ImagineNATIVE Takes Flight With Air Canada

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Shishitetko.jpg

Passengers of Air Canada will get a chance to screen some of the imagineNATIVE Film Festival’s select short films in-flight up until October 31st. 

Inuit, Métis and First Nations films will be available for screening on the enRoute in-flight media players on Air Canada flights from September 1st until October 31st, 2011. This collection of films comes from the imagineNATIVE short films program in association with the imagineNATIVE Film Festival taking place October 19th – 23rd, 2011 in Toronto, Canada.

The films available in the enRoute in-flight media players from imagineNATIVE are:

  • Inuit High Kick, Director: Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Inuit)
  • The Visit, Director: Lisa Jackson (Anishnaabe)
  • Wapawekka, Director: Danis Goulet (Métis)
  • Lumaajuuq, Director: Alethea Arnaqua-Baril (Inuit)
  • Burnt, Director: Alejandro Valbuena (Kogi)
  • Shi-shi-etko, Director: Kate Kroll, producer: Marilyn Thomas (Saulteaux/Cree)
  • Savage, Director: Lisa Jackson (Anishnaabe)
  • File Under Miscellaneous, Director: Jeff Barnaby (Mi’kmaq)

An exciting opportunity for Air Canada, Air Canada passengers, imagineNATIVE and also the film makers, this collaboration will give an opportunity for an open dialogue and platform for people to view great Indigenous film content.

Excitingly enough, also featured is director Kate Kroll's film entitled Shi-shi-etko, about a young Sto:lo girl who is about to leave her family behind to attend residential school. The film stars Coast Salish R&B superstar Inez. Also slated is another film entitled Suckerfish, directed by Lisa Jackson which features the Smoky Valley drum group is among the other great titles included in this selection. Featured in both the above mentioned films is 10-year-old singing sensation Takaya Blaney, who has been causing a buzz on YouTube with her amazing singing talents with her song Shallow Waters.

Be sure to catch some of these films if you happen to be flying with Air Canada, and if you’re in Toronto in October, be sure to check out the imagineNATIVE Film Festival at various venues around town.

Here's a trailer for Shi-shi-etko: