2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
#imagineNATIVE
October 17-22, 2023 – Toronto | October 23-29, 2023 – Online
Thank you for joining us at the 2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival!
The 24th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival took place in Toronto from October 17-22, 2023, before moving to our online streaming and iNdigital Space platforms from October 23-29, 2023. The Festival celebrates Indigenous storytelling in film + video, audio, and digital + interactive art through screenings, exhibitions, special events, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on all news of our 25th Festival.
Presenting Partner
Key Dates
Enjoy Indigenous Cinema at an unbeatable price and support our Festival! Tickets, packages, and passes can be purchased via our Box Office.
August 15 – September 14
Early Bird Ticket Packages on sale
September 15
Regular-priced Ticket Packages on sale
Press Launch announcement of full Festival programming
September 25
Advance ticket booking access and screening selection for Early Bird buyers
October 2
Single Tickets, Special Event Tickets, and Online Passes on sale to the general public
October 17-22
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (Toronto)
Tickets on sale in-person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and online through imagineNATIVE’s website
October 23-29
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (online)
Curatorial Vision
We warmly welcome Indigenous artists and community members back to the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival – coming out of the previous few years, we are reminded of how important connection is for creative people and Indigenous communities. When envisioning this year’s Festival, we wanted to incorporate the theme of “homecoming” and to ensure that the feelings of welcoming, warmth, and kindness are interwoven into every space we inhabit for this week in Tkaron:to. As we were doing this work, we found that a constant mantra for all of us involved in the planning of this year was, “Let’s make our spaces feel like visiting grandma/totah/kookum.”
The Matriarch of the family is the glue that holds everyone together. As we grow through life, spreading our wings and carving out our place in the world, we know we can always come back to grandma’s house, and we always have a home.
For so many Indigenous creatives, imagineNATIVE is that second home. Like welcoming new babies into a family, imagineNATIVE continues to grow, with new generations of filmmakers to embrace. Just as many of us remember visiting our own grandmothers, sitting at their tables, and listening to their stories, we hope to create an inviting and memorable space for inspiring storytelling at our Festival.
The individual journeys of creative people require that we move through the world, seeking inspiration to help solidify our vision and stories into tangible works that can be enjoyed on screen. We acknowledge the artists who return to us each year to present their works at imagineNATIVE. We celebrate the efforts that have culminated in this point of your journey, and we welcome you home.
Lindsay Monture
Festival Director
Naomi Johnson
Executive Director
Ticket Information
Tickets will be available for purchase starting October 2, 2023 through our website and online ticketing platform, Elevent.
During the in-person festival, you can also purchase tickets at our in-person imagineNATIVE Box Office located at the TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 17 to October 22, 2023. The Box Office will be open one hour before the first screening of the day.
RUSH TICKETS: There are NO RUSH TICKETS available. Tickets will go off sale 30 minutes after the start of a screening. Tickets will be available at the in person box office depending on availability.
HST REBATE: Status card holders are eligible to claim a rebate of the 8% Ontario portion of HST paid on qualifying goods and services. Please contact boxoffice@imagineNATIVE.org if you wish to use your Status card to purchase packages or tickets online. You can also visit the imagineNATIVE Box Office during our in-person hours starting October 17 and present your Status card when purchasing tickets.
October 17-22, 2023 – Toronto | October 23-29, 2023 – Online
Join Us | October 17-29, 2023
At the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, we look forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate Indigenous-made screen content!
The 24th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival will take place October 17-22, 2023 (Toronto) and October 23-29, 2023 (online).
As the largest presenter of Indigenous screen content, we invite you to participate in Artistic and Industry programs over the Festival, showcasing Film + Video, Digital + Interactive, and Audio works created by Indigenous artists (including directors, producers, writers, and designers) at all levels of experience.
imagineNATIVE continues to be accessible globally by providing both an in-person and digital experience with events and activities taking place in Toronto as well as a one-week online presentation of officially selected works*. Artistic programming consists of works selected through the general call for submissions, guest-curated programs, partnership exhibitions, and other curated initiatives.
As an Indigenous-led and Indigenous artist-centered organization, we support the artistic visions and perspectives of Indigenous artists working in film and media arts in an inclusive and professional manner. As identified in our mission statement, we are committed to a greater understanding by audiences of Indigenous peoples, cultures, and artistic expressions. Works are therefore not required to have overt Indigenous content or themes, and can be productions made at all budget levels. We strive to represent a variety of ideas, themes, and genres, in addition to a diversity of Indigenous languages, Nations, and cultures.
Keep an eye out for more information to come when we announce our full programming on September 15, 2023!
*Online geo-blocking and restrictions may apply to select areas.
Official Selection
Programming Committees are comprised of filmmakers, artists, and curators. They work to provide additional perspectives on individual titles, overarching themes, and the programming structure. imagineNATIVE’s Festival Curatorial Advisor, Rhéanne Chartrand, is joined by Cole Forrest, Leo Koziol, and Paul Seesequasis to oversee the selection of the films, with Pōhaikealoha Panoke joining us for the selection of Digital + Interactive and Audio works.
Awards
The imagineNATIVE Awards Presentation is a celebration of excellence in Indigenous film and media arts.
We would like to thank Telefilm Canada, the Presenting Partner of the Awards, for all of their support.
August Schellenberg Award of Excellence
The August Schellenberg Award of Excellence was launched in partnership with Joan Karasevich Schellenberg to honour her late husband, the legendary actor August (Augie) Schellenberg, and the spirit of his work. This award is presented to gifted Indigenous actors from across Turtle Island based on the longevity and impact of their careers, as well as their professionalism and involvement in mentorship and community work.
This award is supported by ACTRA Toronto and individual donations.
Submissions
Submissions are now closed for the 2022 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, which takes place October 17-29, 2023. Submissions will reopen in spring 2023. For more information, please contact submissions@imagineNATIVE.org.
Light will win.
Turn your face to the Sun, and let the Shadows fall behind you.
Programming Committee
Curatorial Visioning for Festival 2022
The upcoming 23rd annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival will take place in-person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 18th-23rd, and move to our online streaming and iNdigital platforms from October 23rd – 30th, 2022.
The imagineNATIVE Programming Team has already engaged in initial curatorial discussions around this year’s Festival aesthetic/theme: the auroras. Building out from the importance of this “cinematic atmospheric phenomenon” to Indigenous cultures in both the Northern (aurora borealis) and the Southern (aurora australis) Hemispheres, we want to explore how we relate to the celestial world, and how our relationship to the sky is intertwined with our kinships here on earth. Of particular focus is the precious relationship between our Elders and little ones (children and youth).
We invite you, the Programming Committee, to reflect on your relationship to Sky World, to consider Indigenous cosmologies, and to think about the knowledge(s) you’ve inherited—whether that knowledge was passed down to you (through creation stories and teachings you’ve received), or learned through study—about our place in the universe.
Think: How do we create a festival curatorial vision that tells a story about the interconnectedness of the auroras, the birth/death/rebirth of star beings, the kinships we have to/with each other and our home (Earth), and the roles and responsibilities we have to care for all life on this “pale blue dot.”
As a Committee, we’ll further develop the overarching themes and film programs once we’re in our Lock Days, but we offer these considerations as you begin to review films.
The imagineNATIVE Programming Team has curated a series of recommendations to help you navigate what to watch at this year’s Festival. With our range of programming spanning a variety of genres, there really is something for everyone!
Our Brightest Stars
Committee Favourites
| Title | Director | Type | Mins | Country | Nation | Language | Emerging | Program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa (We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors) | Princess Daazhraii Johnson | Doc Short | 6 | US | Neet’saii Gwich’in | English | YES | Opening Night Double Bill |
| Arctic Song | Germaine Arnattaujuq, Louise Flaherty, Neil Christopher | Drama Short | 6 | CAD | Inuit | English, Inuktitut | Aurora Borealis | |
| The Voyager’s Legacy | Bailey Poching | Drama Short | 10 | NZ | Ngāti Whatua | English | YES | Aurora Austalis |
| Firecracker Bullets | Chad Charlie | Doc Short | 14 | US | Ahousaht First Nation | English | Interstellar | |
| A Morning with Aroha | Nicholas Riini | Drama Short | 11 | NZ | Maori | English | YES | Little Stars |
| Kikino Kids | Barry Bilinsky | Drama Short | 14 | CAD | Kikino Metis Settlement | English | YES | Little Stars |
| Dead Bird Hearts | Thomas Ryan RedCorn | Drama Short | 19 | US | Osage | English | YES | Twin Stars |
| Heartbeat of a Nation | Eric Janvier | Doc Short | 20 | CAD | Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation | English | Guiding Stars | |
| The Machine | Isaac Bell | Drama Short | 26 | NZ | Ngapuhi | English | Interstellar | |
| Spirit Emulsion | Siku Allooloo | Doc Short | 8 | CAD | Inuk/Haitian/TaÍno | English | Big Stars |
| Title | Type | Program |
|---|---|---|
| Diiyeghan naii Taii Tr’eedaa (We Will Walk the Trail of our Ancestors) | Doc Short | Opening Night Double Bill |
| Arctic Song | Drama Short | Aurora Borealis |
| The Voyager’s Legacy | Drama Short | Aurora Austalis |
| Firecracker Bullets | Doc Short | Interstellar |
| A Morning with Aroha | Drama Short | Little Stars |
| Kikino Kids | Drama Short | Little Stars |
| Dead Bird Hearts | Drama Short | Twin Stars |
| Heartbeat of a Nation | Doc Short | Guiding Stars |
| The Machine | Drama Short | Interstellar |
| Spirit Emulsion | Doc Short | Big Stars |
Festival Guide
Family and kid-friendly programs:
Short Film Program 1: For the Grandbabies
Red, White and Brass
Honouring our Elders and leaders:
WaaPaKe
Short Film Program 3: A Mother’s Love
Two Spirit + Indigiqueer storytellers:
Inky Pinky Ponky
Short Film Program 5: Queerdom
Short Film Program 6: “That’s My Baby!”
For horror fans:
Short Film Program 7: Witching Hour
For the experimental film aficionados:
ISHI
Short Film Program 9: From Land to Water
For the folks who need a good cry:
Short Film Program 11: Embracing Loss
Feature films by female directors:
Fancy Dance
I’m Just Here for the Riot
Café Daughter
WaaPaKe
ISHI
If you missed it at TIFF, watch it with us:
Hey, Viktor!
The New Boy
Tautuktavuk (What We See)
For the documentary film lovers:
I’m Just Here for the Riot
MOM
WaaPaKe
For those passionate about activism and social issues:
Short Film Program 4: Staying Vigilant
Muru
I’m Just Here for the Riot
Matriarchy stories:
Short Film Program 3: A Mother’s Love
Short Film Program 10: Long Line Of Ladies
Sci-fi connoisseurs:
Short Film Program 8: Into the Unknown
Embracing our identities:
Short Program 2: You Know Who You Are
- Short Film Program 10: Long Line of Ladies
Festival Guide
A shorthand guide curated by the Programming Team to help you navigate what to watch at this year’s Festival!
Family & kid-friendly programs:
Honouring our Elders & leaders:
For the lovers:
For Horror fans:
For the experimental film aficionados:
For the folks who need a good cry:
Feature films by female directors:
If you missed it at TIFF, watch it with us:
For the documentary film lovers:
For the love of our land and waters:
Festival Facts
14
Feature Films
70
Short Films (across 11 Programs)
21
Digital + Interactive Works
17
Audio Works
75
Indigenous Nations
41
Indigenous Languages
13
Countries
39
Emerging Artists
19
Youth Artists
3
imagineNATIVE Originals
3
Web Series
1
TV Watch Party
1
Artist Spotlight
7
Exhibitions
4
Partnered screenings (with Telefilm, Warner Media, APTN, and CFMDC)
Festival Facts
14
Feature Films
70
shorts (45 dramas + 37 docs + 19 experimental)
21
21 DIGITAL + INTERACTIVE WORKS
17
Audio Works
74
Indigenous Nations
40
Indigenous Languages
13
Countries
39
Emerging Artists
19
Youth Artists
3
imagineNATIVE Originals
3
Web Series
1
TV Watch Party
1
Artist Spotlight
7
Exhibitions
4
Partnered screenings (with Telefilm, Warner Media, APTN, and CFMDC)
Festival Facts
19
101
shorts (45 dramas + 37 docs + 19 experimental)
13
THEMATIC PROGRAMS
6
iN ORIGINALS
5
MUSIC VIDEOS
9
DIGITAL + INTERACTIVE WORKS
(2 A.R. + 4 V.R. + 2 VIDEO GAMES + 1 INTERACTIVE WEBSITE)
9
audio works (8 podcasts + 1 experimental audio)
6
exhibitions (1 online + 5 in person + 14 artists + 5 curators)
55
Indigenous languages
11
100% Indigenous language films
63
emerging filmmakers
17
animated films
9
63
films made in 2022
1
artist spotlight (Shelley Niro)
Must Watch Feature Films
Stellar
Director/Writer/Producer: Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe)
Producer: Paula Devonshire (Mohawk)
Canada | 2022 | 87 min
English/Ojibway | Dramatic Feature
Triggering Historical Trauma, Excessive Flashing/Strobing Lights
As a meteorite catastrophically changes the planet outside, two lovers find each other in a small bar in Northern Ontario, Canada. Across their bodies and spirits, the star-crossed couple transcends the traumas of one world and finds a path to a new one. Stellar observes human notions of connections between oneself, other people, and Mother Earth herself.
Darlene Naponse is an Anishinaabe writer, director and video artist from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in Northern Ontario. Her previous films have premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. Her previous feature Falls Around Her opened imagineNATIVE in 2018 where it won the Audience Choice Award. Stellar is her fourth feature film. Darlene’s work is placed within Indigenous community and the Natural World.
Bring Her Home
Director: Leya Hale (Dakota/Diné)
Producer: Sergio Mata’u Rapu (Sergio Mata’u Rapu)
United States | 2021 | 56 min
English/Dakota | Documentary Feature
Toronto Premiere | MMIW2S, Triggering historical trauma, Adult Themes
Bring Her Home follows three Indigenous women – an artist, an activist, and a politician – as they fight to vindicate and honour their missing and murdered relatives who have fallen victims to a growing epidemic across Indian country. Despite the lasting effects of historical trauma, each woman must search for healing while navigating the racist systems that brought about this very crisis.
Leya Hale Leya Hale comes from the Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota and Diné Nations. She is a producer for Twin Cities PBS and is best known for her first feature documentary, The People’s Protectors, a Vision Maker Media grant production, and winner of the 2019 Upper Midwest Emmy Award for Best Cultural Documentary.
ROSIE
Director/Writer/Producer: Gail Maurice (Cree/Métis)
Canada | 2022 | 100 min
English/French/Cree | Dramatic Feature
Toronto Premiere | Adult Themes, Use of Illegal Substances, Triggering Historical Trauma, Coarse Language
with her reluctant, street-smart Aunty Fred. Fred, introduces Rosie to her two best friends Flo and Mo, glamorous, gender-bending street workers. Rosie transforms the lives of these colourful characters and finds love, acceptance, and a true HOME with her newly chosen family of glittering outsiders.
Gail Maurice is a fluent Cree/Michif-speaking actor and an award-winning independent filmmaker and Arts Laureate. Her films have screened at Sundance, Traverse City Film Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, and imagineNATIVE, and have also aired on CBC, APTN and Air Canada’s Enroute. ROSIE is her feature debut and was supported by the imagineNATIVE institute’s inaugural screenwriting lab.
Must Watch Program
Twinkle Twinkle
Award Winning Films
Our 2022 award winners can be found on our Awards page.
Reading + Resources
Indigenous star stories:
The First Astronomers: How Indigenous Elders Read the Stars: https://www.thefirstastronomers.com/ – Read this book! Solid 10/10
Native Skywatchers: Indigenous Astronomy Revitalization: https://www.nativeskywatchers.com/ – Led by renowned Lakota astronomer and artist, Annette S. Lee
“Gizhebaa Giizhi” Revolving Sky: https://revolvingsky.com/ – Written by Michael Wassegijig Price
The ever-deadly, Wilfred Buck:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/indigenous-astronomy-1.5077070
https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/indigenous-peoples-astronomy/
Aditional articles:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/88gpk3/all-four-building-blocks-of-dna-have-been-found-in-meteorites