johnny Crow Pivot Meteroric Mayhem The Fall In the Fray The Storm Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics Centre-Sud Chronicles The Turtle Syndrome Bad Seeds Ajjigiingiluktaaqtugut (We Are All Different)

CHILDREN'S/YOUTH PRODUCTIONS Polkaroo Counts (Episode 17) Baby Baby Why Am , Season 3 Louis Says, Season 4

COMMUNITY TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS

By Hook or By Cook Boundary Bass Gardening in the Heart Another View Community Spotlight Prairie Pride AccessNow on Location: A Collector's Dream – Hidden Canadian Prairie Treasures 2.9 Billion Birds Gone Behind the Menu: Bobby's Place Saskatoon Forestry Farm, Park and Zoo Deadly Dan Sauces

DOCUMENTARY ARTS/CULTURE Dirty Laundry Emily Carr Nalujuk Night Evan’s Drum Why We Write: Poets of Vernon Confiné

DOCUMENTARY HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY Blind Ambition: The Wop May Story Terry Fox: The Power of One Oma A Storm at the Beach Canada Remembers Our Heroes: The Liberators British Columbia: An Untold History Cliff: A Portrait of an Artist Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again A Brief Record of My Father's Time at Sea The Spirit of Port Moody The Relentless One Building Bastille

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CATEGORIES Gangster Gold 99.3 FM

One Seven Nine A Promise to My Son

DOCUMENTARY POV (POINT OF VIEW)

EMERGING FILMMAKER

Ghosts of Afghanistan Mend with Dignity Nude to Me Kok’etì: Walking with Caribou Sled Week Work Home Fire Dropstones The Train Station Perfecting the Art of Longing Quinn Run Stack Overflow Anything Can Happen Wild Prairie Man Albedo: Adrift Beneath the Polar Sun The Goats of Monesiglio First We Eat Kokum, with love

DOCUMENTARY SCIENCE/NATURE/ TECHNOLOGY Toxic Neighbour Craigleith Fossils Tails on Ice Nopiming: Entrance to the Wilderness Nature's Big Year Inside The Great Vaccine Race Climate Prisoners COVID-19: The Origin of the Virus Fighting Extinction After Dark Restore the Impossible The Machine That Feels Kingdom of the Polar Bears

DOCUMENTARY SOCIAL/POLITICAL Avenuers, Episode 3 Golden: The End of Ageism What Flowers They Bloom Freedom Swell Fatima In Kabul Come Clean Periphery Into Light Marketplace: The Hidden Price of Your Clothes Marketplace: Food Shock – Undercover Inside the Global Tomato Trade Fifth Estate: Abandoned in Afghanistan – Canada's Failed Promise Fifth Estate: The Vaccine Two Worlds Incorrigible: A Film about Velma Demerson The Newcomers

Abuela Finders Keepers The Final Exam Torch Narrows Grace, Mercy, and the Telephone Poles on Ninth Street The Orchid & The Tree Toe the Line Pivot Mine to Have Esther & Sai OMA Brown Enough Laundry Day – Life on the Line The Fall Ghosts of Yesterday Periphery My Soul To Take Centre-Sud Chronicles The Turtle Syndrome Nalujuk Night The Train Station Evan’s Drum A Stop at Alden's The Road Back To Cowessess Your Love Against Reason Walking The Grey Anything Can Happen God Loves a Cheerful Giver Confiné The Laurels Standing: Season One The Photographer One Seven Nine Actor Director - Gold (Official Video) The Goats of Monesiglio Kokum, with love.

EXPERIMENTAL

Hard Reset…

Mine to Have Distant Horizons Weather Laundry Day – Life on the Line The Stone in the Shoe The Future Innu A Stop at Alden's In Plains View The Laurels

INDIGENOUS

Tails on Ice The Ancestral Tree Johnny Crow Kok’etì: Walking with Caribou

Going Native Adrian Sutherland – Respect The Gift British Columbia: An Untold History Gift to Give The Future Innu Aniskenamakewin Inniun ueshkat mak anutshish Northern Comfort: A Drive Around Town Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again Nalujuk Night The Train Station Evan’s Drum The Lake Winnipeg Project The Road Back To Cowessess Ajjigiingiluktaaqtugut (We Are All Different) Look For Me Why Am I, Season 3 The Other Side, Season 7 Louis Says, Season 4 Spirit of a Nation: The Places We Belong Kokum, with love

LIFESTYLE & REALITY

Dating Unlocked The Big Bake Fire Masters Great Chocolate Showdown

MENTAL HEALTH

The Beast Inside My Head Things We Feel But Do Not Say Like Us Avenuers, Episode 3 Break Any Spell The Forgetting Device Continuum Welcome, Addicts 5'9" 140 –160 lbs

By Hook or By Cook Wayne Dirty Laundry Darkside What Flowers They Bloom Paramedics: Emergency Response, Season 5 Sled Week Megan Nash: Chew Quietly/Clean Slate Esther & Sai Lenny A conversation with E In-Tents Come Clean Ghosts of Yesterday My Soul To Take Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics Then Sings My Soul Perfecting the Art of Longing The Lake Winnipeg Project Bad Seeds

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CATEGORIES Alone Around Others Action Figure Man A Stop at Alden's The Road Back To Cowessess Your Love Sledgehammer QUINN Run Stack Overflow Beckwoman's Hippie Emporium Chaos Theory God Loves a Cheerful Giver Out Standing in His Field Connecting With Kristen

CATEGORIES RUTH SHAW AWARD

Kill Your Masters Abuela The Final Exam Torch Narrows Welcome, Addicts Dirty Laundry The Orchid & The Tree Toe the Line Mine to Have Call Me When You Get There Fatima In Kabul Brown Enough Laundry Day – Life on the Line Saturday Night Alone Around Others A Stop at Alden's Stealing Murakami In Plains View Walking The Grey Chaos Theory God Loves a Cheerful Giver Out Standing in His Field Hello (Again), Episode 1 The Photographer

Toxic Neighbour The Beast Inside My Head Like Us Hard Reset…

Torch Narrows Hell in a Handbasket 5'9" 140 –160 lbs Dirty Laundry

By Faith, Denis Paramedics: Emergency Response, Season 5 The Manhole Mine to Have Inside The Great Vaccine Race Distant Horizons Sled Week Megan Nash: Chew Quietly/Clean Slate The Neighbourhood Canada Remembers Our Heroes: The Liberators Boundary Bass Home Fire Weather Ghosts of Yesterday In the Fray Action Figure Man The Road Back To Cowessess In Plains View Community Spotlight Wild Prairie Man Look For Me Prairie Pride Persephone: The Criminal Kid Out Standing in His Field Why Am I, Season 3 Standing: Season 1 The Newcomers Spiritbox: Constance Spiritbox: Hurt You The Other Side, Season 7 Dirt Farmers, Season 2 Louis Says-Season 4 A Promise to My Son Flat Out Food: Walleye Mobile MD, Episode 301 Mobile MD, Episode 302 Connecting With Kristen

PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SCRIPTED

MULTICULTURAL (OVER 30 MINS) Hogtown/Ainsi va Manu, Episodes 2,3 & 4 A Storm at the Beach Another View The Laurels The Newcomers

MULTICULTURAL (UNDER 30 MINS)

Navigation Megan Nash: Chew Quietly/Clean Slate Inquiry into Time and Perception, Study #2 Adrian Sutherland - Respect The Gift Your Love Ever So Slightly Persephone: The Criminal Kid Spiritbox: Constance Spiritbox: Hurt You Actor Director: Gold (Official Video)

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Grace, Mercy, and the Telephone Poles on Ninth Street Songs from a Box If We Spoke Toe the Line Caricature Development Silent Signs Ghosts of Yesterday

SERIES

Hogtown/Ainsi va Manu, Episodes 2,3 &4 Big Brother Canada 9

Top Chef Canada 9 Wall of Chefs 1B Farm Crime Paramedics: Emergency Response, Season 5 Going Native Dear Reader Big Timber Season Two The Lake Winnipeg Project Race Against the Tide Tilt Pinbal, Season 2 Battle of the Alphas Hello (Again), Episode 1 Standing, Season 1 21 Black Futures The Other Side, Season 7 Dirt Farmers, Season 2 Dr. Keri Prairie Vet Flat Out Food: Walleye Mobile MD, Episode 301 Mobile MD, Episode 302

SHORT SUBJECT - FICTION

Things We Feel But Do Not Say Like Us Kill Your Masters Abuela Break Any Spell Finders Keepers The Final Exam The Forgetting Device Stranded Pharmakon Fugly Torch Narrows Hell in a Handbasket Welcome, Addicts Proximity Bleach

By Faith, Denis Esther & Sai Clowning Around Lenny Call Me When You Get There My Soul To Take Against Reason Sledgehammer Corners The Life and Death of Tom Thomson Who Was A Painter Mary Alfie Fishing with Baited Breath Second Wedding God Loves a Cheerful Giver Out Standing in His Field Sometimes The Wind Phenomena A Room Without a View Spirit of A Nation: The Places We Belong

SHORT SUBJECT - NON-FICTION La coiffeuse / The Hairdresser Bha Iad Lan Sgeulachdan The Orchid & The Tree Grandmothers Where's My Alphabet?, Episode 8 Brown Enough Saturday Night Then Sings My Soul Action Figure Man The Road Back To Cowessess Walking The Grey An Astronomical Moment The Photographer Breathless Connecting With Kristen

STUDENT PRODUCTIONS

The Beast Inside My Head Speaking Parts Ghost Theory: A Modern Dating Conspiracy The Awakening of the Ape The Architect Continuum Big Little Show 5'9" 140 – 160 lbs Wayne Darkside The Fake Plant All for a Chocolate Bar Pollution Solution The Manhole L’abattu des vents One Never Kills For Love Where the Grass is Greener The Neighbourhood First Love A conversation with E Amato In-Tents Gift to Give D for Daughter Aniskenamakewin Inniun ueshkat mak anutshish Northern Comfort: A Drive Around Town Barns The Yesterday Alone Around Others Sarah's Song Chivalry Ain't Dead Leave Me Alone Stealing Murakami Svara Beckwoman's Hippie Emporium Chaos Theory Look For Me

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FILMS 2.9 BILLION BIRDS GONE

Community Television Productions 00:06:37 D: Tristen Cosens P: Todd Snider Since the 1970s, 2.9 billion birds have disappeared in North America. Artists Dawna Rose and Betsy Rosenwald look to celebrate the beauty of birds as they are poised to lose their habitat.

21 BLACK FUTURES

Series 00:44:36 D: Mike Payette, Dbi Young Anitafrika, Dorothy A Atabong, Leah-Simone Bowen, Katia Café-Fébrissy, Lisa Karen Cox, Lucius Dechausay, Alison Duke, Alicia K Harris, Jerome Kruin, Ahdri Zhina Mandiela, Weyni Mengesha, Jay Northcott, Charles Officer, Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu, Ngozi Paul, Kimberley Rampersad, Jamie Robinson, Tanisha Taitt, Sarah Waisvisz, Leighton Alexander Williams P: Obsidian Theatre, CBC Arts What is the future of Blackness? That's the urgent question at the heart of each of these filmed monodramas commissioned from 21 Black playwrights, directed by 21 Black directors, and performed by 21 Black actors.

5'9" 140 -160 LBS

Student Productions 00:05:54 D: Gabrielle Caswell P: Gabrielle Justine Caswell An exploration of a John Doe that ended his life on the outskirts of Regina, Saskatchewan.

99.3 FM

Documentary History & Biography 00:40:34 D: K P Latimer P: K P Latimer Lydia Ajono grows up in rural West Africa as a small shepherd girl with a big vision.

She defies hardship, as well as cultural and societal expectations, rising up to be a successful journalist. The journey is not without sacrifice and Lydia is often forced to choose between her family and her dreams.

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FILMS Now, she's running a small radio station that’s rooted in the area's Indigenous language. Lydia must work harder and faster to make sure her work carries on long after she is gone.

A BRIEF RECORD OF MY FATHER'S TIME AT SEA Documentary History & Biography 1:00:00 D: Jeanette Kong P: Linda Dunlop, Jeanette Kong

Buried deep in a closet in an old suitcase, Jeanette Kong discovered an artifact that would unlock a portal to her past – a burgundy notebook filled with handwritten Chinese characters. When she asked her father about it, he told her it was none of her business. It wasn’t until after his death when she had the book translated that she discovered it was his private journal from when he travelled from Guangdong, China to Kingston, Jamaica in 1949. Why would he travel so far to start a new life?

A CONVERSATION WITH E

Student Productions 00:05:03 D: Esabella Anna Karena Strickland, Taylor Mitchell, Skylar A. P: CineLab - Vancouver When a girl playfully responds to a mysterious post-it note, she finds herself unable to escape the conversation she began.

A PROMISE TO MY SON

Documentary Social/Political 00:22:31 D: Lori Kuffner P: Lori Kuffner, Judith Silverthorne, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) After her son Steven was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Donlada Jones set up a volunteer support network to help him achieve his goals. The network worked so well, that when Steven died, Donalda made a promise to her son to continue the work to help others.

She founded the REALM Foundation and has now helped over 40 individuals living with various high physical disabilities to life their best life.

A ROOM WITHOUT A VIEW Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:14 D: Sacha Sewhdat P: Nicole Moller, Patrick Lynn

When a downtrodden man tries his luck at a futuristic brothel, he finds himself in a session with an uncomfortably familiar, artificially intelligent sex worker. Neither has any idea how much their short time together will affect their futures.

A STOP AT ALDEN'S

Experimental 00:22:00 D: Bijan Karim, Wolfgang Gmoser P: Bijan Karim On the way to a concert, Bijan and Kellen take a detour and stop at Alden's. Over the night, Bijan shares a story, then Alden shares a similar story.

A STORM AT THE BEACH

Documentary History & Biography 00:48:00 D: Thomas Hale P: Susan Regisford A Storm at the Beach shows how a small group of dedicated people can make a difference.

The film follows the against-all-odds recovery of a Brooklyn, NY shoreline community destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. Three ordinary people step forward to save their community, and we track their progress over six agonizing years. A Storm at the Beach shows nature at its worst, humanity at its best.

ABUELA

Short Subject – Fiction 00:11:25 D: Rebeca Ortiz P: Alicia K. Harris Left to spend the day alone together, a young girl and her visiting abuela (grandmother in Spanish) must find a way to connect, despite the language barrier that separates them.

ACCESSNOW ON LOCATION: A COLLECTOR'S DREAM: HIDDEN CANADIAN PRAIRIE TREASURES Community Television Productions 00:30:00 D: Patrick Palmer P: George Chopping, Patrick Palmer

Host Rina Hanowski talks with George Chopping about his prairie treasures.

ACTION FIGURE MAN

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:05:12 D: Tara Mewis P: Tara Mewis

A man on the brink of a mental breakdown leaves his stressful corporate job to pursue a childhood dream – making and selling action figures.

ACTOR DIRECTOR: GOLD (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:03:28 D: Emily M. Kohlert, Jared T. Beattie P: Jared T. Beattie, Emily M. Kohlert Shot on Super 8 film with in-camera editing technique, Gold celebrates friendship, togetherness and the verve of collaboration.

The video explores the mysterious and intangible struggle of creativity, and when and how it will appear. In this instance, it arrives in the form of an iconic visual cue, and poses further questions about where inspiration comes from in this sun-drenched and summer-soaked narrative piece.

ADRIAN SUTHERLAND: RESPECT THE GIFT

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:03:31 D: Justin Stephenson P: RoseAnna Schick, Adrian Sutherland Respect the Gift, the second solo single from Indigenous roots-rocker Adrian Sutherland, is an upbeat song of celebration with a timely message: “Rise up rise up, only one shot, you gotta give it all you got…” The brilliant silhouette-style animated video is an impressive project carefully and safely pulled off during

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the second wave of the pandemic. It spans multiple artistic genres (music, dance, liveaction, animation) and features five amazing dancers expressing nearly a dozen different dance styles.

ALFIE

AN ASTRONOMICAL MOMENT

son’s doctors, and even her own colleagues.

This experience, and the focus on the political aspects of cannabis instead of the patient, makes her question what she does as a physician for other families.

AGAINST REASON

After discovering an abandoned house on a walk home from school, cousins Alfie and Julia, begin a journey of self-exploration in which they both start to push the boundaries of binary gender expression and reject gendered fashion. As Alfie starts to come to terms with their budding queer identity, they are forced to also navigate the tides of toxic masculinity rooted in their relationship with their Irish Catholic father.

A compilation of a series of short videos about various subjects, narrated by Canadian Astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk. The subjects pertain to space exploration.

AVENUERS, EPISODE 3

Short Subject – Fiction 00:12:41 D: Kevin A Courtney P: Kevin A Courtney, Mat Barkley When two exes meet up for a spontaneous night of fun, the two get more than they bargained for when playful reminiscing turns into a review of what led to their breakup.

AJJIGIINGILUKTAAQTUGUT (WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT)

Short Subject – Fiction 00:12:26 D: Emily Ryder P: Sabrina Soto

ALL FOR A CHOCOLATE BAR

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:12:00 D: Gina Payzant P: Gina Payzant

ANISKENAMAKEWIN

Student Productions 00:10:30 D: Marie-Christine Petiquay P: Wapikoni Mobile

Student Productions 00:04:35 D: Arthur A.L. Alencar P: Larissa Nicolau, Cailin Haley, Jacob Thiessen, Tayma Alassar, Aubrey Maddock, Darren Borrowman

Shot over the course of three years of cultural transmission camps given by the Matakan Project in the Atikamewk community of Manawan, this documentary hopes to show the need for urgent action to ensure the survival of Atikamekw heritage and culture.

What does it mean to be Inuk? Historically depicted as welcoming and friendly people in remote snowy landscapes, in reality, Inuit live across the globe. Using antique windup bears, layered animation, and analogue techniques, McIntyre constructs an animated documentary in an exploration of identity and belonging by Inuit, both in and outside of community.

All Henry needs is a pick-me-up. When the vending machine fails, Satan himself makes an offer.

ANOTHER VIEW

ALBEDO: ADRIFT BENEATH THE POLAR SUN

While his girlfriend is away, Armin spends time watching his mother paint and playing soccer with kids. For a change, he visits his friend Lance who shares a childish dream.

Animation 00:16:43 D: Lindsay McIntyre P: Lindsay McIntyre

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:58:00 D: Stephen A. Smith P: Stephen A. Smith Steve is an expedition leader who has been exploring the High Arctic for decades. Chris is a young oceanographer who studies the world’s oldest ice floes from a Harvard lab.

They know the data, the models, and the science. It's all dire. None of it has prepared them for the truth on the ground as they set course on a rare expedition inside the "Last Ice Area." The old ice is gone. Against brutal conditions the science is scuttled, their expedition team bearing witness to Earth's most pressing existential threat even as they struggle for their own survival.

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ALONE AROUND OTHERS Student Productions 00:26:55 D: Bijan Karim P: Inanna Cusi

AMATO

Student Productions 00:08:07 D: Romy P: Romy Boutin St-Pierre.

Amato is about the diversity of polyamorous models in the Quebec portrait. Three unique and interrelated stories are staged through performing arts.

Community Television Productions 1:00:00 D: Graham John Condo P: Amarachi Ejike, Victor Ejike Every week, host Amarachi is joined by three other women of Nigerian descent. They hang out to share their views on social issues, family, lifestyles and cultural conflicts. Their wit and stories from personal and communal experiences are a perfect potpourri of feel-good entertainment.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:40:23 D: Chase Gouthro P: Chase Gouthro Faced with the possibility of her son Nicholas dying from intractable epilepsy, Dr. Jennifer Anderson, a Canadian physician and single mother of three, decides to treat her own child with cannabis. With the treatment, Nicholas goes from three to four seizures an hour, and in a near catatonic state, to playing with his twin brother and older sister, participating in life, and no longer needing emergency admissions to the hospital.

Anderson is met with push-back from her

Documentary Social/Political 00:28:00 D: Roberto Santaguida P: Roberto Santaguida Six avenues, in south-central Montreal, revisited.

BABY BABY

Children’s/Youth Productions 00:05:00 D: Tara Hungerford, Eric Hogan P: Tara Hungerford, Tracey Mack, Eric Hogan Welcome to the enchanting world of Baby Baby, a cozy, safe and joyful place where babies can be babies — happy, silly, sleepy, cute, and even cranky. Baby Baby gives preschoolers a peek inside the playroom to watch, listen and learn about babies. Baby Baby focuses on imaginative play and emotional development to help nurture empathy in young viewers.

BAD SEEDS

Animation 00:06:22 D: Claude Cloutier P: Galilé Marion-Gauvin (Unité Centrale) , Julie Roy (National Film Board of Canada) Bad Seeds takes us to a bizarre world populated by carnivorous plants that can change shapes the way a chameleon changes colours. The veteran director of Carface deftly connects growth with rivalry and evolution with competition, crafting an increasingly shocking duel that’s peppered with allusions to the western, the Cold War, board games, and much more.

BARNS

Student Productions 00:06:20 D: Adèle Foglia P: Adèle Foglia, Laurence Wells Beyond the cultivated lands and fallow fields of the Quebec countryside, the barns stand in the acres of the routes as the guardians of

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Yorkton

HomeInnYorkton.ca • 506 Broadway Street W • 306 782 7829

Indoor Pool & Waterslide • Hot Breakfast • Meeting Space

RAJ BAINS

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the secrets and stories that haunt them.

Both an aesthetic essay and a documentary, this film catalogs the spooky landscapes of the Eastern Townships, a crossroads where legends, paranormal experiences and miscellaneous events intersect.

BEHIND THE MENU: BOBBY'S PLACE

BATTLE OF THE ALPHAS

Bobby travelled to Canada with the dream of opening a Scottish pub. Now, his legacy lives on through Moose Jaw's own Olde World Tavern.

Welcome to Bobby's Place.

Series 00:30:00 D: Karen McCairley P: Elizabeth Trojian, Karen McCairley In every corner of the world, animals compete with their own species over access to resources like food, mates, and territories.

Sometimes it is a ferocious fight to display who is the toughest animal on the block.

Other times it is about control over the group, herd, or harem. Whatever the reason, animals have an extensive array of weapons at their disposal, and will bite, claw, wrestle, tussle, smash and even kill their way to the top. In the Battle of the Alphas, the most dangerous threats and brutal conflicts do not come from predators, but from their own kind.

BECKWOMAN'S HIPPIE EMPORIUM Student Productions 00:05:24 D: Alixandra Buck P: Alixandra Buck, Capilano University

Nobody expected anything of Bonita Beckman. At school, she was completely inept. In romance, she was simply disinterested. As a child in the early 1950s, Bonita’s future did not look bright. So she abandoned it all, dropping out at 16 and hitchhiking around the world, searching for happiness despite being branded a failure.

At 34, she opened her whimsical and iconic Vancouver shop, Beckwoman’s Hippie Emporium – where she has spent the last 40 years proving everyone wrong. By all measures, Bonita has found success... but letting go of the past is the most difficult journey of all.

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Community Television Productions 00:19:58 D: Joel Kereluke P: Todd Snider

BHA IAD LÀN SGEULACHDAN Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:05:58 D: Todd Fraser P: Todd Fraser

In Bha Iad Làn Sgeulachdan, my grandfather Willie Francis Fraser reflects on the long-form storytelling he heard in his youth on Cape Breton Island, his relationship to the Gaelic language, and his extraordinary experience of learning to dance in a series of dreams he had as a boy.

BIG BROTHER CANADA 9

BIG TIMBER, SEASON TWO

admit he’d done it all with only one good eye.

Now grounded, Wop continues to push aviation forward by running training schools for pilots and navigators in WWII, creates the first Air Search and Rescue service, and opens the Arctic and Pacific Rim to commercial flight.

Kevin and Sarah are running out of high value western red cedar because their new timber claim is snowed in. To make matters worse, the government slapped them with a million dollar penalty for the wood left behind on their old claim. In a desperate move, Kevin and Erik modify an old boat into a log-salvaging vessel, and with help from Coleman, Kevin’s younger son Jack and nephew Jake, they take to the seas and start beachcombing red cedar logs off of the shores of the Alberni Inlet.

BOUNDARY BASS

Series 00:44:00 D: Robert Hardy, Shawn Viens, Chris Wayatt, Mike Dinsmore P: Jesse Fawcett, Robert Hardy, David Freeman

BLEACH

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:29 D: Mattias Graham P: Emmanuel Hessler (Productions Leitmotiv)

Series 00:44:03 D: Dave Russell P: John Brunton (Executive Producer), Erin Brock (Executing Producer/Showrunner), Eric Abboud (Executive Producer), Trevor Boris (Executive Producer), Liam Colle (Supervising Producer), Amy Regan (Supervising Producer)

Damien, a 16-year old swimmer, clashes with his coach at practice. In parallel, Damien plays with his younger brother at a hotel waterslide, but his erratic behaviour shows something hidden beneath the surface.

Bleach explores the confusing moments following trauma and abuse, and how big each small step can be.

Fifteen people share an isolated home and try to avoid being evicted by their housemates.

BLIND AMBITION: THE WOP MAY STORY

BIG LITTLE SHOW Student Productions 00:08:15 D: Gemma Eva P: Gemma Eva

A playwright writes the perfect script but gets rejected by big-time producers. The writer must find a way to overcome the rejection by producing her play on her own in a small but mighty way.

Documentary History & Biography 00:20:00 D: Frederick Kroetsch, Tom Robinson P: Frederick Kroetsch, David Baron, Tom Robinson Shot on 35mm filmstock with an orchestral musical score, Blind Ambition brings to life the story of an inspiring and courageous pilot. After learning to fly in WWI, a young Canadian man returns to home to start a bold career in aviation. Barnstormer, lifesaver, and intrepid bush pilot, Wilfred ‘Wop’ May proves the value of flight to the world.

But when a 15- year-old injury requires catastrophic vision surgery, he is forced to

Community Television Productions 00:10:36 D: Kyle Burgess P: Allia Janzen Did you know that Boundary Dam Resevoir at Estevan is the only place in Saskatchewan where you can catch bass? Brad Graham and his son Travis explore the reservoir and the history of the bass population, and demonstrate how visitors can try their hand at catching this unique species. Special thanks to the City of Estevan and Tourism Estevan.

BREAK ANY SPELL

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:00 D: Anton Jøsef P: Lisi Purr, Pierre Campbell When April sets off to battle in the the world of live action role playing, her mother's early-onset Alzheimer's reaches a breaking point.

BREATHLESS

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:06:01 D: Evan George, Sophie George P: Sophie George Adventurer, mountaineer and author Amy McCulloch found her life crumbling around her.

Divorce, a floundering career and feeling lost and alone led her to Nepal, where the deadly 8000m monsters of the Himalaya helped her find answers. Discover how Amy found resilience, meaning and purpose while dancing with death at the roof of the world. Inspiring her debut thriller, Breathless.

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FILMS BRITISH COLUMBIA: AN UNTOLD HISTORY

Documentary History & Biography 00:58:00 D: Kevin Eastwood P: Trish Dolman, Leena Minifie British Columbia: An Untold History is an immersive, insightful, and dramatic four-part documentary series centred on retelling the history of the place referred to as British Columbia. The project, commissioned by Knowledge Network, is driven by a pluralistic and multi-narrative approach that highlights the history, the people, the families, the rebels, and the dreamers that shaped this province. The series offers an inclusive and diverse perspective as told through the voices of the people who lived it and those who have studied it: authors, historians, elders, families, and descendants of historical figures.

BROWN ENOUGH

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:14:40 D: Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto, Kent Donguines P: Robin Macabulos, Kent Donguines, Maxime Beauchamp Brown Enough follows four people of Southeast Asian descent and their life experiences with racial discrimination: a Malaysian actor, a Filipino artist, an Indonesian filmmaker, and a VietnameseCanadian actress. They are all united under the same umbrella of mistreatment and blind discrimination, especially by those of their ethnicity, unaware of the effect their language has.

BUILDING BASTILLE

Documentary History & Biography 00:52:00 D: Leif Kaldor P: Leslea Mair A half a billion dollar project, a crushing architectural challenge, an impossible deadline, two warring political titans and a blind competition that chose... the wrong guy?

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FILMS

BY FAITH, DENIS

CENTRE-SUD CHRONICLES

CLIFF: A PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST

Denis is a Knight of Faith (at least in his mind).

One night during a Bible study, the topic of sexual morality is broached, resulting in an uncomfortable confrontation.

In Montreal’s Centre-Sud borough, an author finds inspiration by observing his ingenious neighbour, Piton. Directed by Richard Suicide, this short offers a wildly funny portrait of a district in the midst of a fullblown transformation.

Celebrated Canadian visual artist Cliff Eyland looks back on his life after a successful double lung transplant.

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:00 D: Jeremy Ratzlaff P: Jeremy Ratzlaff

BY HOOK OR BY COOK

Community Television Productions 00:23:00 D: Pamela Tomlinson P: Pamela Tomlinson After becoming paralyzed while attempting a world's first, freestyle motocross rider Bruce Cook is on a mission to help others realize their dreams the same way he did; innovation, modifications, and a lot of determination.

CALL ME WHEN YOU GET THERE Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:55 D: Shawn Gerrard P: Shawn Gerrard

18-year-old Andre spends one last night with his young family before he has to leave.

CANADA REMEMBERS OUR HEROES: THE LIBERATORS Documentary History & Biography 00:47:00 D: Anthony J Towstego P: Anthony Towstego

Canadians liberated the Netherlands during WWII. This program reveals the stories of a few remaining veterans who were there.

CARICATURE DEVELOPMENT Scripted 00:04:00 D: Matthew van Ginkel P: Matthew van Ginkel

A caricature artist desperately tries to deliver a sketch to a complete stranger.

Animation 00:04:31 D: Richard Suicide P: Marc Bertrand

CHAOS THEORY

Student Productions 00:06:24 D: Sina Moazzenizadeh P: Sina Moazzenizadeh This short documentary illustrates three different stages of life by assigning real characters from different cultures and races to each stage and telling their state of mind.

The idea is to turn the lens into the words on the mind. We have certain regrets from the previous stage and anticipation for the next stage, hence our trapped emotions. This film aims to expand the awareness about stages of life and raise the fact that life is not about what happens to us; it is about how we respond. "If you come to the realization, you can change it, change anything."

CHIVALRY AIN'T DEAD

Student Productions 00:08:35 D: Doug Sroka, Chad Tailor, Sunmin Oh P: Doug Sroka, Sam Grady Debbie, a cross-dressing hooker, embarks on what should be a regular gig; a dinner date followed by some raunchy sex that ends with a wad of cash. Unfortunately, one critical mistake leads to an evening of plain salad, poor taste, and patriarchy.

Documentary History & Biography 00:49:00 D: Adam Brooks P: Adam Brooks

CLIMATE PRISONERS

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:17:35 D: Julien Robert P: Catherine Marineau-Dufresne Global warming is melting the ice bank on Quebec’s Lower North Shore. Its residents now have to deal with the impacts and face a cultural peril. The Lower North Shore is a 400 kilometerlong strip of land along the Saint-Laurent river, in Quebec. To get there, you either take a ferry in the summer or a plane. It’s not connected by any roads. The 5,000 residents have been isolated since the first settlements. Although winter has always been a busy time, the ice bank used to be a trail for snowmobiles and dog sleds that allowed connection from village to village. More than a trail, it’s a lifeline. But not anymore. The winter of 2021 has the smallest amount of ice ever recorded on the Saint-Laurent river.

CLOWNING AROUND

Short Subject – Fiction 00:15:00 D: Kylie Hitchcock P: Kylie Hitchcock

A young woman must overcome her lifelong phobia to be with the man she has fallen madly in love with.

COME CLEAN

Documentary Social/Political 00:59:50 D: Derreck Roemer, Neil Graham P: Derreck Roemer, Neil Graham It's check-in day at a drug rehab facility, and cameras roll as Come Clean embarks on an 18-month odyssey to see who can kick their habit, get their lives back on track, and reintegrate into society. First up: making it through Westover Treatment Centre's 19-day substance dependence program. This intimately

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FILMS filmed, character-driven documentary dispels the notion that addiction is a choice or a moral weakness. Mainstream media may focus on the down-and-out overdosing in back alleys, but Westover’s Mike Hannon calls addiction “an equal opportunity illness."

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Community Television Productions 00:28:30 D: Greg Stanton P: Greg Stanton, Rina Hanowski Rina Hanowski shines the community spotlight on historic Gravelbourg with guests Toos Giesen and Ariel Haug.

CONFINÉ

Documentary Arts/Culture 1:00:00 D: Jérôme Binette P: Jérôme Binette Without international races for 2020, Mathieu Blanchard take on the challenge of crossing the Gaspé Peninsula by taking the hinterland. From the Matapedia valley, via the Chic-Chocs, to the end of the world in Forillon, his goal is to run over 650 kilometers and 30,000 meters of elevation gain, in one week. The uncertainty about his ability to complete this adventure is greater than ever. He will be confronted with his physical and mental limits and will have to face trails worthy of Jurassic Park.

CONNECTING WITH KRISTEN Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:03:14 D: Stephen Hall P: Randy Shumay

As the COVID-19-weary world grapples with the challenge of home-life balance – including renewed commitments to simple, life-affirming activities like gardening and spending time with family – Kristin shows us what success looks like. Pivoting careers before it was a thing, Kristen left the toil and stress of a career as a music teacher, to the quieter pursuit of gardening, spending time with her family, and creating the Shifting Roots gardening blog. As Kristin puts it, "Life doesn't give you perfect circumstances; it's

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FILMS never going to be the perfect time; you're never going to have the perfect skills... but sometimes, good plus good equals excellent."

CONTINUUM

Student Productions 00:04:19 D: Calum Hotchkiss P: Calum Hotchkiss, Gemma Eva A young woman who is overwhelmed by societal pressures breaks free of a simulated existence and opens herself to the full breadth of life.

CORNERS

Short Subject – Fiction 00:12:53 D: James Brylowski P: James Brylowski The government has implemented mandatory corner inspections for buildings classified as C-404s, where civilians go; grocery stores, malls, furniture stores. Rory Hurthing is a dedicated, and passionate, corner inspector. His meticulous attention to detail drives his clients insane, especially furniture store manager Nanci Haloom. Nanci doesn't have time for Rory's absurd, and painstakingly slow, corner inspecting methods. When Nanci has had enough, she brings in a corner-cutting newcomer to replace Rory, Rory must decide if he will stay true to himself, or keep his job.

COVID-19: THE ORIGIN OF THE VIRUS

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:42:00 D: Hélène Morin P: Hélène Leroux Could the current pandemic have been caused by a laboratory accident? It is a frightening hypothesis, which for over a year was considered far-fetched. Anyone who raised the issue was said to be a conspiracy theorist. Today, more and more scientists believe it is possible. The World Health Organization and many countries are seriously concerned about this possibility.

Découverte reports why and how this view has changed.

CRAIGLEITH FOSSILS

DEAR READER

This film explores the history and types of fossils that can be found in the region of Ontario, Canada known as Craigleith.

A series of ten short films celebrating authors, writing and book culture that has helped shaped British Columbia's unique identity – including Jane Rule, Emily Carr, John Vaillant, and more.

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:20:00 D: Tracey Strnad P: Tom Strnad

D FOR DAUGHTER

Student Productions 00:16:15 D: Christine Zivic P: Robert Harrington, Isaac Werner, Marilyne Lamontagne, Kevin Tie, Christine Zivic D, a teenage girl used to living with her single dad, encounters his one night stand, triggering unexpected feelings.

DARKSIDE

Student Productions 00:12:02 D: Spencer Zimmerman P: Braiden Van Grootel After a devastating tragedy, an astronaut struggles to complete his interstellar mission to rescue a lost crew.

DATING UNLOCKED Lifestyle & Reality 00:23:50 D: Sam Coyle P: Charlie David

In Dating Unlocked, hopeful romantics from the LGBTQ2S+ community move beyond curated social media and dating profiles to find love in real life, and potentially share the key to their hearts. From the traditional to more radical, there are daters from all walks of life who share the same goal – to find a hook-up, a date, or their one and only.

DEADLY DAN SAUCES

Community Television Productions 00:05:11 D: Daniel Ball P: Todd Snider

Series 00:23:53 D: Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams P: Sean Horlor, Steve J Adams

DIRT FARMERS, SEASON 2

Series 00:22:00 D: Kolby Kostyniuk P: Wally Start, Tyler Start

Brothers Jason and Trevor Simpson have their own reputations and their family’s pride on the line as they take bold steps to keep the Simpson family farm alive. All this against the backdrop of a world-wide pandemic that could derail them as they begin preparing to seed. Meanwhile, just down the road, the Danychuk family, who have been the Simpson’s neighbors, kin and rivals for generations, struggle in their own way.

Desperately, they try to keep their operation from folding in the face of a threat no one has faced before.

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Documentary Arts/Culture 00:27:35 D: Florence Hwang P: Florence Hwang Chinese-Canadians living with mental illness face more stigma and shame than other ethnicities because of cultural expectations.

Since this culture suppresses emotions to achieve harmonious relationships at all costs, it worsens mental wellness, possibly leading to death. This documentary examines the roots of this deep-seated shame, how it affects family relations, and its consequences on the individual and the community. Kayla Mak Harrison aspires to become a filmmaker but she struggles with Bipolar Type 1 disorder.

From BBQ sauces to ketchup and hot sauces, Dan has a homemade sauce for all tastes.

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FILMS DISTANT HORIZONS

EMILY CARR

Often considered to be the unremarkable land mass between more interesting places, Distant Horizons seeks to amplify the minimalist beauty, the crumbling history, and the contrast between nature and human interaction within the landscape of Saskatchewan.

A short film exploring how Emily Carr’s acclaimed work as an author informed her unique painting style in the 1930s and 1940s.

Experimental 00:20:07 D: Chris Miller, Mike Maekelburger P: Mike Maekelburger

DR. KERI: PRAIRIE VET

Series 00:25:00 D: Shereen Jerrett P: Merit Jensen Carr, Alexa Rosentreter Dr. Keri Hudson Reykdal isn’t your typical country vet. Set against the breathtaking landscape of Ashern, Manitoba, Dr. Keri: Prairie Vet is a documentary series which follows Dr. Keri as she travels the rural roads of northern Manitoba in her high-tech mobile clinic. She’s on call 24/7 with patients ranging from pedigreed show dogs to angry bulls, each presenting a new challenge and testing the limits of her expertise.

Welcome to the Yorkton Film Festival

Cathay Wagantall, M.P. Yorkton-Melville

DROPSTONES

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:57:00 D: Caitlin Durlak P: Caitlin Durlak Set on Fogo Island, off the coast of Newfoundland, Dropstones is an intimate family portrait that follows a matriarch, Sonya, shortly after she has returned to the home she once yearned to escape. As Sonya raises her two young sons, Luke and Sean, she finds herself drawing on her island’s traditions to meet the challenges of motherhood. Set against the changing seasons over the course of a year, the film immerses us in the unique rhythms of life on Fogo Island, illuminating both the hardship and fulfillment that come with calling this singular place home.

Documentary Arts/Culture 00:01:50 D: Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams P: Sean Horlor, Steve J. Adams

ESTHER & SAI

Short Subject – Fiction 00:12:30 D: Rosie Choo Pidcock, Anaïsa Visser P: Jon Warne, Jesse Copeland The night before their first day of nursing school in 1976, two female immigrants in Vancouver endure racism and homesickness. Esther and Sai are strangers with a few things in common: they are new immigrant students, they are homesick and they are hungry. When a racially charged interaction with a grocer goes awry, each finds themselves back in their dorm room with the only meal they could find: a box of macaroni and cheese. A night of loneliness and self doubt threatens to unravel each of them, but ultimately meeting a kindred spirit sparks the possibility of belonging. Based on a true story, Esther & Sai captures the struggle of immigrating to a new country through the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

EVAN’S DRUM

Documentary Arts/Culture 00:14:15 D: Ossie Michelin P: Kat Baulu, Latonia Hartery, Rohan Fernando An adventurous young boy and his determined mother share a passion for Inuit drum dancing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Evan’s Drum is a joyful visit to a family’s loving home, and an uplifting story of cultural pride. After generations of silence, the rhythm of the traditional Inuit drum has returned to Labrador, and seven-year-old Evan is part of the new generation that will keep its heartbeat strong.

Congratulations to YFF organizers and participants on another stellar event!

Email: cathay.wagantall@parl.gc.ca Phone: 306-782-3309

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FILMS EVER SO SLIGHTLY

FIFTH ESTATE - THE VACCINE

Ever So Slightly explores the behavioural mechanisms and reflexes we develop against the ceaseless flow of irritants that bombard us in our daily lives. Most of us long for calm and resilience, but how do we get to a zone where noise and aggressivity no longer have a place?

Bob McKeown examines how a deal the Canadian government struck with a China-based company to create a COVID-19 vaccine fell apart, and why some say Ottawa should never have considered the deal in the first place.

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:21:00 D: François Blouin P: Mélanie Viau (for KOTV)

FARM CRIME

Series 00:18:44 D: Kat Jayme, Stephanie Joline, Maya Annik Bedward, Alexandra Lazarowich, Geoff Morrison, Conor McNally P: Geoff Morrison, Christina Carvalho After an award-winning first season, Farm Crime is back! Farm Crime is a true crime documentary series investigating unconventional offences in farming and agriculture. Each episode examines a case that wouldn’t typically make the front page; instead of tales of murder, assault or violent home invasion, the series explores crimes that take place in the margins – the fields, farms and secretive small towns that dot the countryside.

FATIMA IN KABUL

Documentary Social/Political 00:20:07 D: Brishkay Ahmed P: Brishkay Ahmed As the day to Taliban arrival approach, life for Fatima shifts.

FIFTH ESTATE - ABANDONED IN AFGHANISTAN: CANADA'S FAILED PROMISE Documentary Social/Political 00:22:30 D: Joseph Loiero P: Joseph Loiero, Ivan Angelovski, Saman Malik

Gillian Findlay looks at the effort mounted

by Canadian military veterans to get former interpreters out of Afghanistan and reveals tensions within Canada's government about how to proceed.

Documentary Social/Political 00:45:02 D: Scott Anderson P: Scott Anderson, Rachel Ward

FIGHTING EXTINCTION AFTER DARK

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:18:06 D: David Ozier P: David Ozier When darkness falls on the Caribbean side of Belize, a small group of conservationists work to save a threatened species of crocodile. Fighting Extinction After Dark chronicles a single, high stakes croc rescue and release on a night full of unexpected challenges, curve balls and quick thinking. The dramatic, unfolding action on this single night illustrates many of the challenges facing both the crocodiles themselves and those fighting to save them.

FINDERS KEEPERS

Short Subject – Fiction 00:14:06 D: Mark Bethune P: Mark Bethune, Robert Fisher, Justin Kelly In a post-apocalyptic winter landscape, a bumbling scavenger crosses paths with a couple on the run. His offer to aid in their escape only makes matters worse.

FIRE MASTERS

Lifestyle & Reality 00:44:50 D: Frank Samson P: Mike Sheerin, Tanya Linton, Jennifer Pratt, David Stephen Enter the inferno in the exhilarating food competition series Fire Masters. In each episode, three chefs push their grilling talents to the limit as they do battle in fiery culinary challenges, cooking up creative, mouthwatering, flamekissed dishes. One chef is eliminated in each of the first two rounds. The last chef standing goes

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FILMS head-to-head with a judge in an epic third and final round, vying for $10,000 in cash and the coveted title of Fire Masters Champion!

FIRST LOVE

Student Productions 00:10:00 D: Beatrice Woo P: Ashley Finch Jacob, a 13-year-old boy, navigates his intense crush on a girl named Jenny. Trying to capture her attention, he attempts to perform a grand romantic gesture for her. When that fails, Jacob sneaks out to the school dance in a brave attempt to win Jenny’s heart.

FIRST WE EAT

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:55:00 D: Suzanne Crocker P: Suzanne Crocker Putting food sovereignty to the test in the far north of Canada, filmmaker Suzanne Crocker, living just 300 kilometers from the Arctic Circle, removes absolutely all grocery store food from her house. For one year, she feeds her family of five on food that can only be hunted, fished, gathered, grown or raised around Dawson City, Yukon. Add three skeptical teenagers, one reluctant husband, no salt, no caffeine, no sugar, and -40 degree temperatures... and you have yourself an impossible challenge. Or is it?

FISHING WITH BAITED BREATH

FILMS FLAT OUT FOOD: WALLEYE

from investigators and one of Dutch’s trusted bodyguards (now 104 years old!), Gangster Gold explores the dangerous world of Dutch Shultz in prohibition-era America and the trail of clues he left to where his loot may be buried.

Hosted by author and journalist Jenn Sharp, Flat Out Food is a gorgeous documentary series that illuminates viewers about unique Saskatchewan ingredients while exploring their journey from the field to the plate. Jenn visits northern Saskatchewan to learn how to catch, clean, and cook walleye.

GARDENING IN THE HEART

Series 00:22:30 D: Adrian Halter P: Adrian Halter

FREEDOM SWELL

Documentary Social/Political 1:00:00 D: Marie Wright, Meaghan Wright P: Marie Wright Freedom Swell is a feature-length documentary that highlights a surf program designed to empower African Nova Scotian youth to connect with the ocean. The film explores the lack of diversity in the east coast surf scene, stemming from complex, historical barriers such as racism, segregated beaches, and generational fear of water. Co-founder LaMeia Reddick, volunteers, participants, and community members share their stories about the healing nature of water.

FUGLY

Short Subject – Fiction 00:06:29 D: Nicholas Bradford-Ewart P: Amanda Pileggi

Short Subject – Fiction 00:05:45 D: Nick Schelle P: Mike Southworth, Nick Schelle

Renee serves her partner Mark a very usual dish and asks the question, "Would you eat the best tasting food on earth, knowing that consuming it would lead to your death?"

Told with only music and sound effects, Fishing With Baited Breath is a live-action comedy inspired by classic animated shorts. The film relies on visual storytelling, physical comedy and sight gags to tell an entertaining tale about the importance of living in the process and not worrying about the result.

GANGSTER GOLD

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Documentary History & Biography 00:55:13 D: Elizabeth Trojian P: Juliette Coleman In 1935, notorious gangster and bootlegger Dutch Schultz buried a fortune worth over $50 million somewhere in America. He was gunned down and died without revealing where it was buried, spawning a mystery that has endured for nearly a century. With detailed accounts

Community Television Productions 00:09:07 D: Elise Swerhone P: Elise Swerhone In the heart of Canada, a challenging climate is embraced by intrepid gardeners who have mastered the art of growing. Manitoba’s climate challenges those who love to garden. Despite that gardeners with grit and determination have created some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Meet some of them in this six-part series.

GHOST THEORY: A MODERN DATING CONSPIRACY Student Productions 00:09:00 D: Ethan Gillis P: Neil Shearer

Beth believes she has found her soulmate on the popular dating app Ember, but when David suddenly ceases all contact, the lack of a definitive breakup launches her into the depths of despair. When her conspiracy theory obsessed roommate Sybil steps in, she convinces Beth that perhaps not all is as it seems.

GHOSTS OF AFGHANISTAN Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:59:00 D: Julian Sher P: Natalie Dubois

As the Taliban seize control of Afghanistan and the “forever war” ends in chaos and tragedy, Canadian war correspondent Graeme Smith offers a first-hand account of NATO’s failed attempt to bring democracy and women’s rights and freedoms to the country.

GHOSTS OF YESTERDAY

Scripted 00:22:41 D: Jeff Evans-Todd P: Style Dayne, Jeff Evans-Todd, Jeremy Ratzlaff, Dylan Hryciuk Ghosts of Yesterday is the story of a young musician named Emily, whom we find in the depths of an overwhelming depression.

The film follows her as she leaves home with a guitar case full of antidepressants, trudging through the harsh city streets on a cold winter night, as she makes her way to the bar where she intends to play her final show, and take her final breath. While there, however, she realizes, perhaps too late, that something inside her still wants to live. Maybe she's made a mistake.

Maybe life isn’t as bleak as she thought.

GIFT TO GIVE

Student Productions 00:11:24 D: Erica Daniels P: Erica Daniels A two-spirited daughter discovers she is a perfect kidney donor for her ailing father. By gifting a piece of herself, she hopes to save his life and gain his acceptance for who she truly is.

GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER Short Subject – Fiction 00:09:20 D: Nin Meyboom P: Ethan Fetterly, Nin Meyboom

A night shift security officer for a private parking lot encounters a homeless person who is living out of their car.

GOING NATIVE

Series 00:22:00 D: Paul Kemp, Sam Karney, Andrew Wiens, Kurt Spenrath P: Paul Kemp, Sam Karney, Andrew Wiens, Kurt Spenrath, Drew Hayden Taylor Fun-loving Ojibway author Drew Hayden Taylor explores everything from the weird and wacky, to the deep and profound ways Indigenous people are shaping North American culture in the 21st century.

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FILMS GOLDEN: THE END OF AGEISM Documentary Social/Political 00:46:00 D: Scott Thompson Harper P: Scott Thompson Harper

If you’re over a certain age, you may have already experienced it: the painful realization you’ve been discriminated against due to age. One minute it’s an older person’s problem. Then, suddenly it happens to you, at work maybe, in a social setting – anywhere generations co-mingle. More than any other form of bias, ageism is truly universal. We all have a stake in this issue, yet it scarcely registers in the public discourse compared with sexism, racism or almost any other form of discrimination.

GRACE, MERCY, AND THE TELEPHONE POLES ON NINTH STREET Scripted 00:16:06 D: Em Lubbers P: Liza Korotka

FILMS of chocolate, vying for the grand prize in a range of creative and exciting chocolate-based challenges. In order to survive the competition from week-to-week and avoid elimination, the chocaholic dessert-makers must dazzle our panel of world-renowned chocolatiers and food expert judges with their delicious, inventive creations.

HARD RESET…

Experimental 00:05:37 D: Scott Daniel Johnson P: Scott Daniel Johnson When a global crisis threatens the world an experimental AI tool is deployed in order to predict patient's susceptibility rates in hopes of stopping the virus from spreading further.

HELL IN A HANDBASKET Short Subject – Fiction 00:05:00 D: Lee Chambers P: Lee Chambers

Pastor Sam doesn't make big decisions, but a mysterious vandal, a local busy body, and some torn up posters are about to force his hand.

Dale, a lonely research scientist in the Arctic, struggles to maintain his solitary existence. With the world failing from a global pandemic, all hopes fall on Dale's shoulders as he represents the last stand for humanity.

GRANDMOTHERS

HELLO (AGAIN), EPISODE 1

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:13:37 D: Millefiore Clarkes P: Millefiore Clarkes Grandmothers is a lyrical, art-based, short documentary that lends deep listening to, and seeks universal wisdom from, three formidable older women from diverse communities living on Prince Edward Island.

GREAT CHOCOLATE SHOWDOWN

Lifestyle & Reality 00:44:50 D: Ryan Shaw P: Mike Sheerin, Tanya Linton, Jennifer Pratt, David Stephen, Natalie Schenk Great Chocolate Showdown is a new ooey-gooey, decadent chocolate dessert competition series where 10 home bakers go head-to-head in the indulgent world

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Series 00:10:00 D: Melanie Chung P: Teresa M. Ho, Nathalie Younglai, Simu Liu, Alex Mallari, Jr. Boy meets girl. Boy gets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy meets creepy, mischievous, mysterious child. She gives him a second chance at love… by sending him back in time. Meet Jayden and Avery. Chef?

Cook. Doctor? Resident. Javery! Jayden tries to find a way to break the time loop, so he can win Avery back and say Hello (Again).

HOGTOWN/AINSI VA MANU, EPISODES 2,3 & 4 Series 00:37:25 D: Josiane Blanc P: Ania Jamila, Josiane Blanc

Hogtown is a seven-episode webseries. The story follows the journey of a single-parent family, coping with Toronto’s increasing housing precariousness. When Manuela,16, and her family are threatened to be evicted from their apartment by a real estate developer, she decides to fight back, in hopes of remaining in her neighbourhood.

HOME FIRE

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:14:47 D: Shane Bird P: Allia Janzen, Kyle Burgess Indigenous youth in the north explore the benefits of ceremony, culture and traditions on maintaining their sobriety and mental health.

IF WE SPOKE Scripted 00:10:33 D: P.A. Duquette P: P.A. Duquette

Meanwhile in Alberta, familiar Boomer versus Millennial tropes and mores become uncomfortable in this film short. A cheeky reflection of how our expectations of each other play into a seemingly unresolvable conflict. But wait – there's still hope.

IN PLAINS VIEW Experimental 00:07:08 D: Don List P: Don List

Do you ever wish you could turn back the clock and relive your life to create better memories than the ones you have? In Plains View lets you do exactly that by obscuring recent memories and replacing them with imagery of a more pleasant time.

IN THE FRAY

Animation 00:08:08 D: Allyson Lorraine Glenn P: Allyson Lorraine Glenn In the Fray explores early film making mediums and digital technology. With Alice and the rabbit, the viewer is lured down a hole and into a tunnel where they experience series of analogue and digital abstractions. Like the phrase ‘internet rabbit hole’, where infinite search engine paths lead to disorientation, the title phrase "in the fray",can also suggest a struggle, a deconstruction and rearrangement of form. This idea is captured by transitions between scenes where geometrical shapes morph and change.

INCORRIGIBLE: A FILM ABOUT VELMA DEMERSON Documentary Social/Political 00:45:00 D: Karin Louise Lee P: Cheuk Kwan

Want to hear an unbelievable story? Let us tell you Velma’s. In 1939, Velma Demerson was jailed for falling in love with a Chinese man.

Pregnant and without legal counsel, Velma was sentenced to one year in a Toronto prison where she was tortured by a eugenicist doctor who attempted to abort her child. 60 years later, she sued the Canadian government for wrongful incarceration, and until her death at age 98 in May 2019, continued to fight for the rights of the thousands of women imprisoned on the grounds of “incorrigibility” until 1964.

INNIUN UESHKAT MAK ANUTSHISH Student Productions 00:04:55 D: Mary Menie Mark P: Wapikoni Mobile

A conversation between a mother and her daughter; memories of passing from the hut to the house.

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FILMS INQUIRY INTO TIME AND PERCEPTION, STUDY #2

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:11:26 D: Philip Szporer P: Philip Szporer The intimacy created by the camera in this film by Philip Szporer depicts the sheer physical presence and liveliness, even the smallest registers of motion, of the flamenco dance artist Aurélie Brunelle, singer Álvaro Echánove, and guitarist Dominique Soulard. The portraits chart transcendence and transformation, and in particular the sustained power and complexity in the manifestation of emotions.

INSIDE THE GREAT VACCINE RACE Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:44:00 D: P.J. Naworynski P: Dugald Maudsley, Gillian Main

The dramatic inside story of the high stakes race to defeat a killer virus and save millions of lives.

IN-TENTS

Student Productions 00:11:13 D: Stephanie Nakashima, Scott Morris P: Scott Morris, Stephanie Nakashima Having experienced homelessness herself, Marcie recounts her time in tents and provides an understanding of the humanity that lies within the homeless population of Hamilton, Ontario. In-Tents breaks down the barrier and personalizes the homeless experience hoping to share real-life perspectives in order to de-stigmatize our neighbors in tents.

INTO LIGHT

Documentary Social/Political 00:19:00 D: Sheona McDonald P: Teri Snelgrove When a child reveals who they truly are on the inside, how does a parent set aside their own expectations to help them become their most authentic self? Sheona McDonald’s documentary captures a season of change as a mother and child navigate the complexities of gender identity together.

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FILMS JOHNNY CROW

people have an intimate connection with the Bathurst. The herd has been a source of food, clothing and deep culture. However, a future without the Bathurst has become a very real possibility.

A poetic and transformative journey of a young man’s physical, mental, and spiritual struggle to return to his son from the criminal justice system. Animated by Cree artist Jesse Gouchey over a period of seven years, the film was animated frame-by-frame using spray paint on large outdoor surfaces in locations in Alberta and British Columbia.

KOKUM, WITH LOVE

Animation 00:07:15 D: Xstine Cook, Jesse Gouchey P: Xstine Cook

KILL YOUR MASTERS

Short Subject – Fiction 00:07:12 D: Israel Ekanem P: Monica Bell-Ekanem, Israel Ekanem Two black girls take their destiny into their hands to liberate themselves from the shackles of their white slave master.

KINGDOM OF THE POLAR BEARS

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:44:00 D: Alexis Barbier-Bouvet P: Merit Jensen Carr, Sally Blake, Patrice Lorton As the Arctic changes faster than ever, a team of polar bear guides prepares for an epic journey; a first-ever attempt to follow the bears on the sea ice of Hudson Bay. In this high-stakes highreward venture, they will document the secret world of bears, a mysterious and disappearing realm that is the bears key to survival. Life on the ice is a critical time for these bears.

It also remains undocumented, deemed too dangerous for humans to follow, hinted at only through aerial reconnaissance and satellite collar research.

KOK’ETÌ: WALKING WITH CARIBOU

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:24:14 D: Chad Galloway P: Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault The Bathurst caribou herd have roamed Canada’s arctic since time immemorial.

Tragically, in just the last 30 years, their population has dropped from half a million to less than ten thousand. The Tłıcho

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:11:48 D: Kim Stadfeld P: Kim Stadfeld Flora Bear's youngest granddaughter searches for truth and answers about her Indigenous grandmother's life. This short documentary is the filmmaker's personal journey of discovery to honour her late grandmother's life and understand her family history.

L’ABATTU DES VENTS

Student Productions 00:05:25 D: Félix-Antoine Garneau-Chouinard P: Maxime Giard Alone on a secluded island, a lightkeeper is prisoner of his own madness.

LA COIFFEUSE/THE HAIRDRESSER

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:13:50 D: Lorraine Price P: Lorraine Price / Little Window Productions Kathleen is a hairdresser. Always has been, always will be. Even at 83, she's still doing hair, but not in the way you would expect. Her work is special. In this short documentary, Kathleen reflects on her experience as a hairdresser while we bear witness to her unusual work. The Hairdresser tells the story of a woman doing extraordinary things in what is typically considered a pedestrian profession.

LAUNDRY DAY - LIFE ON THE LINE Experimental 00:19:18 D: Ines Eisses P: Yvette Dudley-Neuman, Ines Eisses, Tracy C. Kohne

LEAVE ME ALONE

Student Productions 00:07:59 D: Ashley Ratti P: Ashley Ratti

Leave Me Alone is a short film that follows teenager Riley as she is tormented by something supernatural. Only her own actions will determine her fate.

LENNY

Short Subject – Fiction 00:12:01 D: Kristen McNaule P: Claudia Carino, Kristen McNaule, Dylan St. Amand A prisoner of war in Vietnam befriends a spider to combat the loneliness of isolation.

LIKE US

Short Subject – Fiction 00:05:33 D: Scott Johnson P: Scott Johnson One man grapples to hold on to his individuality and sanity while dealing with the societal pressures of conformity and change.

LOOK FOR ME

Student Productions 00:03:06 D: Adrienne Kaye P: Adrienne Kaye Look For Me is a multi-format short autoethnography student film capturing the internal struggles that an Indigenous woman must face on a day to day basis and how those struggles affect her sense of self worth. My goal was not to feed into stereotypes or generalize, but to focus on the emotional and psychological effects of racial-based mistreatment, while also stepping into the territory of the lack of concern and resources from government and authority when it comes to murdered and missing Indigenous Women.

The story of a woman's life; told only through her laundry.

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WE ARE HONORED TO SUPPORT THE YORKTON FILM FESTIVAL AND THEIR LONG HISTORY OF SHOWCASING CREATORS FROM ALL ACROSS CANADA. Congratulations to all of the films at this year's festival.

FILMS LOUIS SAYS, SEASON 4

Children’s/Youth Productions 00:11:00 D: Raquel Lopez P: Lioz Bouganin, Deborah Charles An Indigenous Canadian elder who mostly speaks Cree takes an English-speaking boy under his wing. In season 4, Randy and his friends embark on new adventures while learning new words in Cree.

MARKETPLACE - FOOD SHOCK: UNDERCOVER INSIDE THE GLOBAL TOMATO TRADE

Documentary Social/Political 00:22:30 D: Eric Szeto P: Eric Szeto, Caitlin Taylor

Where do your favourite tomato sauces, pastes, and fresh tomatoes really come from?

Turns out, the truth isn’t always on the label.

We reveal which big brands are linked to Chinese forced labour.

MARKETPLACE - THE HIDDEN PRICE OF YOUR CLOTHES Documentary Social/Political 00:22:30 D: Anu Singh P: Anu Singh

Secret video exposes where some of your favourite clothing is made, and the truth behind some of those “Made in the USA" labels.

MARY

FILMS MARY TWO-AXE EARLEY: I AM INDIAN AGAIN

Documentary History & Biography 00:30:00 D: Courtney Montour P: Kat Baulu Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again shares the powerful story of Mary Two-Axe Earley, who fought for more than two decades to challenge the discrimination against Indigenous women embedded in Canada’s Indian Act and became a key figure in Canada’s women’s rights movement.

MEGAN NASH: CHEW QUIETLY/ CLEAN SLATE Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:05:05 D: Amy Mantyka P: Chris Miller

We were approached by Megan to create a music video which incorporated modern dance (choreographed by Misty Wensel) captured through a single long take. Director Amy Mantyka worked with Megan and Misty to create Megan's evocative performance while the camera and lighting (operated and lit by Director of Photography Mike Maekelburger) weaves through the concrete walkways of a dark, liminal space.

MEND WITH DIGNITY

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:47:02 D: Kim Joseph Saltarski P: Kim Joseph Saltarski

Short Subject – Fiction 00:04:00 D: Kate Green P: Amber Orchard, Erin Musolumm

Mend with Dignity is the riveting documentary about a rural Ontario compassionate care group using medical cannabis to heal themselves and their community.

John is about to start a new life alone, but before he leaves, he climbs the icy summit where he once proposed to his now exgirlfriend Mary. At the summit he finds Mary is already there. Saying goodbye just got harder, but for John it's a chance to say all the things that he never did.

MENEATH: THE HIDDEN ISLAND OF ETHICS Animation 00:19:22 D: Terril Calder P: Jelena Popović (NFB)

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics dives deeply into the innate contrast between the seven deadly sins (lust, gluttony, greed, sloth,

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wrath, pride and envy) and the Seven Sacred Teachings (love, respect, wisdom, courage, truth, honesty and humility), as embodied in the life of a precocious Métis baby. Brought to life by Terril Calder’s darkly beautiful stop-motion animation, her inner turmoil of abuse is laid bare with unflinching honesty.

Convinced she’s soiled and destined for hell, Baby Girl receives teachings that fill her with strength and pride, and affirm a path towards healing.

METEORIC MAYHEM Animation 00:06:00 D: Andre St-Amour P: Andre St-Amour

Rocket Ranger is called upon by the Space Security Service to stop a rogue meteor from colliding with Earth and wiping out all life on the planet.

MINE TO HAVE

Experimental 00:17:00 D: Dianne Ouellette, Traci Foster P: Listen To Dis’ community arts organization, Traci Foster Mine To Have is an intimate journey into the lives of people living within the scope of "other" and their personal quest for love, care, and compassion. This show, created by Crip arts collective The Other Ordinary, is an exploration of what it means for relationships to flourish, fall apart, and survive; disrupting commonly held misconceptions and myths about otherness. She will draw you in like a lover and leave you wanting more.

MOBILE MD, EPISODE 301

Series 00:22:00 D: Colin McNeil, Christopher Triffo P: Christopher Triffo, Samantha Henley

MOBILE MD, EPISODE 302

Series 00:22:00 D: Christopher, Colin McNeil P: Christopher Triffo, Samatha Henley Dr. Henley treats a woman whose constant stomach pain and vomiting have taken over her entire life. At the same time, treating routine joint pain leads to the discovery of an illness lurking inside, and a covid long hauler grapples with his persistent symptoms.

MY SOUL TO TAKE

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:35 D: Laura Vandervoort P: Jessica Petelle, Laura Vandervoort, Kevin Eade, Justin G. Dyck, Peter Mabrucco, Moriah Atlas In her 30s, Quinn suffers from what many of us do: she has become accustomed to relying on technology for all of her needs – her social life, her entertainment, and her validation. And it’s killing her. When technology, societal pressures, and quick fixes collide, Quinn realizes all too late that she is no longer in the driver’s seat of her life.

NALUJUK NIGHT

Documentary Arts/Culture 00:13:07 D: Jennie Williams P: Latonia Hartery, Kat Baulu, Rohan Fernando Nalujuk Night is an up-close look at an exhilarating, and sometimes terrifying, Labrador Inuit tradition. Every January, from the dark of the Nunatsiavut night, the Nalujuit appear on the sea ice. They walk on two legs, yet their faces are animalistic, skeletal, and otherworldly.

Snow crunches underfoot as they approach their destination, the Inuit community of Nain.

Despite the frights, Nalujuk Night is a beloved annual event, showing that sometimes it can be fun to be scared.

A woman’s forgetfulness leads to fears of dementia, sending Dr. Henley on a quest to find the root cause of her problems. She then helps a retired rodeo clown with his troublesome feet before meeting a patient suffering from crippling panic attacks.

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FILMS NATURE'S BIG YEAR

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:44:00 D: Christine Nielsen P: Christine Nielsen, Diana Warmé What happens when the world hits pause?

Nature Reboots! From the Canadian wilderness to urban America and the backyards of Britain, scientists reveal unexpected and astounding discoveries from the year of the pandemic. This ambitious and provocative film explores the lockdown’s silver lining- many species benefit immediately when humanity slows down.

NAVIGATION

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:13:30 D: Marlene Millar P: Marlene Millar, Sandy Silva Set in the spectacular Burren region of the west coast of Ireland, Navigation explores the current humanitarian crisis of displacement and dislocation that is experienced both individually and collectively. Using the land itself to explore how we navigate through unknown terrain, themes of survival and perseverance, departure and renewal emerge in a nuanced and layered interpretation of the migration experience. The rhythms, movement, vocals and landscape define and embody this exploration, featuring the performances of 10 dancers, singers and a choir of 40 participants.

NOPIMING: ENTRANCE TO THE WILDERNESS

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:44:00 D: Kevin Nikkel P: Kevin Nikkel, Gary Zubeck, Hanwakan Blaikie-Whitecloud A family on a canoe trip discovers the wonders of Nopiming Park, launching an exploration of other people's stories enjoying this historic and majestic park. This is a documentary about paddling and the people met along the way – a road movie without the road. Nopiming is an Anishinabe word meaning “entrance to the wilderness".

This is a place waiting to be discovered.

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FILMS NORTHERN COMFORT: A DRIVE AROUND TOWN Student Productions 00:07:47 D: Melanie Lameboy P: Wapikoni Mobile

Short documentary on life in Northern Quebec and the differences in living conditions between local Crees and non-Natives. A story of how being biracial and trilingual in Northern communities brings certain questions on the social dynamics between Crees and non-Natives living in Chisasibi. This film talks about encounters and discussions with nonNatives about the 3Ms of the North (misfits, missionaries, and money-makers) and how the subject of white fragility, white space and white saviour complex came into play.

NUDE TO ME

ONE NEVER KILLS FOR LOVE

PERFECTING THE ART OF LONGING

They meet in the dark of the night. Women, sisters, friends: a feminist group gathering to leave writings on the walls of Montreal. Their challenge: raise awareness to end systemic violences endured by women and minorities.

Plain collages for a strong message: Feminicides must stop!

Cut off from his loved ones due to a strict COVID-19 lockdown at the long-term care facility where he lives, a quadriplegic rabbi reflects on love, mortality and longing. Filmed remotely by his daughter, his narration presents a profound and moving testament to the human spirit, even as the virus closes in on him.

ONE SEVEN NINE

PERIPHERY

Student Productions 00:15:01 D: Manon Testud P: EMCV

Documentary Social/Political 00:57:21 D: Sam Bechtel P: Sam Bechtel, Alexa Gilker, Erik Johnson, Jessica Janzen Olstad

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:20:05 D: Danny Berish P: Erin Mussolum

Within only 179 days, a child with a rare genetic disease inspired a community to choose joy and movement in times of adversity.

Nude to Me follows filmmaker Danny Berish as he explores his family history which surprisingly leads him to Canada’s oldest nudist club. In this personal documentary, director Danny Berish discovers how his grandmother found love at a nudist camp in 1949 and how that chance encounter would change the course of his life. Searching to discover more about his grandparent’s radical lifestyle, he meets and mingles with the members of Van Tan, Canada’s oldest nudist club.

OUT STANDING IN HIS FIELD

OMA

Documentary History & Biography 00:47:08 D: Griffin Cork P: Melanie Bahniuk, Griffin Cork Following the death of her husband, retired nurse Sandy Moser claims that the arts saved her life. And with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the theatre and live event industries the hardest, she decides to give back. But how does one woman living on her country acreage repay a whole community? For Sandy, it was making 3,000 cloth masks. By herself. For free.

Short Subject – Fiction 00:09:17 D: Lynette Piper P: Lynette Piper, Jolene Kriska, Sierra Haynes An elderly man escapes the nursing home and winds up back on his former wheat field.

There, he meets up with his late wife and must decide which world he wants to reside.

PARAMEDICS: EMERGENCY RESPONSE, SEASON 5

Series 00:30:00 D: Antonio Hrynchuk P: Antonio Hrynchuk, Ryan Malone, Karen Parharq Paramedics: Emergency Response, Season 5 is a 6 x 30 documentary series that chronicles select teams of paramedics at MD Ambulance as they respond to 911 emergency calls in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:12:13 D: Kitra Cahana P: Ariel Nasr, Kat Baulu

Documentary Social/Political 00:27:26 D: Sara Yacobi-Harris P: Sara Yacobi-Harris Periphery is an evocative short documentary that explores ethnic diversity in the Jewish community in Canada through dance, poetry, and personal narratives. Following 10 Jews of Black/African, Korean, Iraqi, Indian, and South American ancestry, the film challenges perceptions of who is a Jew, exploring ideas of representation, intersectionality, race, and sexuality.

PERSEPHONE: THE CRIMINAL KID

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:04:46 D: Rob Hillstead P: Rob Hillstead, Allysia Marie Van Betuw

Set against the Saskatchewan prairie, Allysia Marie is Persephone, who leaves behind the ennui of contemporary homelife, seeking the peace and solace of the underworld in this subtle rendition of the Greek myth.

PHARMAKON

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:53 D: Jean-Martin Gagnon P: Jeanne-Marie Poulain and Jean-Martin Gagnon Like every winter, the boys get together for a weekend sprinkled with snow and psychotropic drugs. A necessary tradition to abandon oneself, to marvel and to trust the unknown.

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FILMS PHENOMENA

Short Subject – Fiction 00:05:54 D: Taylor Brown P: Laina Brown When paranormal investigator Emma Bonetti detects activity on a quiet farm, she must restore the trust of her recently-retired assistant and best friend, Clair Tillman, to help her prove that the world is still full of mysteries worth exploring.

PIVOT

Animation 00:07:08 D: Ana Gusson P: Tini Wider Growing up isn’t easy, and it’s no exception for 12-year-old Ashley whose well-meaning mom has her own ideas about who Ashley should be. Finding herself in an impossible situation, Ashley must decide whether to wear a gaudy dress she hates or find the courage to stand up for herself and fight the inner monster that is holding her back. This animated short film is a defining moment in Ashley’s quest to be herself at the risk of disappointing the person she loves the most: her mom.

POLKAROO COUNTS, EPISODE 17 Children’s/Youth Productions 00:02:11 D: Christopher Redmond P: Hoda Elatawi

Polkaroo Counts! uses math and preschool numeracy to bring back one of our all-time favourite characters, Polkaroo!

POLLUTION SOLUTION Student Productions 00:06:06 D: The Bum Family P: Xstine Cook

Pollution Solution is a short documentary that explores what people are doing about pollution made by a group of six young cousins who fear the world is ending due to human activity. By asking people how they address the pollution crisis in their

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FILMS everyday lives, and using animation to illustrate their responses, the filmmakers hope to inspire viewers to do their part in creating a pollution solution.

PRAIRIE PRIDE

Community Television Productions 00:28:30 D: Spencer Burridge P: Brett Littlemore, Spencer Burridge Your fabulous guide to all things queer in the Queen City and throughout Saskatchewan!

PROXIMITY

Short Subject – Fiction 00:12:30 D: Jamie Miller P: Kerri Oakey A woman living in a small community labours all day on land while she awaits her husband’s boat to return from sea.

QUINN

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:31:00 D: Eva Colmers P: Eva Colmers, Bonnie Thompson

RESTORE THE IMPOSSIBLE

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:23:57 D: Pier Gagné P: Radio-Canada/CBC A century of mining has left a contaminated landscape in the region of Thetford Mines, Quebec. Although the last asbestos mine closed almost 10 years ago, there are still infertile dumps that give the place its lunar appearance. This heavy mining heritage represents 1,500 hectares of asbestos residue. But how do we restore these infertile mountains that threaten the Bécancour River and the lakes of the region? Different solutions are envisaged such as revegetation or recovery. It would be possible to restore old mining sites to an environmentally acceptable state, and in some cases even to make them carbon sinks.

RUN STACK OVERFLOW

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:05:05 D: Patrick Carroll P: Patrick Carroll

An intimate documentary of changing identity, over four seasons and four years.

A film about memory, technology and loss.

Shot on location inside a box of broken and obsolete electronic gear.

RACE AGAINST THE TIDE

SARAH'S SONG

Series 00:30:00 D: Graeme Lynch P: Matthew Hornburg, Mark J.W. Bishop, Donna Luke, Greg Hemmings, Carly Spencer, Stephen Foster Race Against the Tide brings 10 world class sandsculpting teams to shores of the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick to compete in the ultimate outdoor art tournament. They’ll dig,pound, carve and sculpt to create extraordinary works of art – entirely made from sand! But here they must battle each other and Mother Nature in order to avoid elimination. Each week, the artists will have just six hours create their epic sand sculptures beforethe highest tides in the world rip them back out to sea.

SASKATOON FORESTRY FARM, PARK AND ZOO Community Television Productions 00:09:41 D: Tristen Cosens P: Todd Snider

This film spotlights this National Historic Site, featuring carefully crafted gardens, restored heritage buildings, a great new naturallythemed playground and Saskatchewan’s only accredited zoo.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:15:00 D: Rosana Matecki P: Kat Baulu, Ariel Nasr A short documentary essay on solitude, filmed in Spanish and narrated by filmmaker Rosana Matecki, Saturday Night offers a poetic and bittersweet snapshot of aging in an urban setting, viewed through the lens of dance.

An immersive soundscape and a delicate tempo set the mood for this intimate exploration of resilience and nostalgia.

SECOND WEDDING

Short Subject – Fiction 00:08:40 D: Taylor Olson P: Beth Amiro

Student Productions 00:12:56 D: Arturo LeDuc P: Reanisa Mendonça

Two single-parent divorcees try their hand at getting married – again. They have no idea how wrong they're doing it.

Sarah, a teenage girl living in a postapocalyptic world must overcome her fears and past trauma to help her only ally, Wade, survive a life-threatening injury. With resources low and Wade incapacitated, she must travel alone through a creature-infested outside world to reach the only place with remaining supplies.

Scripted 00:29:57 D: Anish Mohan P: Anish Mohan, Leo Kuriakose, Biyon Tom

SILENT SIGNS

Silent Signs is a Silent Anthology Short Film.

A well-known writer of the past comes out of his shell, wanting to prove himself by publishing a new work. But writer's block is real. An incident changes his life forever. Now he is a part of stories! He unravels events of the past in a coincidental context in the hassle of getting rid of his writer's block. Ironically, it becomes a turning point in his writing and and his life.

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FILMS SLED WEEK

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:20:56 D: Mike Maekelburger P: Mike Maekelburger A father and son reunite on a snowmobiling trip despite mental health concerns and the challenge of living far apart.

SLEDGEHAMMER

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:20 D: Kyle Marchen P: Van Wickiam, Kyle Marchen Brooke, who works on the side as a cam girl, receives a sensitive package in the mail. Upon arrival, it is clear that the package has been intentionally damaged, which has become a recurring event. A corrosive urge to retaliate takes hold in the young woman’s mind. After filing a complaint, Brooke is contacted by the perpetrator, a mailman with an unsettling interest in her. She decides to take control and plays out her reprisal to its climax.

SOMETIMES THE WIND

Short Subject – Fiction 00:05:30 D: Jeremy Guenette P: Gabriel Levesque, Chaz Beaudette, Jeremy Guenette, Josh Benoit While out on a picnic, Michael finds himself in a life or death situation. His loved ones take it as an opportunity to tell him how they really feel about him.

SONGS FROM A BOX

Scripted 00:28:28 D: Taylor Brown P: Taylor Brown and Ellaina Brown A struggling musician finds inspiration from an ominous music box.

SPEAKING PARTS

Student Productions 00:13:14 D: Maya Vukov P: Bella Clemencio, York University Department of Cinema and Media Arts A socially-awkward young woman is forced to mime flirting with an attractive stranger while working as an extra on the set of a Victorian period film.

SPIRIT OF A NATION: THE PLACES WE BELONG Short Subject – Fiction 00:09:51 D: Brandon Wilson P: Brandon Wilson

Telling the story of the conflicting nature often felt by Cree people, as they yearn to be back on the land of their ancestors, Spirit of A Nation: The Places we Belong is a look at the sacred lands of the Fort McKay First Nation people in Northern Alberta.

SPIRITBOX: CONSTANCE

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:04:31 D: Dylan Hryciuk P: Dylan Hryciuk, Brianne Janex Constance is a personal short film-based music video that pulls from the director’s experiences watching his grandmother go through dementia.

SPIRITBOX: HURT YOU

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:03:55 D: Dylan Hryciuk P: Dylan Hryciuk, Brianne Janex, Jeremy Ratzlaff A horror-inspired music video that depicts love in four acts.

STANDING, SEASON ONE

Series 00:13:54 D: Jeremy Cole Bastian P: Sophie Kokott, Tomas Chedrese, Kyler Tesch, Jeremy Cole Bastian Three comedians attempt to find success as entertainers in their city, while a talent manager with good intentions develops outlandish ideas to make it happen.

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FILMS STEALING MURAKAMI

Student Productions 00:05:54 D: Michaela Aguirre, Asa Kazerani P: Asa Kazerani Since 2016, several thefts have plagued Toronto's used bookstores, specifically going after the works of famed Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Stealing Murakami begins with an investigative approach on the ongoing thefts in Toronto bookstores, yet quickly abandons this angle, emulating a common theme of Murakami’s, that finding something which has been missing often leads to disappointment.

STRANDED

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:00 D: Emile Viens P: Norma Denys After its space pod crashes, an alien telepathically calls for help, causing a grieving man to have hallucinations of his deceased boyfriend.

SVARA

Student Productions 00:13:37 D: Inanna Cusi P: Inanna Cusi A young seeker listens in on many deep conversations as she walks through the city of Vancouver.

TAILS ON ICE

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:10:42 D: Miranda Currie P: Miranda Currie This heart-warming story set in the coldest of climates follows Ellesmere, a fit and instantly loveable Canadian Inuit yearling sled dog, as she sets off on her first training expedition and rite of passage. With the right experience and discipline, Ellesmere has the potential to be the next alpha female.

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FILMS TERRY FOX: THE POWER OF ONE Documentary History & Biography 1:00:09 P: John Brunton, Lindsay Cox

A celebration of Terry Fox featuring performances and testimonials honouring Terry's legacy and inviting Canadians to help find a cure for cancer.

THE ANCESTRAL TREE

Animation 00:03:05 D: p.a. duquette P: Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS) Through symbolism, this is a story of harrowing fractures through time, all the while honouring the legacy of an Métis Elder and mourning the tragic loss of familial history, culture, and traditional community ties.

THE ARCHITECT

Student Productions 00:14:41 D: Mathieu Lorain Dignard P: Josée Madore Stuck in his parents’ garage after a reversal of fortune, Mike Villeneuve, a former gambling addict and amateur weightlifter, devotes himself to the sale of protein shakes for a multi-level marketing company. Obsessed with his quest for success, he finds himself cornered into deceiving the very people who are trying to help.

THE AWAKENING OF THE APE Student Productions 00:13:31 D: Philippe Besner P: Leslie Mavangui

The dawn of a scientific breakthrough collides with a tragedy for the Belair family. Alexandre, the son of a prominent researcher, is healing from his physical and psychologial wounds and will never be the same again. His mother, Madeleine, is forced to accept that her family has been sacrificed in a decision that will change the world.

THE BEAST INSIDE MY HEAD

THE FALL

An addiction crisis sweeps through Saskatchewan. Meagan Jasper has been clean for almost four years but struggles to save her younger sister Brooke from addiction.

Taylor Balfour can't help her little sister anymore; Rachel died alone in a university dorm of a drug overdose. As a teenager, Kaeland Brentnell became hooked on drugs.

After his close friend died of an overdose, Kaeland decided to quit drugs and connected with Meagan for help. All characters come from different walks of life. Yet none of them can escape the consequences of addiction.

Leafie is a plucky little maple leaf who loves to groove. But when their latest performance takes an unexpected turn, the harsh realities of the season come crashing down.

Student Productions 00:35:08 D: Florence Hwang P: Theresa Kliem

THE BIG BAKE

Lifestyle & Reality 00:44:48 D: Ryan Shaw P: Mike Sheerin, Tanya Linton, Jennifer Pratt, David Stephen, Natalie Schenk The Big Bake is an enclosed, culinary competition series in which three teams of pro bakers - go head-to-head to create over-the-top seasonally-themed cakes. In each episode, the host reveals a new theme, for example, "Santa's Workshop" – and the professional baking teams must create an epic cake in five hours that showcases the episode's theme. Each team is comprised of three pro bakers/pastry chefs from across the US, Canada and the UK. In addition to baking a jaw-dropping holiday-themed cake, the teams must also include a "dynamic element" in their designs.

THE FAKE PLANT

Student Productions 00:10:24 D: Luisa Maria Gonzalez P: Philippe Corbin When her fiancé goes away on a business trip, Annie gets trapped in the balcony of her apartment, without a phone or any other means to get help. She’s forced to look within herself and her wit/resourcefulness to survive hunger, cold, and most of all, her fear of raccoons.

Animation 00:02:51 D: Desirae Witte P: Phillapa Tanner

THE FINAL EXAM

Short Subject – Fiction 00:11:23 D: Beth Wishart MacKenzie, Tobias Nicholas P: Beth Wishart MacKenzie, Tobias Nicholas When a devout young Muslim woman is asked to remove her headscarf in order to write a final exam at university in Turkey, a male classmate finds a "strategic" way to guard her privacy so she can write the exam.

THE FORGETTING DEVICE Short Subject – Fiction 00:11:00 D: Chris Remerowski P: Chris Remerowski

A man begins to suspect that something strange and sinister is responsible for his recent memory loss. The Forgetting Device stars Jarod Joseph, one of the stars of the hit CW series The 100.

The film also features Anand Rajaram, from the hit PBS series Odd Squad. The Forgetting Device features an unforgettable original score composed by the CSA winning duo of Rob Carli and Kristjan Bergey (Murdoch Mysteries and Frankie Drake Mysteries).

THE FUTURE INNU Experimental 00:05:40 D: Stéphane Nepton P: Wapikoni Mobile

An ode to the land in relation to my double identity as an urban Indigenous person. A story that is both personal and poetic.

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FILMS THE GOATS OF MONESIGLIO

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:27:00 D: Emily Graves P: Emily Graves, Anna Cooley, Raj Dhillon Observational short documentary about the lives of two families working together to manage a goat farm. One Punjabi family and one Italian family work side-by-side in the northern Piedmontese town of Monesiglio.

Through brief observations of everyday moments, viewers gain fleeting insights into the characters' experiences as they care for a flock of over 300 goats and produce traditional artisanal goat cheese.

THE LAKE WINNIPEG PROJECT Series 00:15:00 D: Kevin Settee P: Alicia Smith

The Lake Winnipeg Project is a four-part documentary series that calls attention to stories of ingenuity and resilience in four diverse communities surrounding Lake Winnipeg, at a time when many external forces are imposing change.

THE LAURELS

Experimental 00:53:00 D: Laurence Ly P: Laurence Ly

What’s the purpose of our bodies on this planet? A chance meeting with a stranger reminds Laurence of a distant souvenir.

Since then, confronted with the authenticity of his own image, he has lived in different bodies that constantly bring him back to that memory buried in mysterious dreams.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOM THOMSON WHO WAS A PAINTER Short Subject – Fiction 00:07:50 D: Rob McLean P: Rob McLean

The Life and Death of Tom Thomson Who Was A Painter is a fictional documentary or “fictionary” based on speculation, innuendo and third-person accounts tracing the life and

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FILMS death of Tom Thomson, who was a painter. In fact, Tom Thomson, considered one of Canada’s most significant artists, died long before he fully realized his talent or became a known entity in the world of art. Some have even called him the James Dean of the art world… well, nobody I know personally, but you know, people say it.

His death has been shrouded in mystery for over a hundred years.

THE MACHINE THAT FEELS

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:44:00 D: Robin Bicknell P: Elizabeth Trojian The Machine That Feels explores the evergrowing and mysterious world of Artificial Intelligence by taking a deep dive into the uncanny valley, exploring the latest technological advances in the world of AI. Scientists see AI technology as an opportunity to address inequities and make a better, more connected world. But it also has the capacity to do the opposite: to stoke division and inequality and disconnect us from fellow humans.

THE NEWCOMERS

THE RELENTLESS ONE

The Newcomers investigates the challenges of new immigrants in rural Saskatchewan.

The documentary explores contemporary immigrant experiences and weaves in historical context from the early waves of immigration into the province. The film chronicles the lives of five immigrants facing isolation in small-town Saskatchewan as some of them struggle to find acceptance in their new homes.

Despite a horrific childhood with parental domestic abuse, then her mother physically abusing her, being kicked out of the house at 15 and being sent to the loony bin. She survived and then thrived. Now she coaches others how anyone can survive unimaginable hell to thrive in all aspects of life. She helps people and real estate teams find homes to finally feel safe.

This is a single mother survival and success story fueled by the tenacity of a truly relentless person.

Documentary Social/Political 00:39:53 D: Theresa Kliem P: Theresa Kliem

THE ORCHID & THE TREE Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:10:45 D: Ganesh Thava P: Ganesh Thava

The echoes of grief linger decades after in a South Asian family that didn’t – couldn’t – get around to talking about it.

THE MANHOLE

THE OTHER SIDE, SEASON 7

A 55-second short made as a final project emulating a safety PSA.

As paranormal investigators, Jeff, Erin and Allan rely on respect and Indigenous traditions to bring healing to lost spirits and answers to those who live with them. As they search through the unknown, they can’t help but be affected by the powerful stories of love, fear, loss and redemption that emerge.

Student Productions 00:00:55 D: RAIS Animation Class of 2019 P: Zach Hayes

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Student Productions 00:29:48 D: Kaitlyn Schropp P: Paige Reimer

North Central is a neighbourhood in Regina, Saskatchewan with a complicated story.

From the conception of this Saskatchewan city to the present day, the stigma that this community faces has become an identifying factor. Outsiders see it as ‘the hood,’ However, the Neighbourhood is home to almost half of Regina’s Indigenous population as well as many others. This is a place where residents can feel most connected to their people and their culture, yet the struggles the neighbourhood faces are still prevalent.

Series 00:22:00 D: Blake Horobin P: Wally Start, Tyler Start

THE PHOTOGRAPHER Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:11:36 D: Emily Pasternak P: Maryam Remtulla

When the Nazis massacred her family, she not only survived but resisted. Fleeing into the woods, Faye Schulman joined the partisans – and photographed the fight.

Today, her work lives on: evidence of Jewish resistance against the Nazis.

Documentary History & Biography 00:40:00 D: M. Douglas Silverstein P: M. Douglas Silverstein

THE ROAD BACK TO COWESSESS Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:10:43 D: Sean Parenteau P: Sean Parenteau

The Cowessess Residential School of Saskatchewan operated from 1898 to 1997, started by the Canadian Government and later operated by the Catholic Church. It was finally closed in 1997. For decades former students of residential schools across the country have complained about abuse and mistreatment while attending school. In the summer of 2021 ground penetrating radar discovered 751 unmarked graves on the grounds of the Cowessess Residential School. Six survivors of the school return to pay their respects, to reflect on the impact of the past, and demand reconciliation.

THE SPIRIT OF PORT MOODY Documentary History & Biography 00:59:00 D: Eva Wunderman P: Eva Wunderman

When we first meet Dr. Mary Anne Cooper, she is 104 and her hometown of Port Moody is the same age. The film tells the city’s story including the history of First Nations People in tandem with a recounting of Mary Anne’s quirky and eventful life fighting for environmental preservation.

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FILMS

FILMS

THE STONE IN THE SHOE

THE YESTERDAY

TOE THE LINE

TWO WORLDS

This video follows the ghost of John A. McDonald, recently unmoored from his pedestal in Victoria Park, Regina.

A disillusioned successful businesswoman struggling to find meaning in her privileged life, finds unexpected love in a forbidden affair.Two foreigners in London from differing backgrounds and ages find themselves in a love neither could have imagined. One is a young shopkeeper from India awaiting the arrival of his wife by arranged marriage; the other a mature, principled businesswoman from America.

Queer teen Gloria Chau rediscovers her sense of purpose when she loses her childhood dream: playing Olympic hockey.

Symbols identify countries or groups, but what do they tell us about individuals? Who we are, is the result of various factors, including, where we live and what we do. Our experiences affect us profoundly. When they happen in two different countries what is the impact? Does this create a sense of loss, or is one’s life richer and more nuanced because of it? Two Worlds explores this blended world with four women who live it.

Experimental 00:13:23 D: Tomas Jonsson P: Tomas Jonsson

THE STORM

Animation 00:03:26 D: Monica Kidd P: Annette Clarke Poet, sound artist and physician Monica Kidd turns her attention to the life forces surrounding babies born during the 2020 pandemic. Through the hand-drawn animated imagery of Duncan Major, we return to the prairie skies of childhood and the storms that always, eventually, passed. Juxtaposed with the tidal ins and outs of childbirth, The Storm reflects on the metabolites of fear, and learning to live like all could be lost.

THE TRAIN STATION

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:02:00 D: Lyana Patrick P: Jessica Hallenbeck In this beautifully animated documentary short, filmmaker Lyana Patrick narrates her family's powerful story of love and survival at Lejac Indian Residential School.

THE TURTLE SYNDROME Animation 00:04:06 D: Samuel Cantin P: Marc Bertrand

What could the illness afflicting Henri Castagnette be? Overwhelmed by anxiety, the young man puts his fate in the hands of the exuberant Dr. Von Strudel. A frenzied and hilarious medical tale, directed by Samuel Cantin.

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Student Productions 00:38:00 D: Benita Vera von Sass P: Benita Vera von Sass, Ben Richardson

THEN SINGS MY SOUL Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:14:59 D: Susan Rodgers P: Rohan Fernando

In a rural town where making a living means only earning minimum wage, Then Sings My Soul follows Stompin’ Tom Connors tribute artist Chad Matthews as he reaches for a guitar to help ease the pain.

THINGS WE FEEL BUT DO NOT SAY Short Subject – Fiction 00:10:01 D: Lauren Grant P: Ashleigh Rains

Genevieve is expecting - but after miscarrying for a second time, she struggles with disappointment, grief, and even her wellintentioned husband.

TILT PINBALL, SEASON 2

Series 00:20:00 D: Marc Greene P: Michael Sanders, John Toone Tilt Pinball explores the inner workings of the game and shares techniques and strategies to help you realize your pinball potential.

Scripted 00:22:50 D: Carolyn Wu P: Fonna Seidu, Kristina Wong

TOP CHEF CANADA 9

Series 00:43:57 D: Brett Morris P: John Brunton, Mark Lysakowski, Eric Abboud Aspiring chefs compete to be Canada's Top Chef.

TORCH NARROWS

Short Subject – Fiction 00:10:52 D: Simon Garez P: Simon Garez, Nathan Douglas On a night fishing excursion on the Saskatchewan River, two friends revisit a wound they cannot heal.

TOXIC NEIGHBOUR

Documentary Science/Nature/Technology 00:23:00 D: Colin Scheyen P: Ann Shin, Hannah Donegan Eugene Bourgeois had no concerns about nuclear energy when he built his farm next door to the world's largest nuclear facility in 1974. Over that time, he and his wife Ann ran a successful wool business and taught generations of people around the world the art of knitting. They really believed they had found paradise. However, over the next few decades, Eugene, his family, and his sheep flock were frequently exposed to hydrogen sulfide, a deadly nerve gas from the nuclear plant, which caused hundreds of his sheep to be blinded, born deformed, or killed.

Documentary Social/Political 00:35:33 D: John Michael Connolly P: John Michael Connolly

WALKING THE GREY

Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:15:36 D: Obi D'meano P: Rachel Kramer An immersive relationship drama about an interracial couple, a budding artist and his girlfriend. After an exhibition they return home and argue about events that unfolded, resulting in their deepest insecurities laid out on the floor.

WALL OF CHEFS, 1B

Series 00:44:52 D: Dave Russell P: John Brunton, Mark Lysakowski, Eric Abboud A group of home chefs compete, hoping to impress a rotating panel of Canadian culinary icons known as "The Wall" and take home a monetary prize.

WAYNE

Student Productions 00:21:26 D: Aaron Rota, Matthew Raponi P: Aaron Rota, Astrid Harrison Wayne is the eccentric alter ego of a young man trying to avoid his relationship ending in a train wreck.

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FILMS WEATHER

Experimental 00:04:47 D: Sandra Staples-jetko P: Sandra Staples-Jetko Weather is anexperimental video poem about the effect of climate change.

WELCOME, ADDICTS

Short Subject – Fiction 00:13:25 D: Emil Cheriyan P: Maryam Bakhtiar

A dysfunctional support group is introduced to their latest addict, Vlad. The rest of the group gets into a heated discussion as to whether or not this addition was a great idea.

Poor Diane, the group leader, tries to keep it all from falling apart while also trying to make Vlad feel welcomed.

WHAT FLOWERS THEY BLOOM Documentary Social/Political 00:26:58 D: C Hudson Hwang P: C Hudson Hwang, Amanda Goreski

An intimate look at Asian Canadian small business owner Andy Sue as he explores the psychological trauma of a first-hand encounter with racism during the pandemic, the film examines the social implications of our digital media reality, where algorithms detect bias and translate fear, blame and outrage into profit.

WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENER Student Productions 00:23:00 D: Guillaume Massi-Hamel P: Clara Bernard

This trip on the edge of surrealism takes us through the diverse sides of the suburbs in order to find where the grass is greener.

An unsettling exploration of a seemingly peaceful place that takes a look beyond the white picket fence.

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WHERE'S MY ALPHABET? EPISODE 8 - LETTER H Short Subject – Non-fiction 00:01:50 D: Matt West P: Hoda Elatawi

Where’s My Alphabet? is a series that takes us on a romp and a scavenger hunt to discover the alphabet in our very own backyards... literally!

WHY AM I, SEASON 3

Children’s/Youth Productions 00:07:30 D: Adrian Dean P: Dawn Bird, Adrian Dean Why? It’s a question every child asks as they explore the fascinating new world around them.

Believe it or not, this curiosity is no different in the animal kingdom! Lily the bison and Otis the Otter love helping curious critters answer their questions and make friends along the way.

WHY WE WRITE: POETS OF VERNON

Documentary Arts/Culture 00:59:59 D: Curtis R Emde, Hannah Calder P: Curtis Emde, Hannah Calder Why We Write unearths a thriving writing community in Vernon, British Columbia – including those who were born in the valley, those who have chosen to move there and the Syilx storytellers who have long been on the land.

WILD PRAIRIE MAN

Documentary POV (Point of View) 00:54:30 D: George Tsougrianis P: Carol Andrews, George Tsougrianis Wild Prairie Man is an intimate look at the life of a man enthralled with the exotic and endangered lands of Grasslands National Park.Located in the Northern Great Plains of Canada, Grasslands has been a 20-year odyssey for wildlife photographer James R. Page.

For James, critters are more interesting than people and in this documentary he shares some of his iconic images and experiences from this endangered ecosystem.

FILMS WORK

YOUR LOVE

As their working lives draw to a close, a farmer, a nurse, a teacher, and a joyful junk dealer face their final days of work with joy, passion, anxiety, and a desire to look back at the choices they’ve made.

Your Love is an original song and a music video written, recorded, produced, performed and directed by Tianyou Tian. Tianyou started to write this song after he lost one of his best childhood friends to COVID-19. It was a dark and hard time in his life. However, instead of burying himself in the deep darkness, Tianyou felt that he needed to embrace the loss and always follow the inner light in his heart.

Documentary POV (Point of View) 1:00:00 D: Steve Suderman P: Steve Suderman

Performing Arts & Entertainment 00:03:09 D: Tianyou Tian P: Tianyou Tian

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Congratulations Golden Sheaf Award nominees

Proud partners

THANK YOU ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CONTACT

CREDITS

Thanks to all of our volunteers and partners: your work and dedication has made this festival a showcase for Canadian cinema for 75 years.

49 Smith Street East Yorkton, SK S3N 0H4 Telephone: 306.782.7077 Email: info@yorktonfilm.com Web: www.yorktonfilm.com

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Here’s to 75 more years to come!

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YORKTON FILM FESTIVAL 49 Smith Street East, Yorkton, Saskatchewan S3N 0H4 Tel: 306.782.7077 Fax: 306.782.1550 Email: info@yorktonfilm.com Web: www.yorktonfilm.com

@yorktonfilm Design by Carmen Wagner| pinkkloud.com Printed by Western Litho Printers

May 26 – 29, 2022