Grade: Grade 12
Savage
This “residential school musical” uses song and dance to depict a little girl’s dehumanizing journey into the residential school system, as well as her mother’s pain.
Director
Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe)
Writer
Lisa Jackson (Anishinaabe)
Cast
Ta’kaiya Blaney (Tla'amin), Skeena Reece
Producers
Lauren Grant, Lori Lozinski
Genre
Drama
Interest
Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
The Sand Castle
A man made of sand makes other sand creatures in this inventive, Oscar-winning stop-motion film.
Director
Co Hoedeman
Producer
Gaston Sarault
Genre
Animation
Interest
Classics
Original Language
No Dialogue
Empire of Dirt
Powerful and inspiring, Empire of Dirt was nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture.
“Empire of Dirt tells a traditional mothers-and-daughters story in a new way by making their Cree heritage and the role it has in their lives and relationships the true heart of the drama.” — Linda Barnard, Toronto Star
*Please note that this film has an Indigenous producer and screenwriter, but not an Indigenous director. imagineNATIVE defines an Indigenous-made film as one directed or co-directed by an Indigenous person.
Director
Peter Stebbings
Stebbings’ directorial debut was Defendor, and his second film, Empire of Dirt, was nominated for five CSAs. As an actor, his numerous credits include Citizen Duane, The Borgias, Bates Motel, Counting for Thunder and his newest film Percy Vs Goliath. He recently directed The Disappearance, which garnered four CSAs, and episodes of Frankie Drake Mysteries, The Sounds, and Killjoys. He is currently writing and directing the feature Running with Monsters.
Writer
Shannon Masters (Cree)
Cast
Cara Gee (Ojibwa), Shay Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho/Oglala Lakota/Mnicoujou Lakota), Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe), Luke Kirby
Producers
Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe), Bob Crowe, Bob Crowe, Heather K. Dahlstrom, Geoff Ewart
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
A Sea Turtle Story
This animated short chronicles the life cycle of the critically endangered sea turtle. The film is ideal for all ages, teaching young and old alike about these fascinating creatures.
Director
Kathy Schultz
Writer
Kathy Schultz
Producer
Silva Basmajian
Genres
Animation, Family
Interests
Environment, Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, No Dialogue
Second Hand
Two neighbours have very different ideas about wasting time and saving stuff in this humourous meditation on what’s precious or disposable.
Director
Isaac King
Producer
Isaac King
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Environment, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
No Dialogue
Sharkwater Revolution Saipan
Director
Rob Stewart
Stewart was an award-winning journalist and filmmaker, whose docs Sharkwater and Revolution earned awards at festivals worldwide. A tireless activist, Stewart was credited with saving a third of the world’s sharks. He tragically passed away in 2017, while filming Sharkwater: Extinction, which was completed posthumously and premiered at TIFF 2018.
Genre
Documentary
Interest
Environment
Original Language
English
Shin-Chi’s Canoe
Through his father’s gift of a secret and tiny hand-carved cedar canoe, an Indigenous child discovers the strength and resilience to endure his first year at a residential school.
Director
Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua)
Writers
Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua), Kate Kroll
Cast
Zayne Jasper
Producers
Kate Kroll, Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua)
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Family Relationships
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Shoot Your Shot
A sci-fi/action comedy that follows Tover, a teenager on the frontlines battling a future alien invasion. However, it’s not the aliens that terrify Tover, it’s the idea of asking out his crush, fellow soldier Savoy!
Directors
Madison Thomas (Ojibwe/Saulteax), Meegwun Fairbrother (Ojibway)
Cast
Victoria Turko (Métis), Stephanie Sy, Skye Pelletier, Meegwun Fairbrother (Ojibway)
Producer
Stephen Ground
Genres
Action/Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Sketchi
Director
Lily Sun
Genres
Animation, Drama
Interests
Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences
Original Language
English
Sophie and Jacob
A moving animation based on the true story of two young Romanian Jews fleeing the Holocaust, who help each other survive when their ship is turned away from Palestine and then denied entry by country after country.
Director
Max Shoham
Writer
Max Shoham
Genre
Drama
Interests
Discrimination, Global Experiences, History
Original Language
English