Catherine Bainbridge facts for kids
Catherine Bainbridge is a talented Canadian director, writer, and producer. She is known for creating films and TV shows that often focus on the stories and experiences of Indigenous people in Canada. In 2001, she co-founded a film and TV company called Rezolution Pictures with Ernest Webb. This company, based in Montreal, specializes in making productions about Canadian Indigenous cultures.
Bainbridge has worked on many important projects. She co-directed Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World with Alfonso Maiorana. This film highlights the big impact Indigenous artists had on American music history.
She also teamed up with Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond to co-direct two award-winning documentaries. The first was Reel Injun in 2009, which explored how Native Americans have been shown in movies. The second, Red Fever, released in 2024, looks at how Western pop culture sometimes uses stereotypical images of Indigenous people.
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Her Work in Film and Television
Catherine Bainbridge has been involved in many different film and television projects. She often works as a producer, director, or writer. Her work helps to share important stories and perspectives, especially those from Indigenous communities.
Notable Documentaries
Catherine Bainbridge has directed and produced several documentaries that have received awards and recognition. These films often explore important social and cultural topics.
Reel Injun (2009)
One of her most famous documentaries is Reel Injun. She co-directed this film with Neil Diamond. It explores how Hollywood movies have shown Native Americans over the years. The film looks at how these portrayals changed and what impact they had. Reel Injun won a Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Documentary Program in 2009.
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (2017)
Another significant film is Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World, which Catherine Bainbridge co-directed. This documentary celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of Indigenous musicians to popular music. It shows how artists like Link Wray and Jimi Hendrix, who had Indigenous roots, influenced rock and roll and other music genres. The film won several awards, including the Audience Award at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017.
Red Fever (2024)
More recently, in 2024, Bainbridge again partnered with Neil Diamond to co-direct Red Fever. This documentary examines how Western culture has been fascinated by and sometimes misused Indigenous imagery and ideas in pop culture. It encourages viewers to think about cultural appropriation and respect.
Television Series
Besides documentaries, Catherine Bainbridge has also worked on television series.
Mohawk Girls (2010-2017)
She was a director and producer for the TV series Mohawk Girls. This comedy series followed the lives of four young Mohawk women living in a community. The show was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series.
Other Projects
Catherine Bainbridge has produced and written for many other films and TV shows. These include documentaries like One More River: The Deal That Split the Cree (2004) and The Oka Legacy (2015). She also worked on TV series such as Moose TV (2007) and Working It Out Together (2011, 2014). Her work consistently aims to bring important stories to audiences.