Zoe Leigh Hopkins facts for kids
Zoe Leigh Hopkins is a talented Canadian writer and film director. She is from the Heiltsuk and Mohawk nations. Zoe started her career as an actor in 1991 and then became a filmmaker.
About Zoe Leigh Hopkins
Zoe Leigh Hopkins was born in a Heiltsuk fishing village in British Columbia. Her father is the journalist Brian Maracle. Zoe speaks the Mohawk language very well.
She began working in movies when she was 15 years old. Her first role was as an actor in the film Black Robe (1991). Later, she studied film at Ryerson University. She earned her degree in film in 1997.
After college, Zoe became an independent filmmaker. This means she makes movies on her own, outside of big studios. Her first short film was Prayer for a Good Day (2004). It was shown for the first time at the famous Sundance Film Festival.
Zoe is also part of a special group called the Embargo Collective. This group brings together Indigenous filmmakers from all over the world. They work together to create new and unique movies. The ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival chose her to join this group.
Most of Zoe's films are short films. These are movies that are usually less than 40 minutes long. However, she is now making longer movies called feature films. Her movie Running Home is currently being made. It received money from Telefilm Canada and the ImagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival.
The Embargo Collective
The Embargo Collective is a special program for Indigenous filmmakers. It has happened two times because it was very successful. The main goal of this program is to give more chances for Indigenous people to make films. It also helps them work together in the movie industry.
The program pairs up filmmakers who are already well-known with new, rising filmmakers. Together, they create interesting short films. This helps new filmmakers learn and grow. It also helps everyone share their unique stories.
Filmography
| Production | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Black Robe | Actor | 1991 |
| Prayer for a Good Day | Director, writer, producer | 2004 |
| One-Eyed Dogs Are Free | Director, writer, producer | 2006 |
| Tsi tkahéhtayen (The Garden) | Director, writer, producer | 2009 |
| Our First Voices | Director, writer | 2010 |
| Button Blanket | Director, writer | 2010 |
| Mohawk Midnight Runners | Director, writer, producer | 2013 |
| The Embargo Project | Director | 2015 |
| Kayak to Klemtu | Director, writer | 2018 |
| Run Woman Run | Director, writer | 2021 |
| Little Bird | Director | 2023 |
| Don't Even | Director | 2024 |
Awards and Recognition
Zoe Leigh Hopkins has won many awards for her films. Her short film Tsi tkahétayen (The Garden) won the NSI Online Festival's A&e Short Filmmaker's Award.
She also won a contest called #TIFFStarWars. For this, she made a short film called "Star Wars - Trash Compactor Scene." It was a fun remake of a scene from the original movie in the Mohawk language.
Her short film Mohawk Midnight Runners also received many honors. It won awards at several festivals, including Best Canadian Short Drama at imagineNATIVE in 2013.
In 2017, Zoe won the Audience Choice award at imagineNATIVE for her film Kayak to Klemtu. This award is given to the film that audiences liked the most.
Her 2021 film, Run Woman Run, also won big. It received the Moon Jury Award at imagineNATIVE. It also won Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Performance for its lead actress Dakota Ray Hebert at the 2022 Vancouver International Women in Film Festival.
