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Darlene Naponseshe/her
AnishnawbekCanada
Darlene Naponse is an Anishinaabe artist from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in northern Ontario.
She is a writer, film director, and video artist. Her film work has been viewed nationally and internationally. She owns Baswewe Films Inc, located on the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek reserve.
Darlene has created four feature films and various short films. Her films have been screened at the Sundance Film Festival, TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, and some have also been televised.
Darlene has a Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and a 2001 BA (Hons) from Laurentian University. Darlene was a 2017 Writers’ Trust McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize Finalist for She Is Water published in The Malahat Review.
Darlene’s work is placed within community and the Natural World. As a storyteller, Darlene seeks out imaginative images, giving truth through word, film, and art.
Official Selection
Feature Films
Festival Year2022
Stellar
Director, Producer, Writer
Opening Night Screening.
2018
Falls Around Her
Director, Producer, Writer
Opening Night Screening.
2011
Every Emotion Costs
Director
Short Films
Festival Year2007
The Post
Director
Part of Weaving Worlds Program.
2006
hiberNATION
Director
Part of This Is Not Your Reality: Experimental Shorts Program.
2003
Waiting for the Ice to Melt
Director
Part of Experimental Short Film Program.
2000
Abandoned Houses on the Reservation
Director
1999
Aboriginal Radio Waves Part 1
Co-Director
First video of a two part series co-created with Joe Beardy.
1999
It Never Happened...
Director
Year-Round Programming
2025
Artist Spotlight Directory Retrospective Streaming | Cradle Song
Director
A month-long free online streaming presentation, celebrating the launch of the Artist Spotlight Directory.
2025
Spotlight on imagineNATIVE | Falls Around Her
Director, Producer, Writer
Collaborative screening with Hot Docs leading up to imagineNATIVE’s 25th anniversary Festival.
2021
Tour Program | Tell Me a Story: Multi-Generational Film Program | Cyclic Roots
Director
One of 19 films screened as part of the 2021 Guest Curated Tour Program, curated by Jenny Western.
Events
2020
Pilluarneq Ersigiunnaarpara Q & A
Moderator
Livestream event.
2020
The Legend of Baron To’a Q & A
Moderator
Livestream event.
2020
Directors’ Series: Directing Actors/Working with Directors
Panellist
Livestream event.
2020
Short Film Program: WHITE Q & A
Moderator
Livestream event.
2020
Monkey Beach Q & A
Moderator
Livestream event.
2003
In Production: Producing for Film & Television
Panelist
2003
Critical Dialogue
Panelist
imagineNative Team
2018 - Present
Board of Directors
Board Member
2020
Programming Selection Committee
Programmer
Miscellaneous
2000
imagineNATIVE Essays... | Supersonic Word Waves and Electronic Vibrations
Writer
