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imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival facts for kids
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world's biggest festival for Indigenous films and media arts. It happens every year in Toronto in October. The festival shows films, videos, radio shows, and new media art made by Indigenous, Aboriginal, and First Peoples artists from all over the world.
Besides showing amazing art, imagineNATIVE also helps create new works through special programs. They also reach out to Indigenous communities across Canada with different events all year. The organization even publishes reports about how Indigenous films are doing in Canada.
Contents
- History of the Festival
- Awards and Winners
- Audience Choice Award
- Best Dramatic Feature
- Best Short Drama
- Best Short Work (Cynthia Lickers-Sage Award, 2017–Present)
- Best Indigenous Language Production
- Kent Monkman Award: Best Experimental/Innovation in Storytelling
- Best Documentary - Short Format
- Best Documentary - Long Format (Alanis Obomsawin Award)
- Best Music Video (2000–2016)
- Best Audio Work (2014–Present)
- Best Digital Media Work (2015–Present)
- Best Interactive Work (2018–Present)
- Emerging Talent (Cynthia Lickers-Sage & Jane Glassco Awards)
- Best Youth (Ellen Monague Award)
- Sun & Moon Jury Prizes
- August Schellenberg Award of Excellence
- Special Projects and Commissions
- Other Programs
- See also
History of the Festival
The festival started in 1998. Cynthia Lickers-Sage created it to show short films and videos by Aboriginal artists. At first, it was part of another organization called Vtape, but later it became its own independent group.
An early programmer for the festival was Ojibway critic and journalist Jesse Wente. He helped choose films until 2010. Then, Jason Ryle became the festival's executive director, followed by Naomi Johnson in 2020. Jason Ryle later won a special award for his important work in Canadian film.
Awards and Winners
The imagineNATIVE festival gives out many awards to celebrate the best Indigenous films and media.
In 2001, the award for Best Film went to Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner. This film was made by Inuit filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk. It was the first full-length movie in an Indigenous language made by an Inuit director.
The 2016 festival focused on Inuit and northern films, especially those from Greenland. Some winners that year included:
- Bonfire by Russian Sakha director Dmitry Davydov for Best Dramatic Feature.
- Searchers (Maliglutit) by Zacharias Kunuk for Best Indigenous Language Production.
- Angry Inuk, directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, which won Best Documentary Feature.
Audience Choice Award
This award is given to the film that audiences love the most!
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up | Tasha Hubbard |
| 2020 | Brother, I Cry | Jessie Anthony |
Best Dramatic Feature
This award celebrates the best full-length dramatic films.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner | Zacharias Kunuk |
| 2003 | The Doe Boy | Randy Redroad |
| 2004 | The Land Has Eyes (Pear ta ma ʻon maf) | Vilsoni Hereniko |
| 2005 | The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros) | Auraeus Solito |
| 2006 | The Journals of Knud Rasmussen | Zacharias Kunuk, Norman Cohn |
| 2007 | Four Sheets to the Wind | Sterlin Harjo |
| 2008 | Before Tomorrow (Le jour avant le lendemain) | Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Madeline Ivalu |
| 2009 | The Wind and the Water (Burwa dii ebo) | Vero Bollow |
| 2010 | Boy | Taika Waititi |
| 2011 | Here I Am | Beck Cole |
| 2012 | Charlie Zone | Hank White |
| 2013 | Satellite Boy | Catriona McKenzie |
| 2014 | A White Day (Yryn kyn) | Mikhail Lukachevskiy |
| 2015 | Mekko | Sterlin Harjo |
| 2016 | Bonfire | Dmitrii Davydov |
| 2017 | Sweet Country | Warwick Thornton |
| 2018 | The Lord Eagle (Toyon Kyyl) | Eduard Novikov |
| 2019 | The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open | Kathleen Hepburn, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers |
| 2020 | The Legend of Baron To’a | Kiel McNaughton |
| 2021 | Bootlegger | Caroline Monnet |
| 2022 | We Are Still Here | Beck Cole, Dena Curtis, Tracey Rigney, Danielle MacLean, Tim Worrall, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa, Richard Curtis, Chantelle Burgoyne |
Best Short Drama
This award is for the best short dramatic films.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Moccasin Flats | Randy Redroad |
| 2004 | Memory | Cedar Sherbert |
| 2005 | There's No 'I' in Hockey | Dennis Jackson |
| 2006 | Hawaikii | Mike Jonathan |
| 2007 | Shooting Geronimo | Kent Monkman |
| 2008 | Sikumi (On the Ice) | Andrew Okpeaha MacLean |
| 2009 | Tungijuq | Zacharias Kunuk |
| 2010 | Redemption | Katie Wolfe |
| 2011 | Salar | Nicholas Greene |
| 2012 | Throat Song | Stacey Aglok MacDonald |
| 2013 | Abalone | Tracey Rigney |
| 2014 | The Underground | Michelle Latimer |
| 2015 | Stoerre Vaerie (Northern Great Mountain) | Amanda Kernell |
| 2016 | UFO | Gregory King |
Best Short Work (Cynthia Lickers-Sage Award, 2017–Present)
This award recognizes excellent short films.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | I Will Always Love You Kingen | Amanda Kernell |
| 2018 | Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes) | Amanda Strong |
| 2019 | Moloka’i Bound | Alika Maikau |
| 2020 | Njuokčamat (The Tongues) | Marja Bål Nango and Ingir Bål Nango |
| 2021 | Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice | Zacharias Kunuk |
Best Indigenous Language Production
This award celebrates films made in Indigenous languages.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Nikamowin (Song) | Kevin Lee Burton |
| 2008 | L'Amendement | Kevin Papatie |
| 2009 | The Wind and the Water (Burwa Dii Ebo) | Vero Bollow Igar Yala Collective |
| 2010 | File Under Miscellaneous | Jeff Barnaby |
| 2011 | Samson & Delilah | Warwick Thornton |
| 2012 | Throat Song | Stacey Aglok MacDonald |
| 2013 | The Script (Baybayin) | Kanakan Balintagos |
| 2014 | This May Be the Last Time | Sterlin Harjo |
| 2015 | Bulunu Milkarri | Sylvia Nulpinditj |
| 2016 | Searchers (Maliglutit) | Zacharias Kunuk Natar Ungalaaq |
| 2017 | Bowhead Whale Hunting With My Ancestors | Carol Kunnuk, Zacharias Kunuk |
| 2018 | Eternity (Wiñaypacha) | Oscar Catacora |
| 2019 | The Book of the Sea | Aleksei Vakhrushev |
| 2020 | Kapaemahu | Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu |
| 2021 | Matuna, la sombra del Guerrero | Rafael Roberto Mojica Gil |
| 2022 | Məca | Ritchie Norman Hemphill |
Kent Monkman Award: Best Experimental/Innovation in Storytelling
This award is for films that are very creative and tell stories in new and unique ways.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Thorn Grass | Robin Hammer |
| 2004 | Wagon Burner | Terrance Houle |
| 2005 | My Big Brother (Su naa) | Helen Haig-Brown |
| 2006 | Women in Canada: A Trilogy | Marnie Parrell |
| 2007 | Nikamowin (Song) | Kevin Lee Burton |
| 2008 | Tsu Heidei Shugaxtutaan 1 | Nicholas Galanin |
| 2009 | Horse | Archer Pechawis |
| 2010 | Burnt | Alejandro Valbuena |
| 2011 | The Gift | Terril Calder |
| 2012 | Her Silent Life | Lindsay McIntyre |
| 2013 | He Who Dreams | Dana Claxton |
| 2014 | Covered | Tara (Beier) Browne |
| 2015 | Tai Whetuki - House of Death | Lisa Reihana |
| 2016 | Dolastallat | Marja Helander |
| 2017 | Three Thousand | Asinnajaq |
| 2018 | Birds in the Earth (Eatnanvuloš Lottit) | Marja Helander |
| 2019 | The Creation of the World (Hant Quij Cöipaxi Hac) | Antonio Coello |
| 2020 | Suodji (Shelter) | Marja Helander |
| 2021 | Puisi | Pilutaq Lundblad |
| 2022 | The Original Shareholder Experience | Petyr Xyst |
Best Documentary - Short Format
This award is for short documentary films.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Wirriya (Small Boy) | Beck Cole |
| 2006 | Coureurs de nuit | Shanouk Newashish |
| 2007 | The Vanishing Trace | Keesic Douglas |
| 2008 | Le rêve d'une mère | Cherilyn Papatie |
| 2009 | How People Got Fire | Christopher Auchter |
| 2010 | Ne le dis pas (Do Not Tell) | Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush |
| 2011 | Spirit of the Bluebird | Jesse Gouchey, Xstine Cook |
| 2012 | Songline to Happiness | Danny Teece-Johnson |
| 2013 | Inuit Cree Reconciliation | Neil Diamond, Zacharias Kunuk |
| 2014 | Treading Water | Janelle Wookey, Jérémie Wookey |
| 2015 | Nowhere Land | Bonnie Ammaq |
| 2016 | Cree Code Talker | Alexandra Lazarowich |
| 2017 | Lelum' | Asia Longman |
| 2018 | Fast Horse | Alexandra Lazarowich |
| 2019 | The Boxers of Brule | Jesse Adler |
| 2020 | êmîcêtôcêt: Many Bloodlines | Theola Ross |
| 2021 | Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again | Courtney Montour |
| 2022 | First Time Home | Noemi Librado-Sanchez, Esmirna Librado, Esmeralda Ventura, Heriberto Ventura |
Best Documentary - Long Format (Alanis Obomsawin Award)
This award is for full-length documentary films.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox Pole | Gil Cardinal |
| 2004 | The Ghost Riders | V. Blackhawk Aamodt |
| 2005 | Mohawk Girls | Tracey Deer |
| 2006 | Waban-aki: People from Where the Sun Rises | Alanis Obomsawin |
| 2007 | Water Flowing Together | Gwendolen Cates |
| 2008 | March Point | Cody Cayou Nick Clark Tracy Rector Annie Silverstein Travis Tom |
| 2009 | C.B.Q.M. | Dennis Allen |
| 2010 | And the River Flows On (Y el rio sigue corriendo) | Carlos Pérez Rojas |
| 2011 | The Tall Man | Tony Krawitz |
| 2012 | My Louisiana Love | Monique Verdi |
| 2013 | Who Will Be A Gurkha? | Kesang Tseten |
| 2014 | My Legacy | Helen Haig-Brown |
| 2015 | The Price of Peace | Kim Webby |
| 2016 | Angry Inuk | Alethea Arnaquq-Baril |
| 2017 | Indictment: The Crimes of Shelly Chartier | Shane Belcourt Lisa Jackson |
| 2018 | Marks of Mana | Lisa Taouma |
| 2019 | Mothers of the Land (Sembradoras de vida) | Alvaro Sarmiento, Diego Sarmiento |
| 2020 | Compañía | Miguel Hilari |
| 2021 | Warrior Spirit | Landon Dyksterhouse |
| 2022 | Šaamšiǩ – Great Grandmothers Hat | Anstein Mikkelsen, Harry Johansen |
Best Music Video (2000–2016)
This award is for the best music videos.
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Music is the Medicine | Randy Redroad |
| 2004 | Slangblossom: Possibly | Daybi Slangblossom |
| 2005 | Tamara Podemski: Meegwetch | Bruce McDonald |
| 2006 | The Dust Dive: A Minor Disturbance | Blackhorse Lowe |
| 2007 | Punassiun | Spencer St-Onge Francis Grégoire Carl Grégoire Jean-Christophe Gabriel James Chescappin Marco Bentz Jonathan Germain Wendy Germain Nicolas Paradis Jean Philippe Robertson |
| 2008 | Warrk Warrk | Tommy Lewis Julia Morris |
| 2009 | Ariana Tikao: Tuia (Stitched) | Louise Potiki Bryant |
| 2010 | Haunted | Shane Ghostkeeper |
| 2011 | I Lost My Shadow | Nanobah Becker |
| 2012 | Sides | Mosha Folger |
| 2013 | Row | Houston R. Cypress |
| 2014 | Haida Raid 3: Save Our Waters | Amanda Strong |
| 2015 | Nitahkôtân (I Have Arrived) | Moe Clark |
| 2016 | We Are Still Here | Sofia Jannok |
Best Audio Work (2014–Present)
This award recognizes great audio projects.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Soul of Darwin: The Centenary of the Kahlin Compound | Lorena Allam |
| 2015 | Reach For the Stars | Crystal Favel |
| 2016 | The Story She Carries | Angela Sterritt |
| 2017 | Elcrys | Michael Wilson |
| 2018 | Trans Mountain Pipeline, B.C. Wolf Cull and Dog Sled Massacre | Crystal Favel |
Best Digital Media Work (2015–Present)
This award is for creative digital media projects.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sky Pets | Shandiin Woodward |
| 2016 | Ch’aak’ S’aagi (Eagle Bone) | Tracy Rector |
| 2017 | Thunderbird Strike | Elizabeth LaPensée |
| 2018 | Aeasi | Amie Batalibasi |
Best Interactive Work (2018–Present)
This award is for interactive projects, like games or virtual reality.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Biidaaban: First Light | Lisa Jackson |
Emerging Talent (Cynthia Lickers-Sage & Jane Glassco Awards)
These awards celebrate new and rising Indigenous artists.
| Year | Award | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Geoffery Parenteau | |
| 2004 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Swallow | Ariel Lightningchild |
| 2005 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Meskanahk (My Path) | Kevin Lee Burton |
| 2006 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Eggs Instead | Lena Recollet |
| 2007 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Fighter | Erica Lepage |
| 2008 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Mémere Métisse | Janelle Wookey |
| 2009 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Nia's Melancholy | S.F. Tusa |
| 2010 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Redemption | Katie Wolfe |
| 2011 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Amaqqut Nunnat (The Country of Wolves) | Neil Christopher |
| 2012 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Scar | Tiffany Parker |
| 2013 | Cynthia Lickers-Sage | El Último Consejo (The Last Council) | Itandehui Jansen |
| 2014 | Jane Glassco | Sumé - Mumisitsinerup Nipaa (Sume - The Sound of a revolution) | Inuk Silis Høegh |
| Cynthia Lickers-Sage | |||
| 2015 | Jane Glassco | The Routes | James McDougall |
| Cynthia Lickers-Sage | Le Dep | Sonia Boileau | |
| 2016 | Jane Glassco | Ohero:kon – Under the Husk | Katsitsionni Fox |
| 2017 | Jane Glassco | Morit Elena Morit | Inga-Wiktoria Påve Anders Sunna |
| 2018 | Jane Glassco | ANORI (Wind) | Pipaluk Kreutzmann Jorgensen |
Best Youth (Ellen Monague Award)
This award is specifically for young filmmakers and artists.
| Year | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Kurt-E: In My Blood | Kurt Filiga |
| 2011 | The Dimming | Ippiksaut Friesen |
| 2012 | Le Joie de vivre | Jérémy Vassiliou |
| 2013 | Before She Came, After He Left (Før Hun Kom, Etter Han Dro) | Marja Bål Nango |
| 2014 | #nightslikethese | Amber Midthunder, Shay Eyre, Hannah Macpherson |
| 2015 | Lo que quiero decirte | Raquiel Palomino Ochoa |
| 2016 | Smoke That Travels | Kayla Briët |
| 2017 | RAE | Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs |
| 2018 | A World of Our Own | Morningstar Derosier |
| 2019 | The Cursed Harp | Peter Hiki |
Sun & Moon Jury Prizes
These are special awards chosen by the festival's jury.
| Year | Jury | Film | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Sun | Sunday Fun Day | Dianna Fuemana |
| Moon | Birth of a Family | Tasha Hubbard | |
| 2018 | Sun | Edge of the Knife (Sgaawaay K'uuna) | Gwaai Edenshaw, Helen Haig-Brown |
| Moon | My Friend Michael | Ian Leaupepe, Samson Rambo | |
| 2019 | Sun | nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up | Tasha Hubbard |
| Moon | Ribadit | Elle Sofe Sara | |
| 2020 | Sun | Mooz Miikan | Evelyn Pakinewatik |
| Moon | Pilluarneq Ersigiunnaarpara | Nivi Pedersen | |
| 2021 | Sun | Hiama | Matasila Freshwater |
| Moon | Run Woman Run | Zoe Leigh Hopkins | |
| 2022 | Sun | Night | Ahmad Saleh |
| Moon | Kikino Kids | Barry Bilinsky |
August Schellenberg Award of Excellence
This award is named after the famous actor August Schellenberg. It celebrates Indigenous actors who have had a long and important career. It was first given out in 2015.
- 2015 - Tantoo Cardinal
- 2016 - Tom Jackson
- 2017 - Tina Keeper
- 2018 - Michael Greyeyes
- 2019 - Michelle Thrush
- 2020 - Lorne Cardinal
- 2021 - Shirley Cheechoo
- 2022 - Gary Farmer
Special Projects and Commissions
imagineNATIVE also helps create new digital and film projects through special partnerships.
NFB/imagineNATIVE Interactive Partnership
This partnership started in 2012. It helps Indigenous artists create new digital and interactive works. Some projects made through this program include De Nort (2012), Similkameen Crossroads (2013), Ice Fishing (2014), and Red Card (2016). Ice Fishing was even shown at a big art event called the Venice Biennale in 2015.
Stolen Sisters Digital Initiative
The Stolen Sisters Digital Initiative (SSDI) was a project in 2012. It asked Indigenous filmmakers to create four short digital works. These films were made to raise awareness about important issues affecting Indigenous communities, like the need to find answers for missing Indigenous women across Canada.
The four films were:
- Like it Was Yesterday by Jesse Gouchey and Xstine Cook.
- Snare by Anishinaabe artist Lisa Jackson.
- When it Rains by Métis/Chippewa Cree filmmaker Cara Mumford.
- Your Courage Will Not Go Unnoticed by Gitxsan/Lax Gibu artist and journalist Angela Sterritt.
This was the first time the festival showed films in many places at once. The short videos were shown in Toronto's subway, in shopping centers across Canada, at the Calgary International Airport, and at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. This happened before and during the 2012 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.
Zwei Indianer Aus Winnipeg
In 2009, the festival asked Saulteaux filmmaker Darryl Nepinak to make a short film called Zwei Indianer Aus Winnipeg. This film was later shown at the Berlinale in 2009.
Embargo Collective
In 2008, imagineNATIVE started the Embargo Collective. This was a group of seven Indigenous artists from different countries. They worked together to create seven new films. Members included Helen Haig-Brown, Heiltsuk/Mohawk filmmaker and actress Zoe Leigh Hopkins, and Anishnaabe filmmaker Lisa Jackson.
These films were shown at the Berlinale in 2010. After that, Helen Haig-Brown's film The Cave was recognized as a top-ten film at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was also shown at the Sundance Festival in 2011. Lisa Jackson's film Savage won a Genie Award in 2011 for best live action short drama.
In 2014, Embargo Collective II focused on women filmmakers. It was organized by Danis Goulet. This group included Zoe Hopkins, Blackfoot/Sami filmmaker Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, and Caroline Monnet. One of the films made that year was Roberta.
Other Programs
imagineNATIVE has other programs to share Indigenous films and help new artists.
imagineNATIVE Film + Video Tour
The imagineNATIVE Film + Video Tour brings Indigenous films and videos to communities across Canada, including remote areas. Besides showing popular films, the Tour encourages young people to make their own films. They offer workshops where youth learn to create and edit short videos using simple tools like cellphones and webcams. These videos are then shown on imagineNATIVE's website, and the winner gets to go to the main festival in Toronto!
indigiFLIX Community Screening Series
The indigiFLIX Community Screening Series shows films from past imagineNATIVE Festivals. These screenings happen in cultural and community centers. This helps more First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and non-Native people see these important films. imagineNATIVE makes sure to pay artists fairly for their work.
Canadian Indigenous Film Producer Mini-Lab
The Canadian Indigenous Film Producer Mini-Lab helps new Indigenous producers learn important skills. Some people who have been part of this program include Cara Mumford, Michelle Latimer, and Jeremy Torrie.
See also
- American Indian Film Festival
- List of films featuring colonialism