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An insightful discussion on the power of grounding Indigenous cinema with communities and community-led initiatives, the importance of collaborative filmmaking, and connecting Indigenous cinema across communities nationally and worldwide. With Niki Little (Artistic Director, imagineNATIVE), Amanda Strong (Director, Spirit Bear and Children Make History), Michelle Derosier (Director, Audrey's Story), and Jolene Banning (Audrey's niece & contributor to the film, Audrey's Story). Hosted by Siku Allooloo (ALFF Associate Programmer & Industry Producer).
Niki Little is an artist/observer, arts administrator, and a founding member of The Ephemerals. She is Anishininew (Oji-cree) / English from Kistiganwacheeng (Garden Hill, FN). Little has over ten years of experience in the arts and cultural sector focusing on Indigenous arts and intermedia art. She is the Artistic Director for imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. imagineNATIVE is located in Toronto Canada and is an Indigenous-led arts organization that was established 21 years ago. imagineNATIVE works to inspire and connect communities through original, Indigenous film and media arts by presenting innovative film, video, audio, and digital media works made by Indigenous artists. They present an annual Festival every October, year-round initiatives, and professional development opportunities for artists/filmmakers through Industry programming. The upcoming Festival will be October 19-24, 2021 and submissions open March 2021.
Amanda Strong is a Michif (Metis) interdisciplinary artist with a focus on filmmaking, stop-motion animations and media art, currently based on unceded Coast Salish territories also known as Vancouver, BC, Canada. Strong’s work is fiercely process-driven and includes virtual reality, stop-motion, 2D/3D animation, gallery/museum installations, published books and community-activated projects. Reclamation of Indigenous histories, lineage, language and culture are common themes of her work. Her films have screened across the globe, most notably at Cannes, TIFF, VIFF, and Ottawa International Animation Festival. Amanda Strong founded Spotted Fawn Productions in 2010 and has managed the company as the Owner, Director and Executive Producer since 2014. Under her direction, SFP utilizes a multi-layered approach and unconventional methods that are centered in collaboration on all aspects of their work. Amanda has also formed the collectives Media Creatorz, Indigenous Roots, and most recently Frame Sovereignty Collective which are all driven to build sustainable production skills and training to participants with the hopes of helping with access, visibility and digital literacy for Indigenous artists. Most recently, Amanda was selected as the First Canadian Director and first Animated Project for the Sundance Institute Indigenous Filmmaking Lab.
Michelle Derosier is Anishinaabe from Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation in Treaty 3 Territory in Northern Ontario, who uses the art of storytelling to create social change. She is a mother, grandmother, artist, activist and filmmaker who is deeply rooted in her Anishinaabek philosophies and world-views. Michelle has always lived and practiced in the north and has been making films for 15 years. Michelle’s art practice has focused on creating stories of healing and power for her family, communities and ancestral land. She has screened internationally at Sundance, MaoriLand, Traverse City, INDIANER INUIT: Das Nordamerika and ImagineNATIVE, to name a few. Her first short animation, the Grandfather Drum, was selected to screen at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. In 2017, Michelle completed her first dramatic feature film, Angelique’s Isle, co-directed with Montreal filmmaker Marie-Helene Cousineau. Angelique’s Isle has screened at festivals internationally and aired on CBC. Her recent works include directing the episode “Amplify: the Fire” for a new APTN 13-part documentary music series that aired in October 2020 and directed the short documentary “Audrey’s Story”, which is now screening internationally. Most recently, Michelle’s practice has expanded into creating works with birchbark and also performance art.
Jolene Banning is Audrey’s niece. She’s also an Anishinaabe-kwe journalist, writer and storyteller whose documentary, podcasting and written work highlights Anishinaabe resilience and culture, and how these intersect with colonialism.
ACCESS THIS EVENT on our festival website here
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