The Lesser Blessed

Director Anita Doron
Year 2012
Run Time 86min
Genre Drama
Fort Simmer, Northwest Territories is a tough place for teenager Larry Sole (Joel Evans) to grow up in. Larry, both fragile and angry, is seeking a place to belong. His tenuous relationships with his friends, his family, and his Indigenous identity have left him feeling vulnerable, and the violence and drugs that surround him threaten to pull him down. 

Anita Doron explores questions of identity, ancestry and belonging in this sensitive and tender coming-of-age story that is brought to life by the powerful performance of Evans. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival, and was nominated for four awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the Canadian Screen Awards. 

"An impressive debut by Evans, whose brown eyes are both soulful and watchful. It's a performance that commands our attention and empathy." - Bruce Demara, The Toronto Star

Director

Anita Doron

Writer

Anita Doron

Cast

Joel Evans, Benjamin Bratt, Kiowa Gordon, Chloe Rose

Producer

Christina Provesan

Genre

Drama

Interest

Female Filmmaker

Original Language

English

The Sun at Midnight

Director Kirsten Carthew
Year 2016
Run Time 93min
Genre Action/Adventure, Drama
Set and shot at the Arctic Circle, The Sun At Midnight tells the story of an unexpected friendship between a hunter obsessed with finding a missing caribou herd and a teenage rebel who gets lost while on the run.

After her mother dies, 16-year-old "urban princess" Lia (Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs – who won an award at the Whistler Film Festival for her performance) is sent to spend the summer with her Gwich’in grandmother in a small community in the far north. Desperate to get back to city life, she steals a boat and heads south.

As might be expected, she quickly gets lost, and is soon discovered by Alfred (Howard), a Gwich’in hunter who reluctantly helps her navigate the unfamiliar wilderness. Set in the stunning landscape of the Arctic Circle, this charming coming of age drama tells the story of the unlikely friendship that arises between them.

"A truly inspirational masterpiece that I hope everyone has a chance to see." – Blake Priddle, CKLB Radio

Director

Kirsten Carthew

Writer

Kirsten Carthew

Cast

Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Mohawk), Duane Howard (Nuu-chah-nulth), Sarah Jerome, Mark Anderako, William Greenland

Producers

Kirsten Carthew, Amos Scott (Dene)

Genres

Action/Adventure, Drama

Interest

Female Filmmaker

Original Language

English