Photo: Still from short subject – non-fiction nominee, Athegus.
This year’s Yorkton Film Festival is underway, running from May 23 to May 25. Debuting in 1947, this annual festival brings filmmakers, movie lovers and industry insiders together in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in celebration of screen-based media content and short video content.
Festivities begin with opening night film, Wilfred Buck, a debut feature documentary from Anishinaabe filmmaker Lisa Jackson (Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program). Rob Hardy (NSI Totally Television) will be part of a festival committee coffee talk on Friday morning. Indigenous Screen Office CEO Kerry Swanson (NSI Drama Prize) will share her insights on changing and evolving in the industry on a Saturday morning panel. Actor, producer and showrunner Jennifer Podemski (NSI Global Marketing) will share her skills, experience and storytelling talent in a master class on Saturday afternoon.
Christine Kleckner will make her festival debut as the National Screen Institute’s executive director. She will be joined in Yorkton by senior programs manager Ursula Lawson and manager of programs and development Jessica Gibson.
During the festival, the prestigious Golden Sheaf Awards are awarded to films as decided by jury. This year’s crop of films up for a Golden Sheaf Award include 25 National Screen Institute alumni with an impressive 27 nominations, including Athegus, developed by Glen Reid through NSI IndigiDocs. Please join us in congratulating the following National Screen Institute alumni and 2024 Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheaf Awards nominees.
Labeled: The Missing, Murdered, and Forgotten – produced by Sam Reid (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Treaty Road – directed and produced by Candy Fox (NSI IndigiDocs)
Emerging Filmmaker Award
Hair or No Hair – directed and produced by Janessa St. Pierre (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Indigenous Award
Ohskennón:ten Owí:ra (Little Deer) – produced by Jessie Anthony (NSI Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition)
Terror/Forming – directed and produced by Rylan Friday (TELUS STORYHIVE); produced by Jordan Waunch (TELUS STORYHIVE), Cole Vandale (Access BIPOC Producers)
Treaty Road – directed and produced by Candy Fox (NSI IndigiDocs)
Mental Health
Erase & Rewind – produced by Ashleigh Rains (NSI Totally Television)
Ruth Shaw Award (Best of Saskatchewan)
ZARQA Season 2 – directed by Candy Fox (NSI IndigiDocs)
Animation
Old Dragon Man – directed and produced by Doug Cook (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Warrior Up! (episode 1) – directed and produced by David Finch (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Totally Television); directed by Ossie Michelin (EAVE On Demand Access Program), Angie-Pepper O’Bomsawin (NSI Art of Business Management – Indigenous Edition); produced by Maureen Marovitch (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Global Marketing)
Community Television Production
The Moose Whisperer – Prince Albert National Park – directed and produced by Curtis McGillivray (Saskatchewan Crew Training for the Film + TV Industry)
Documentary Arts/Culture
Waking Spirits Up: Indigenous Contemporary Art – directed and produced by Lese Skidmore (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Documentary History & Biography
Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher – produced by Kat Baulu (NSI Drama Prize)
Documentary Series
Farm Crime – directed by Kat Jayme (TELUS STORYHIVE), Alexandra Lazarowich, (NSI IndigiDocs)
The Other Side Season 9 – Episode 2 – Alley Of The Dead – produced by Wally Start (NSI Global Marketing)
Documentary Social/Political
Labeled: The Missing, Murdered, and Forgotten – produced by Sam Reid (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Performing Arts & Entertainment
I Pity the Country – directed and produced by Lisa Jackson (Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program)
Following Folk: Beatrice Deer – directed and produced by Eva Brownstein (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Float Away – directed and produced by Doug Cook (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Series
ZARQA Season 2 – directed by Candy Fox (NSI IndigiDocs)
Short Subject – Fiction (Over 15 Minutes)
Terror/Forming – directed and produced by Rylan Friday (TELUS STORYHIVE); produced by Jordan Waunch (TELUS STORYHIVE), Cole Vandale (Access BIPOC Producer)
Short Subject – Non-Fiction
The Root of It All – directed and produced by Kalyn Edworthy (TELUS STORYHIVE)
Athegus – developed through NSI IndigiDocs by Glen Reid
