Indigenous Film Festival returns ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

The fifth annual Stseptékwles re Sk’elép (Coyote Stories) Indigenous Film Festival returns to Paramount Theatre this week, sharing stories that promote understanding and connection leading up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30.

This year’s event, hosted from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27, features five films and 18 shorts produced from 20 different filmmakers and artists. The festival was set close to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an important goal in mind, Laura Michel, Indigenous Film Festival Committee member and Kamloops Film Society Board member told The Wren. 

“It gives the community access to different types of Indigenous content, and it helps us open up those conversations with an Indigenous perspective,” she said.

Opening night will include a red carpet reception with music by Duane Marchand on Friday, Sept. 25. Director Ryan Dickie’s film Tea Creek will be screened that night at 6:30 p.m., followed by a panel about food sovereignty and advocacy steps with participants including Jacob Beaton, Shay Paul and Courtney W. Mason.

“One dollar from each opening night movie ticket will be donated to the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Association in support of Tea Creek Farm,” Michel said, adding it’s a highlight of this year’s event specifically tied to the opening night screening.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, there will be five featured events starting with W7éyle (moon’s wife) by Secwépemc writer, director and producer Amanda Wandler.

The film təm kwaθ nan (Namesake) will follow, telling the story of the Tla’amin Nation, which requested a name change for the City of Powell River, and the debate that ensued.

Tkwenem7íple7 (councillor) Nikki Fraser will facilitate a discussion with t̓agəm director Eileen Francis after the screening.

A masterclass about taking the journey from envisioning short films to feature films is slated for 1:30 p.m. with Māori director Taratoa Stappard for $21. Participants will learn how to expand scripts, secure funding and direct feature films. Stappard will also be hosting a discussion after his own film, Mārama, is shown at 7 p.m. that evening.

Director Bretten Hannam’s supernatural thriller Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts) will be shown at 4 p.m. followed by a short film showcase with awards at 4:30 p.m.

A free family event will kick off the final day of the film festival, starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, with storyteller Peter Michel and six short films. At 1:30 p.m. sustainable Secwépemc and Ktunaxa filmmaker Doreen Manuel will run a masterclass on navigating funding proposals and presentations.

Manuel hails from Neskonlith Indian Band in Chase, but currently lives in North Vancouver working as Capilano University’s Indigenous filmmakers’ programming as an instructor.

“Indigenous people have been oppressed for so long that we were actually locked out of the film industry,” Manuel explained by phone. 

Barriers to accessing food, shelter and modern technologies make it difficult for many communities to focus on the arts.

“The work I do is important because now our people can access media, like mainstream media and the film industry,” she continued. “We can use language and cultural presentation, documenting our Elders before they leave us. So it’s vitally important, in my opinion, to understand our past, and for reconciliation, to document it to be able to determine our future.”

Her goal in offering the masterclass, along with attending the Indigenous Film Festival in Kamloops for the first time, is to “give people the courage” to share their stories.

Her masterclass includes tools, contacts and mentorship for participants to access expert knowledge.

“It means everything to me to be able to help people realize their potential,” Manuel said.

At 3:30 p.m., an Indigenous Storytelling Panel will take place which features Isiah Harris, Kel-C and Fina Bussidor. To round out the day, Starwalker, a film about “queer resilience,” will be shown at 6 p.m.

A Two-Spirit Drag Show will mark the close of the festivities with performances from Ella Lamoureux, also known as Mother of the House of Lamour, Khalora Form and Walter Wilcox at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.

“We try, as a committee, to find fun and engaging closing night events,” Michel said. “In the past, we’ve had comedians, closing acts and the drag show. We had lots of positive feedback about the drag show over the last year, so we decided to go with that again. It’s a very positive relationship and event.”

For those interested in attending the screening of Starwalker and the drag show, tickets can be purchased for $26, while the drag show alone is $21.

“I think having that celebration of two-spirited individuals in our communities is important as part of that Indigenous experience,” Michel said.

Festival passes are available for $55 per person or individual movie tickets can be purchased online at: thekfs.ca/IFF or in-person. Members of the Kamloops Film Society save $2 on individual movie tickets.