MONTREAL — Telefilm Canada announced Tuesday $4.7 million in funding for the production of 11 new Indigenous feature films in 2017-2018, following through on its commitment in February to increase financing available to Indigenous talent.
In fact, the support provided through the Telefilm Production Program’s Indigenous stream exceeds its original commitment of $4.2 million. Telefilm’s investment supports both established and emerging Indigenous talent from coast-to-coast-to-coast, with seven projects being led by women, Telefilm said in a press release.
“Telefilm Canada is a longstanding supporter of Indigenous creative talents and we are privileged to have the ongoing support of the community to move forward on other important initiatives,” said Carolle Brabant, executive director of Telefilm Canada, in the press release. “This new slate of projects allows more creators to share their unique and rich perspective. I am happy to see a strong female presence as well as great regional representation, two objectives we have set out to achieve throughout our entire financing portfolio.”
Among the 11 selected Indigenous film projects, two writer-directors are former recipients of Telefilm’s Talent Fund-supported Micro-Budget Production Program: Benjamin Ross Hayden (The Northlander) and Sonia Bonspille-Boileau (Le Dep). In addition, award-winning Inuit actress Lucy Tulugarjuk (Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner, Maliglutit) will direct her first feature film, Ababa and Pingua, produced by renowned documentarist Marie-Hélène Cousineau. Marie Clements of British Columbia will direct her first narrative feature.
The 11 projects greenlighted by Telefilm Canada are as follows:
Edge of the Knife, Drama, BC
Director: Gwaai Edenshaw
Writer: Jaalan Edenshaw
Producer: Jonathan Frantz
Red Snow, Drama, BC
Director: Marie Clements
Writer: Marie Clements
Producer: Marie Clements (Lael McCall, Michelle Morris)
Red Eye, Science-Fiction/Fantasy, AB
Director: Benjamin Ross Hayden
Writer: Benjamin Ross Hayden
Producer: Carolyn McMaster
Stay, Drama, BC
Director: Elle-Maija Tailfeathers
Writer: Elle-Maija Tailfeathers
Producer: Tyler Hagan
Corruption of Divine Providence, Drama, MB
Director: Jeremy Torrie
Writer: Jeremy Torrie
Producer: Tanya Brunel
Rustic Oracle, Drama, QC
Director: Sonia Bonspille-Boileau
Writer: Sonia Bonspille-Boileau
Producer: Jason Brennan
Sedna, "Empress of the Sea", Animation, QC
Director: Jerry Thevenet
Writer: Jerry Thevenet
Producer: Jerry Thevenet
Rebirth 8:37, Drama, NS
Director: Juanita Peters
Writer: Joe Leclair
Producer: Hank White
Ababa and Pingua, Action/Adventure, NV
Director: Lucy Tulugarjuk
Writer: Lucy Tulugarjuk
Producer: Marie-Hélène Cousineau
Leaves Fall Around Her, Thriller, ON
Director: Darlene Naponse
Writer: Darlene Naponse
Producer: Darlene Naponse
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw, Comedy, ON
Director: Shelley Niro
Writer: Shelley Niro
Producer: Shelley Niro
