imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Announces 2022 Festival Award Winners

We Are Still Here wins Dramatic Feature Award We are Šaamšiǩ – Great Grandmothers Hat wins Documentary Feature 

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.