imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival came to a close Sunday night; making it the most successful year the Festival has seen in its 12 year history.

Here I am

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE presented by Bell Media ($1,500 cash award) HERE I AM directed by Beck Cole

BEST CANADIAN SHORT DRAMA presented by Isuma TV ($1,000 cash award) AMAQQUT NUNAAT (The Country of Wolves) directed by Neil Christopher, produced by Louise Flaherty 

BEST SHORT DRAMA presented by TVO ($1,000 cash award) SALAR directed by Nicholas Greene

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY presented by CBC ($1,000 cash award) SPIRIT OF THE BLUEBIRD directed by Jesse Gouchey, co-director Xstine Cook

The Tall Man

THE ALANIS OBOMSAWIN BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD presented by Alanis Obomsawin on behalf of the National Film Board ($1,500 cash award) THE TALL MAN directed by Tony Krawitz

BEST EXPERIMENTAL presented by Images Festival ($1,000 cash award) THE GIFT directed by Terril Calder

BEST RADIO presented by Astral ($1,000 cash award) BRING YOUR DRUM produced and hosted by Janet Rogers

BEST NEW MEDIA presented by VTape ($1,000 cash award) GOD’S LAKE NARROWS co-created and written by Kevin Lee Burton

THE CYNTHIA-LICKERS SAGE AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT presented by Cynthia-Lickers Sage on behalf of VTape ($1,000 cash award) AMAQQUT NUNAAT (The Country of Wolves) directed by Neil Christopher, produced by Louise Flaherty

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE PRODUCTION AWARD presented by the Canada Media Fun ($1,000 cash award) SAMSON & DELILAH directed by Warwick Thornton

I lost my shadow

BEST MUSIC VIDEO presented by Slaight Music ($1,000 cash award) I LOST MY SHADOW directed by Nanobah Becker

SHAW MEDIA MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2011 Mentee Introduction by Karen King, Production Executive (mentor) Awarded to Zoe Leigh Hopkins

DRAMA PITCH PRIZE presented by Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN) Supported by William F. White and Technicolor ($5,000 development deal with APTN; $2,000 voucher for services at William F. White; and $500 in services from Technicolor Awarded to Jeff Barnhart for his pitch The Flying Man

DOCUMENTARY PITCH PRIZE presented by CBC Network Supported by William F. White and Technicolor ($500 cash prive from CBC; $2,000 voucher for services at William F. White; and $500 in services from Technicolor Awarded to Angie Pepper O’bomsawin for her pitch The Wrong Kind of Indian 

THE ELLEN MONAGUE AWARD FOR BEST YOUTH WORK presented by RBC ($1,000 cash award) THE DIMMING directed by Ippiksaut Friesen.

This year’s festival showcased great films, great public events and fostered great discussions. Personal highlights from the festival include Here I am (Dir. Beck Cole); Spirit of the Bluebird (Jessy Gouchey & Xtine Cook); Samson & Delilah (Dir. Warwick Thornton) and Saving Grace (Dir. Merata Mita).