On Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Awards Presentation at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the esteemed Festival juries considered film, video, audio, and digital media works created by Indigenous artists from around the world to select winners in 14 categories with over $60,000 in cash prizes and in-kind services. In addition to the juried awards in these 14 categories, imagineNATIVE annually presents the August Schellenberg Award of Excellence in celebration of an Indigenous actor’s impact and legacy, as well as two Audience Choice Awards which are voted on by Festival audiences.
Hosted by Dakota Ray Hebert, the imagineNATIVE Awards Presentation, presented by Telefilm Canada, also included musical performances by Fawn Wood, Aysanabee, and August Schellenberg Award recipient Gary Farmer.
In addition to imagineNATIVE’s online Festival presentation, which will take place from October 24-30, 2022 and will allow users around the world to stream many films from the 2022 Festival’s official selection, the recipients of the Dramatic Feature Award, Documentary Feature Award, and Short Film awards will receive a repeat, in-person screening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto on Sunday, October 23.
The 2022 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Award Winners are:
Innovation in Storytelling Award
In recognition of Kent Monkman with support from Sobeys and Kent Monkman with a $7,500 cash prize
The Original Shareholder Experience – Petyr Xyst
Animated Short Award
With support from Blue Ant Media this award recognizes innovation and excellence in creating animated short film with a $2,500 cash prize
SEK BUY – William Cayapur Delgado
Documentary Short Award
With support from TVO this award recognizes an outstanding documentary short-length film with a $5,000 cash prize
First Time Home – Noemi Librado-Sanchez, Esmirna Librado, Esmeralda Ventura, Heriberto Ventura
Documentary Feature Award
With support from CBC this award recognizes an outstanding documentary feature-length film with a $5,000 cash prize
Šaamšiǩ – Great Grandmothers Hat – Anstein Mikkelsen, Harry Johansen
Experimental Audio Award
This award is in recognition of work that pushes the boundaries of experimental audio practices with a $2,500 cash prize
Sabikeshiinh – Brydon King
Narrative Audio Award
This award is in recognition of the work of an exceptional artist and their contribution to narrative audio practices with a $2,500 cash prize
Stolen: The Search for Jermain – Connie Walker
New Artist in Digital + Interactive Award
With support from the Indigenous Screen Office this award recognizes innovation and excellence in new media, developed as early career work or first effort by an artist in this form, with a $2,000 cash prize
Mikiwam – Keara & Caeleigh Lightning
Digital + Interactive Award
With support from the Indigenous Screen Office this award recognizes innovation and excellence in new media, developed by mid-career and established artists, with a $2,000 cash prize
This is Not a Ceremony – Colin Van Loon
Indigenous Language Production Award
With support from Indigenous Media Initiatives, this award is for a film of any genre or length whose sole or primary language is in an Indigenous language, with a $7,500 cash prize
Məca – Ritchie Norman Hemphill
New Voice in Storytelling Award
With support from Indigenous Education & Engagement at Humber College this award is named in honour and memory of Jane Glassco and Ellen Monague, two artists devoted to Indigenous issues and youth, with a $2,500 cash prize
Proowa (Yucca) – Stefany Mendinueta
Live Action Short Award
With support from Vtape and Jason Ryle, this award is in recognition of founders Cynthia Lickers-Sage and Vtape, with a $7,500 cash prize
Rose – Roxann Karonhiarokwas Whitebean
Dramatic Feature Award
With support from Telefilm Canada, for a $7,500 cash prize
We Are Still Here – Danielle MacLean, Beck Cole, Richard Curtis, Chantelle Burgoyne, Tracey Rigney, Dena Curtis, Tim Worrall, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa
August Schellenberg Award of Excellence
With support from Joan Karasevich Schellenberg and ACTRA National with a $2,500 cash prize
Gary Farmer
Sun Jury Award
With support from the Directors Guild of Canada this award is in recognition for outstanding work regardless of the length or genre determined by the Sun Jury with a $2,500 cash prize
Night – Ahmad Saleh
Moon Jury Award
With support from the Directors Guild of Canada this award is in recognition for outstanding work regardless of the length or genre determined by the Moon Jury with a $2,500 cash prize
Kikino Kids – Barry Bilinsky
Harmonize Prize
The Harmonize commission mentorship includes $10,000 towards the project budget, an in-kind Home Studio Prize Pack from Long & McQuade, and additional mentorship support determined by the imagineNATIVE Institute team and the mentorship participant. This Mentorship Commission is possible thanks to the continued support from Slaight Family Foundation and Lead Institute Partner Netflix.
Chandra Melting Tallow
The imagineNATIVE Audience Choice Award, Feature Film, with support from Bank of Montreal, and the Audience Choice Award, Short Film, with support from Shutterstock, will be announced after the Festival. Both Audience Choice Award recipients receive a $2,500 cash prize. Audiences can vote for as many films as they choose. During the in-person Festival, voting is available by scanning an on-screen QR code following screenings. During the online Festival, audiences will be able to vote using imagineNATIVE’s online platform via a widget on each film.
imagineNATIVE became the first and only Indigenous film Festival in the world to be a Qualifying Festival for the Best Live Action Short category for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2019. This means that Rose by Roxann Karonhiarokwas Whitebean, the 2022 winner for Best Live Action Short, will be eligible to submit for consideration in this category at the Oscars.
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world’s largest Indigenous festival showcasing film, video, audio, and digital + interactive media made by Indigenous screen-content creators. The Festival presents compelling and distinctive works from Canada and around the globe, reflecting the diversity of Indigenous nations and illustrating the vitality and dynamism of Indigenous arts, perspectives, and cultures in contemporary media.
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
In Person: October 18-23, 2022
Online: October 24-30, 2022
#imagineNATIVE
Award Winning Screenings
TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West
Tickets are $10 at: imagineNATIVE.org/festival/schedule
Documentary Feature Award Winner
Šaamšiǩ – Great Grandmothers Hat
October 23, 2022 at 5:15 PM
Short Film Award Winners – Program 1
Night by Ahmad Saleh, Rose by Roxann Whitebean, Məca by Ritchie Norman Hemphill, and Kikino Kids by Barry Billinisky
October 23, 2022 at 6:30 PM
Dramatic Feature Award Winner
We Are Still Here
October 23, 2022 at 7:30 PM
Short Film Award Winners – Program 2
Sek Buy by William Cayapur Delgado, Proowa (Yucca) by Stefant Mendinueta, First Time Home by Heriberto Ventura, Noemi Librado Sanchez, Esmirna Librado, Esmeralda Ventura, and The Original Shareholder Experience by Petyr Xyst
October 23, 2022 at 8:45 PM
Media Contact: Damien Nelson, damien@wantandable.ca