25th Anniversary Timeline
Revisit 25 Years of imagineNATIVE
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we are taking this opportunity to look back on our journey and reflect on 25 years of showcasing excellence in Indigenous-made film and media arts.
1998
The Centre for Aboriginal Media is co-founded by Cynthia Lickers-Sage and Vtape. Cynthia would serve as Executive Director from 1999-2002.
1999
The first-ever imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival takes place.
2002
In recognition of Alanis Obomsawin’s legacy within the film industry, the annual Documentary Work Long Format Award is named in her honour. This award is now called the Documentary Feature Award in honour of Alanis Obomsawin. Hotere by Merata Mita is the award’s first recipient.
2002
The imagineNATIVE Tour is added as year-round programming.
2004
Danis Goulet assumes role as Executive Director (2004-2006).
2004
imagineNATIVE introduces The Beat, a concert celebrating Indigenous musicians and performers.
2007
Kerry Swanson assumes the role of Executive Director (2007-2009).
2008
imagineNATIVE forms the Embargo Collective including filmmakers Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Helen Haig-Brown, Lisa Jackson, Sterlin Harjo, Taika Waititi, Blackhorse Lowe, and Rima Tamou.
2009
imagineNATIVE celebrates its 10th anniversary.
2010
Jason Ryle assumes the role of Executive Director (2010-2015, 2018-2020).
2011
The TIFF Lightbox becomes imagineNATIVE’s main venue.
2012
The imagineNATIVE Art Crawl becomes a staple in the Festival programming.
2014
imagineNATIVE forms the Embargo Collective II curated by Danis Goulet, including filmmakers Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, and Caroline Monnet.
2015
imagineNATIVE partners with other Indigenous film organizations to form the NATIVe Indigenous Cinema Stand at the European Film Market in Berlin, Germany.
2015
imagineNATIVE introduces its first lifetime achievement award honouring Indigenous actors, the August Schellenberg Award of Excellence. Tantoo Cardinal is the award’s first recipient.
2015
imagineNATIVE introduces the Digital Media Art+Cade, a specific space dedicated to the presentation of digital and interactive media works.
2016
In recognition of Kent Monkman’s legacy in Indigenous media arts, imagineNATIVE introduces the Kent Monkman Award for Best Experimental Work in his honour. This award is now called the Innovation in Storytelling Award in honour of Kent Monkman. Dolastallat by Marja Helander is the award’s first recipient and Susto by Pearl Salas receives a special mention for the award this year.
2017
The imagineNATIVE Institute is launched, providing professional development opportunities for Indigenous artists in the film industry. The Institute is supported by Netflix.
2018
imagineNATIVE receives the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts by the Ontario Arts Council.
2018
On-Screen Protocols + Pathways: A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories, a guide commissioned by imagineNATIVE, is published.
2019
imagineNATIVE celebrates its 20th anniversary, unveils its new logo, and adds an extra day to the Festival, making it six days in total. imagineNATIVE also becomes the first Academy Award-qualifying Indigenous film festival with the Festival’s Live Action Short Award.
2020
Naomi Johnson assumes the role of Executive Director (2020 to present). Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, imagineNATIVE hosts a virtual presentation of the Festival.
2022
imagineNATIVE returns to its first in-person Festival since the pandemic and adds an additional week of entirely online presentations to increase the Festival’s accessibility.
2023
In recognition of Jeff Barnaby’s legacy within the film industry, imagineNATIVE introduces the Jeff Barnaby Award in his honour. This award is now called the After Dark Award in honour of Jeff Barnaby. Unborn Biru by Inga Elin Marakatt is the award’s first recipient.
2024
imagineNATIVE announces a date change to the Festival, moving it from October to June.
