Telefilm Canada unveils eight indigenous filmmakers to receive backing

Telefilm Canada has announced the eight filmmakers to receive backing under its $4m annual plan to support indigenous talent.

The line-up includes three projects directed by women, one to be shot in French (a first for the Indigenous production pipeline), and two featuring a mix of Indigenous languages, as well as English. Three of the films were recently announced under the Talent to Watch Program.

The selected projects are:

L’Inhumain
Director, writer and producer: Jason Brennan (Anishinaabe)
Language: French
Province: Quebec

Wildhood
Director and writer: Bretten Hannam (Mi’kmaq)
Producer: Gharrett Paon (Mi’kmaq)
Language: English / Mi’kmaq
Province: Nova Scotia

Slash/Back
Director, writer and producer: Nyla Innuksuk (Inuit)
Language: English / Inuktitut
Province: Ontario/Nunavut

Portraits From A Fire
Director: Trevor Mack (Tl’etinqox)
Writer: Derek Vermillion (Cree)
Producer: Rylan Friday (Cote First Nation)
Language: English
Province: British Columbia

Tipping Andy Warhol
Director: Dana Claxton (Lakota Sioux)
Writer: Courtenay Crane (The Key First Nations)
Producer: David Paperny
Language: English
Province: British Columbia

IndigiThreads
Director and writer: Adeline Bird (Anishinaabe)
Producer: Ryan Cooper (Peguis First Nation)
Under the Talent to Watch Program – Partner: On Screen Manitoba
Language: English
Province: Manitoba

Coffee Express
Director and writer: Roger Boyer
Producer: Eva Thomas (Tohono O’odham/Ojibway/Cherokee)
Under the Talent to Watch Program – Partner: Adam Beach Film Inst.
Language: English
Province: Manitoba

The Certainty Of Symmetry
Director and writer: Jaren Brandt Bartlett
Producer: Kelton Stepanowich (Métis)
Under the Talent to Watch Program – Partner: Adam Beach Film Inst.
Language: English
Province: British Columbia

“Supporting the incredible talent of Canada’s Indigenous communities continues to be an important priority for Telefilm,” said Telefilm Canada executive director Christa Dickenson. “In this International Year of Indigenous Languages, we are proud to support works in Mi’kmaq and Inuktitut. The selected projects will bring to light new voices and perspectives key to building our cinema of tomorrow.”