The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, the world’s largest Indigenous media arts festival, celebrates its 12th year October 19-23. imagineNATIVE is an international festival that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples at the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. Each October, the Festival presents a selection of the most compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe.

The Festival officially kicks off at 12pm on Wednesday, October 19 with its Welcome Gathering presented by the Thunderbird Centre at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. FREE and open to the public, the reception features traditional Indigenous performances, including Tribal Vision, a family dance troupe from Six Nations, a welcoming song from Rosary Spence, craft vendors, food, and a welcome address from imagineNATIVE.

Andrew Okpeach MacLean

imagineNATIVE’s Opening Night screening features the Canadian Premiere of Andrew Okpeaha MacLean’s internationally-celebrated dramatic feature film On The Ice (USA) on Wednesday, October 19 at the Festival’s new screening venue, TIFF Bell Lightbox (TBLB). Winner of the Berlin International Film Festival’s Best First Feature Award, On the Ice is set on the snow-covered Alaskan tundra where two teenaged friends attempt to conceal a dark secret in this engrossing and suspenseful film.

The legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie headlines imagineNATIVE’s popular music night The Beat on October 22 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. CBC then presents In Discussion with Buffy Sainte-Marie, a FREE panel held at 7pm October 21 at the TBLB.

This year imagineNATIVE shines its annual International Spotlight on the Khoi-San, the Indigenous People of South Africa, which features three programs illustrating the diversity and creativity of contemporary Indigenous life in South Africa, as well as a unique video collaboration project between Canadian and South African Indigenous youth, premiering at The Beat.

Closing the Festival is the World Premiere of Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes (Canada) on October 23 at the TBLB. Directed by Dennis Jackson, this full-length animated family film is based on the Gemini Award-winning animated TV series and features the voice talents of Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) and the late Gordon Tootoosis (Blackstone, Legends of the Fall), in whose memory the Closing Night Gala is dedicated.

Tickets are available online, by phone and in person.
Online: www.imagineNATIVE.org
Phone: 416 599 TIFF (8433) (10am-10pm, daily)
In-Person: TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King St. W (10am-10pm, daily)

PASSES
All-Access $110/$65 (early-bird $88)
Industry All-Access $90 (early-bird $72)
Screening $40/$24 (early-bird $32)
Weekend $65/$40 (early-bird $52)

TICKETS
Regular Screenings $7
Students/Seniors/Underemployed before 6pm
Opening Night Screening and Party $12/$10
Opening Night Party only $8
Closing Night Screening and Awards Show $12/$10
The Beat featuring Buffy Sainte-Marie $20/$15

For more information and the full Festival listings, visit: www.imaginenative.org