Jeff Barnabyhe/him

Jeff was born and raised on the Mi’gmaq reserve of Listuguj, Quebec. His work provides a bare knuckled view of post-colonial Mi’gmaq life, defying stereotypical treatments of First Nation narratives by using horror and sci-fi tropes to explore themes of violence, gender, race, and Indigenous futurism.

His short films include From Cherry English, The Colony, File Under Miscellaneous, and Etlinisigu'niet (Bleed Down). His debut feature film, Rhymes for Young Ghouls was a revenge thriller set against the backdrop of the intergenerational trauma caused by Canada's residential school system and associated genocidal policies. Blood Quantum, his sophomore feature and a blood splattered zombie film whose Indigenous heroes were immune to the zombie plague, won six of its 10 Canadian Screen Award nominations. A pioneer of contemporary Indigenous cinema, Jeff Barnaby’s  fearless storytelling and vision continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers.