Benjamin Ross Hayden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin Ross Hayden
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| Born | April 29, 1989 |
| Occupation | Filmmaker, actor |
| Years active | 2010–present |
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Notable work
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The Northlander |
Benjamin Ross Hayden (born April 29, 1989) is a talented Canadian filmmaker and actor. He is part of the Métis community. Benjamin is known for directing, writing, and producing films.
His first major film, The Northlander, was a big success. It was the first movie funded by Telefilm Canada's micro-budget program to be shown at the Perspective Canada program during the Cannes Film Festival. The film also premiered at the 40th Montreal World Film Festival in 2016. It was released in movie theaters across Canada in the fall of 2016. Benjamin was the youngest film director in Canada to get funding from the Telefilm micro-budget program. He is also the only director from that program to have his film shown in Landmark Cinemas.
Early Life and Education
Benjamin Ross Hayden grew up in Calgary, Alberta. He started making films when he was a teenager and in his early twenties. He studied at the University of Calgary and SAIT Polytechnic.
In 2015, after earning his Bachelor of Film Studies Degree and Diploma, he started his own company called Manifold Pictures. Benjamin also worked with the Adam Beach Film Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2016, he was the chairman of the Film & Video Advisory at SAIT Polytechnic.
Filmmaking Career
Benjamin Ross Hayden is the founder of Manifold Pictures. Through his company, he creates films and videos. His works have won awards and been shown at big international film festivals. These include the 40th Montreal World Film Festival, Sitges Film Festival of Catalonia, and the imagineNATIVE International Film Festival.
Benjamin's recent films often tell stories about "indigenous futurism." These stories explore Métis history and how humans affect our planet. He also uses Alberta as a setting for futuristic tales, turning Canadian history into a kind of mythology. Benjamin Ross Hayden won the Best Screenwriter award at the 40th Alberta Film & Television Awards.
After his first feature film, The Northlander, received funding from Telefilm Canada, he signed deals with Raven Banner Releasing for distribution and Spotlight Pictures for international sales. Benjamin's science fiction film Agophobia (2013) is kept in the national archives of National Cinematheque of Mexico City.
Acting Roles
Benjamin Ross Hayden also acts in films. He played Peter Bowden, a main supporting role, in the film Kept. This movie was made by Dalmatian Coast Productions and premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival in 2012.
Filmography
- Pick (2010)
- Trobia (2012)
- Agophobia (2013)
- The Edict (2014)
- The Northlander (2015)
- Parallel Minds (2020)
