Dreamspeakers International Aboriginal Film Festival

Dreamspeakers International Aboriginal Film Festival

Edmonton, Alberta hosts the 16th Annual Dreamspeakers International Aboriginal Film Festival from June 1 to 4. What makes this film festival different than others is its strong focus: it gives voice to Aboriginal communities and concerns, not simply from Canada but around the world.  

"This year's submissions have included works from India, Taiwan, South America, Greenland, Mexico, Phillipines and a good showing from Canada too," explains Helen Calahasen, Executive Director.  Calahasen stresses that "variety" is the key to what you can expect to experience.  "We have everything from comedy, drama, and music videos as well as some excellent documentaries."

The festival's opening night film is New Zealand director Taika Waititi's Boy, based on his Oscar-nominated short Two Cars, One Night. It's a heartwarming and funny coming of age story set in 1984. "It's a great film you can see over and over again," raves Calahasen. 

Equally impressive is the festival's stirring documentary Long Road Home, directed by Albertan Susan Feddema-Leonard. It focuses on a 14-day trek made my descendants of six families evicted from - and returning to - their homeland in the Athabasca Valley.

Throughout the year, Dreamspeakers also mentors Aboriginal youth through its Dreamspeakers On Tour program.  Film and television professionals take students from basic skills to a finished product (often a short film), all in the course of one year.

For details about the Dreamspeakers International Aboriginal Film Festival visit the official web site at www.dreamspeakers.org

For more information about other top events and festivals in Alberta, visit the Alberta annual events and festivals page at Top Events Canada