imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival has announced the Shorts Programs for the 15th Anniversary Festival, with presenting sponsor Bell Media, from October 22-26, 2014 at TIFF Bell Lightbox. The Shorts Programs will include over 50 films ranging from silly to scary and serene to salacious all from the Indigenous perspective.
imagineNATIVE will once again present the popular Youth Shorts Programs with two showcases on October 23 and 24. Opening Scene: Youth Shorts I will screen shorts by or about Indigenous youth including the winner of this year’s imagineNATIVE Film + Video Tour’s youth videomaking contest The Divide. Big Break: Youth Shorts II will include the best shorts by or about youth, which offer personal, traditional, comedic and inspiring perspectives from Indigenous artists.
This year’s International Spotlight, presented with support from the Canada Media Fund, shines on the diverse, inspiring and remarkable work of Indigenous artists from Australia. On October 23, imagineNATIVE will present three shorts programs from curatorial and cultural icons: Australia Spotlight – Shorts I curated by industry leading director/producer Rachel Perkins, founder of Blackfella Films, Australia Spotlight – Shorts II curated by trailblazer Pauline Clague of NITV and Australia Spotlight – Shorts III by independent multi-media star Jenny Fraser.
In celebration of the Australian Spotlight, imagineNATIVE will hold a free Festival Preview screening of Wayne Blair’s hit film The Sapphires on Wednesday, October 1. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented Australian Aboriginal singers and their makeshift manager, played by Chris O’Dowd, as they learn about love, friendship and war in 1968.
On October 24, On Location: Environmental Shorts will spotlight four films focused on environmental issues affecting Indigenous people in North America. These films tell the story of humanity’s relationship with water, some of which artistically respond to Manitoba’s water crisis. This will be a post-screening discussion that should not be missed!
imagineNATIVE will showcase five Canadian short films on October 24 with New Wave: Canadian Shorts, including the 2013 TIFF Best Short Film Noah, a romantic tragedy played out entirely on a computer screen. Later that night, the popular The Witching Hour: Late Night Shorts, will also address the darker, twisted side of reality, including the social media thriller #nightslikethese.
On October 25, imagineNATIVE presents Depth of Field: International Shorts with films from Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. On the same day, Available Light: Shorts Program features a beautiful experimental commission from emerging New Brunswick filmmaker Lisa Jodoin and 8 Seasons, a Sámi biographic artist showcase of vignettes telling the lives Sámi artists living in the northern reaches of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
On the final day of the Festival, October 26, imagineNATIVE will champion those who fight for social, political, economical or environmental change with ACTION!: Activist Shorts. These short films portray the struggle of Indigenous people around the world and incite action towards a better future.
Info at a glance:
imagineNATIVE Festival Preview Screening
The Sapphires
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
7pm
TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 4
350 King Street West
FREE
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Shorts Programs
October 22-26, 2014
TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West
Thursday, October 23
Opening Scene: Youth Shorts I
Australia Spotlight: Shorts I – III
Friday, October 24
Big Break: Youth Shorts II
The Witching Hour: Late Night Shorts
On Location: Environmental Shorts
New Wave: Canadian Shorts
The Witching Hour: Late Night Shorts
Saturday, October 25
Depth of Field: International Shorts
Available Light: Shorts Program
Sunday, October 26
ACTION!: Activist Shorts
Festival packages now available at www.imaginenative.org/home/packages
Single Ticket On Sale Wednesday, October 1, 2014
For more information please call 416.585.2333 or visit www.imagineNATIVE.org