The 24th imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival kicks off in Toronto today! This year’s festival includes an Art Crawl, industry programming, parties, film screenings including sensory friendly ones accessible to all.
Here I list my picks of the film screenings, including feature and short films. Be sure to check one or all of them in person or virtually.
Opening Night Screening: Fancy Dance
Tuesday, October 17 | 7:00 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Erica Tremblay
Since her sister’s disappearance, Jax (Lily Gladstone) has cared for her niece Roki (Isabel Deroy-Olson) by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. At the risk of losing custody to Jax’s father, the pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. What begins as a search gradually turns into a far deeper investigation into the complexities and contradictions of Indigenous women moving through a colonized world and at the mercy of a failed justice system.
Tautuktavuk (What We See)
Wednesday, October 18 | 9:15 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Carol Kunnuk, Lucy Tulugarvuk
In this film, the lines between narrative and non-fiction connect to bring us the story of Uyarak (Lucy Tulugarjuk) and her eldest sister Saqpinak (Carol Kunnuk). The sisters begin a difficult healing journey that reminds them of the importance of community, culture, and family.
I had the privilege of screening this film at TIFF this year. I share my thought on the film with you here.
Arctic Indigenous Witness Short Film Series
Wednesday, October 18 | 9:15 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Dennis M., Svetlana Romanova, Isaac Partridge, Hansa Pieski, Kawahine Danner, Sadetlo Scott
The short films that make up the Witness series are produced by Indigenous filmmakers in their own home communities. They focus on climate change and how it is affecting their everyday lives and traditional livelihoods in the Arctic.
Vaychiletik
Thursday, October 19 | 5:30 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Juan Javier Pérez
Through his dreams, José received a gift given by the gods. A gift that brings consequences. Now that he is at a mature age in life, José would like to rest, but he is not allowed. This documentary explores this fierce yet beautiful reality, forged from the dreams of the Mayan people of Mexico.
Odisea Amazónica (Veins of the Amazon)
Thursday, October 19 | 9:30 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Alvaro Sarmiento, Diego Sarmiento, Terje Toomistu, Sky Hopinka
The towns and villages along the Peruvian section of the Amazon can’t be reached by road. If you can’t afford to take the plane, you travel by cargo boat on the river for days. This documentary is an observation, of sorts, by the directors and the anthropologist Terje Toomistu and focuses. entirely on the occurrences on the boat: loading and unloading sugar, chickens, onions, lemonade and building material, the crew, the passengers travelling hammock to hammock on deck, and the people waiting on the banks of the river. The camera never glorifies either the landscape or the work; instead it is always in the midst of things, sometimes even in the way.
Inky Pinky Ponky
Saturday, October 21 | 6:30 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Damon Fepuleai, Ramon TeWake
Lisa (Amanaki Faletau-Prescott), a young fakaleiti (3rd Spirit), has ambitions beyond her seemingly small world and dreams of being her high school’s Queen of the Ball. It won’t be an easy road, but as she deals with her mother’s rejection of her identity and the open bigotry she faces at her high school, she never loses sight of who she is or what she wants.
Short Film Program 11: Embracing Loss
Sunday, October 22 | 4:30 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Chief Lady Bird, Terril Calder, Alex Nystrom, Michelle Derosier, Megan Kyak-Monteith, Yaser Talebi, Keely Meechan
A large part of the human experience is learning how to deal with the multitude of ways we can experience and process grief. Whether the grief is deep and spiritual, steeped in love, cultural, physical, sudden or anticipated, learning to embrace loss is a life skill.
Mamá (Mom)
Sunday, October 22 | 5:00 PM | TIFF Bell Lightbox
Directed by Xun Sero
In this documentary, Mexican Tzotzil director Xun Sero confronts his past with honesty, understanding and forgiveness. As a Mexican Tzotzil, Xun grew up between the sacredness of both the Guadalupe Virgin and Mother Earth.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Xun Sero last year. For my Spanish-speaking friends, les comparto nuestra entrevista.
imagineNATIVE continues in-person until October 22, 2023 (Toronto) and turns virtual from October 23-29, 2023. For all event listings, schedules and tickets, please visit imaginenative.org.
