Skoden Indigenous Film Festival | 2020
Skoden on Vimeo
Thursday, April 2 – Wednesday, April 13
Each program launched on Vimeo at 5:00 PM
Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $0-$20.
Thank you to the SCA's Sky Hopinka, the students of CA 334, the other behind-the-scenes organizers, and all the participating filmmakers for your time and work so far.
PROGRAM ONE
Whiteface – Dir. Everett Sokol
Lake – Dir. Alexandra Lazarowich
Even in the Silence – Dir. Jonathan Elliott
The Camp(us) – Dir. One Island Media
Respect Your Elders, Chum – Dir Jack Belhumeur
Sixties Scoop: More than Sorry – Dir. Aretha Greatrix, Jodi Calahoo-Stonehouse
Skate Break – Peatr Thomas
PROGRAM TWO (All Ages)
Powwow Xperience – Dir. Aretha Greatrix
Ancestor’s Gift – Dir. NaTalka Pucan
Puktew Muin (Fire Bear) – Dir. Daniel Fortin
Matriarch Rising – Dir. Helen Mots Tommy, Savannah M. , Kelly Yellowbird, Shaina W., and Jenna Quock
Euphrasia Samm: Ft. St. James – Dir. Justice Thomas, Christian Sam, Jaida Isaac
I am Me – Dir. Jazmine Smith
Biskawbiyung: The Return – Dir. Kate Ellis
Where is the Love? – Dir. Delphis Bonneau, Samuel Kliever and Seth Kruger
Along the Water’s Edge – Dir. Jonathan Elliott
PROGRAM THREE
Barry Goes Home - Dir. Ren Campbell, Jasmine and Amber Spinks, Brandi Charley, Natalie Holmes
Mii Yaa Wag - Dir. NaTalka Pucan
Mni Wiconi Mitakuyelo - Dir. Victoria Anderson-Gardner
Bear Cubs - Dir. Nicolas Renaud
Giibweatoo (Run Home) - Dir. Shane Kejick
High Altitude - Dir. Victoria Inglis
Her Water Drum - Dir. Jonathan Elliott
PROGRAM FOUR
Kéwku - Dir. Sean Stiller
Solastalgia - Dir. Pascal Tremblay, Sean Stiller
Finding Solitude - Dir. Tristan Hinder-Hohlweg, Jaiden George
Fast Horse - Dir. Alex Lazarowich
Skoden Indigenous Film Festival Audience Award
Favourite films of the festival, chosen by the audience.
Official Judges
Ghinwa Yassine (SCA MFA), Pable de Ocampo (Western Front), and Adam Piron (Sundance Film Festival).
ABOUT SKODEN 2020
The 2020 edition of the Festival has been redeveloped to become a new SCA film course, lead by the SCA's Sky Hopinka.
Working collaboratively, students in the course will take an active role in organizing and running the Festival. This involves learning about presenting films in a cinema space, details around exhibition, skills as a projectionist, programming and screening film submissions, fundraising, and what it’s like to work in the film festival industry.
Students will be called upon to be in committees that determine locations, fundraising, publicity, programming, exhibition and projection, and all other areas needed for a successful festival. The focus of the programming is on Indigenous film from Canada, and the class hopes to offer another avenue for practicing decolonization and providing a platform for under represented filmmakers and artists.
Rules & Terms for Participating Filmmakers
- Must be Canada-based and have an Indigenous person in a major creative role (director, writer, lead actor, editor, director of photography).
- The films can be about anything!
- All ages and experiences levels are welcomed to submit.
- Film format is Quicktime.
Skoden Indigenous Film Festival Audience Award Winners
Kéwku
Congratulations to Sean Stiller's Kéwku for winning the the Best Short Award!
Set against a majestic landscape of mountains and river valleys of the Xatśūll First Nation, Kéwku follows elder Ralph Phillips as he gathers and prepares sage. Phillips narrates a story of his life—from his family’s experience with residential schools to prisons and abuse—that keeps looping back to sage, as a cleansing and transformational plant. The jury recognizes Kéwku with the award for Best Short for the expertly woven cinematography and story, both poetic and powerful.
Lake
Congratulations to Alex Lazarowich's Lake for winning the Trickster Award!
On the icy horizons of Northern Alberta, we follow a Métis woman and the time and process it takes to ice fish below the frozen surface. Director Alex Lazarowich immerses viewers in a solid straightforward verite portrait of life below zero, while providing a surreal and lingering view into the abyss and the soundscape in the frozen lake below. The jury recognizes Lake with the Trickster Award for the seemingly simple and effective portrayal of survival while actually showing how much we’re truly surrounded by the unknown.
I Am Me
Congratulations to Jazmine Smith's I Am Me for winning the Audience Award!
As a profile of strength and resilience, Jazmine Smith’s I Am Me won over our audiences for exploring the struggles and triumphs of Indigenous peoples in the trans community. By popular vote, I Am Me is recognized for winning the Audience Award.
Whiteface
Congratulations to Everett Sokol's Whiteface for being the judges' Honourable Mention!
Whiteface subverts the film genre by blurring the lines between experimental film and multimedia theatre performance. The jury would like to commend the makers of this film for their innovative cinematographic approach and striking visual aesthetics. A special nod to the cast, for their trickster-evoking performance.
2020 Official Selection
Respect Your Elders, Chum – Jack Belhumeur
Where is the Love – Delphis Bonneau, Samuel Kliever
Barry Goes Home – Ten Campbell, Jasmine Spinks, Amber Spinks, Brandi Charley, and Natalie Holmes
Another Word for Learning – Jadis Dumas
Along the Water's Edge – Jonathan Elliott
Even in the Silence – Jonathan Elliott
Her Water Drum – Jonathan Elliott
Biskawbiung: The Return – Kate Ellis
Puktew Muin (Fire Bear) – Daniel Fortin
The Camp(us) – Hayle Gallup
Pow Wow Xperience – Aretha Greatrix
Sixties Scoop: More Than Sorry – Aretha Greatrix
Finding Solitude – Tristan Hinder-Hohlweg
GIIBWEATOO (Run Home) – Shane Kelsey
Sisters of Sorrow – James Kingstone
Fast Horse – Alexandra Lazarowich
Lake – Alexandra Lazarowich
Mni Wiconi: Mitakuyelo (Water is Life, Protect it. Defend it) – Natasha Naveau
Ancestors Gift – NaTalka Pucan
Mii Yaa Wag – NaTalka Pucan
Bear Cubs – Nicolas Renaud
I am Me – Jazmine Smith
High Altitude – Jennifer Smith
Skate Break – Jennifer Smith
Whiteface – Everett Sokol
Kéwku – Sean Stiller
Euphrasia Sam – Justice Thomas, Christian Sam, Jaida Isaac
Matriarch Rising – Helen Mots Tommy, Savannah M., Kelly Yellowbird, Shaina W., and Jenna Quock
Solastalgia – Pascal Tremblay
The School for the Contemporary Arts recognizes that we are on the unceded and occupied territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
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The Skoden Indigenous Film Festival is presented by SFU's School for the Contemporary Arts with the support of the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology.
