Region: BC
Soon, though, she finds herself falling in love with him, and as the physical terrain becomes more dangerous, so does the landscape of the heart. Beautifully shot and featuring screen legend Peter O’Toole in one of his last roles, Iron Road revisits an important and controversial time in Canadian history.
Originally broadcast as a CBC miniseries, REEL CANADA is proud to present the feature version of this epic tale that spans two continents.
Director
David Wu
Wu is a master editor who has worked with many legendary Hong Kong filmmakers. His directorial credits include the films The Snow Queen with Bridget Fonda, Plague City: SARS in Toronto (for which he earned the DGC Best Director nomination), See You Tomorrow, and the TV show Once a Thief. He recently edited the films You Are In My Heart and Bai du ren.
Writers
Barry Pearson, Raymond Storey
Cast
Sun Li, Luke Macfarlane, Sam Neill, Peter O’Toole
Producers
Zhao Haicheng, Anne Tait, Raymond Massey II
Genre
Drama
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, ESL, History, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
Other Language
The Whale charts the community’s struggle to deal with Luna, since whales who are separated from their pods rarely survive in the wild. Raising more questions than it can answer, the film is a truly compelling exploration of our relationship with animals.
“The issues surrounding the emotional lives of animals — and the often presumptuous assumption of humans that they comprehend them — are explored in The Whale with a quiet dignity and gorgeous images.” — Andy Webster, New York Times
Directors
Michael Parfit
Parfit co-founded the BC-based Mountainside Films with Suzanne Chisholm, which Realscreen once named among the world’s 100 most influential production companies. Their work has aired on CBC, CNN, PBS, BBC and National Geographic. Their latest film is Call of the Baby Beluga and they recently executive produced the doc Doeville.
Suzanne Chisholm
Chisholm co-founded the BC-based Mountainside Films with Michael Parfit, which Realscreen once named among the world’s 100 most influential production companies. Their work has aired on CBC, CNN, PBS, BBC and National Geographic. Their latest film is Call of the Baby Beluga and they recently executive produced the doc Doeville.
Cast
Ryan Reynolds
Producer
Suzanne Chisholm
Genres
Documentary, Family
Interests
Environment, ESL, Female Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Grandfather on the Prairies
Jason meets his great-great-greatgrandfather and soon finds himself in a hilarious debate about what it means to be a hunter.
Director
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Writer
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Cast
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Producers
Andrew Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway), Lisa Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway), Robert Genaille (Sto:lo & Ojibway)
Genres
Animation, Experimental, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, History, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Empire of Dirt
Powerful and inspiring, Empire of Dirt was nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture.
“Empire of Dirt tells a traditional mothers-and-daughters story in a new way by making their Cree heritage and the role it has in their lives and relationships the true heart of the drama.” — Linda Barnard, Toronto Star
*Please note that this film has an Indigenous producer and screenwriter, but not an Indigenous director. imagineNATIVE defines an Indigenous-made film as one directed or co-directed by an Indigenous person.
Director
Peter Stebbings
Stebbings’ directorial debut was Defendor, and his second film, Empire of Dirt, was nominated for five CSAs. As an actor, his numerous credits include Citizen Duane, The Borgias, Bates Motel, Counting for Thunder and his newest film Percy Vs Goliath. He recently directed The Disappearance, which garnered four CSAs, and episodes of Frankie Drake Mysteries, The Sounds, and Killjoys. He is currently writing and directing the feature Running with Monsters.
Writer
Shannon Masters (Cree)
Cast
Cara Gee (Ojibwa), Shay Eyre (Cheyenne/Arapaho/Oglala Lakota/Mnicoujou Lakota), Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe, Leni Lenape, Métis), Luke Kirby
Producers
Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe, Leni Lenape, Métis), Bob Crowe, Bob Crowe, Heather K Dahlstrom, Geoff Ewart
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Shin-Chi’s Canoe
Through his father’s gift of a secret and tiny hand-carved cedar canoe, an Indigenous child discovers the strength and resilience to endure his first year at a residential school.
Director
Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua)
Writers
Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua), Kate Kroll
Cast
Zayne Jasper
Producers
Kate Kroll, Allan Hopkins (N’quatwua)
Genre
Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Family Relationships
Original Languages
English, Other Language
SARS-CoV-2
We have been changed in innumerable ways by the historical event of SARS-CoV-2. Ways that we haven’t begun to comprehend. In this short, an individual reflects on the chaos and monotony of the past year.
Director
Andrew Huculiak
Writer
Andrew Huculiak
Cast
Emily Schoen
Producer
Josh Huculiak
Genre
Documentary
Interest
Global Experiences
Original Language
English
Good Girls Don’t
A Filipino girl is constantly told by her parents that only boys play sports, and only a divine intervention will change their mind.
Content Note: Graphic Content & Religious Themes
Director
Ana de Lara
Writer
Ana de Lara
Cast
Lorne Cardinal (Cree), Jane McLean, Evryle Ebora
Producer
Michelle Morris
Genres
Comedy, Drama, Family
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Director
Charles Officer
Actor, writer and filmmaker Officer’s first feature, Nurse.Fighter.Boy, was nominated for 10 Genies, winning one. Officer also directed the docs Mighty Jerome, The Skin We're In, Unarmed Verses, and Invisible Essence: The Little Prince, as well as the feature Akilla's Escape, which won five CSAs. He has recently directed episodes of Coroner, and executive produced and co-directed The Porter. He’s also the executive producer of the upcoming docs The Art of Dance and Emmanuel.
Writer
Charles Officer
Cast
Nykeem Provo
Producers
Tracey Friesen, Selwyn Jacob
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports
Original Language
English
Kayak to Klemtu
When a prominent Kitasoo/Xai’Xais activist passes away, his 14-year-old niece Ella (Blaney) embarks on a kayak journey to take his ashes home to Klemtu. It’s a race against the clock as Ella tries to make it back in time to give a speech protesting a proposed pipeline that would cross Indigenous land.
Ella is joined by her aunt, cousin and grumpy uncle (Cardinal), as the four paddle with all their might through the Inside Passage and past the shores of the Great Bear Rainforest. Join this family on the adventure of a lifetime that reflects on the importance of protecting our lands for future generations.
Winner of the 2017 imagineNATIVE Audience Choice Award.
Director
Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk)
Hopkins is an alumna of the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program, and has directed numerous shorts, including Button Blanket, Mohawk Midnight Runners, Impossible to Contain and a segment of The Embargo Project. She has directed the features Kayak to Klemtu and Run Woman Run, which won the Audience Choice award at imagineNATIVE 2021. She is currently writing and directing the series Little Bird.
Writers
Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Heiltsuk/Mohawk), Michael Sparaga
Cast
Lorne Cardinal (Cree), Ta’kaiya Blaney (Tla'amin), Evan Adams (Tla'amin)
Producer
Daniel Bekerman
Genres
Action/Adventure, Family
Interests
Environment, ESL, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Into the Forest
As with many science fiction stories, the scariest thing isn’t the loss of power, but the quick disintegration of human society. Without electricity or fuel, the threat of a lawless and terrifying existence looms near, even in the remote woods that the sisters call home. Page and Wood deliver fabulous performances, showcasing a range of emotions as the limits of their sanity, safety and family are tested.
Director
Patricia Rozema
Writer
Patricia Rozema
Cast
Elliot Page, Evan Rachel Wood, Max Minghella, Callum Keith Rennie
Producers
Niv Fichman, Aaron L. Gilbert, Elliot Page
Genre
Drama
Interest
Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English