Indigenous Works at the VIFF

Indigenous Works at the Vancouver International Film Festival (Sept 26 – Oct 6)

Written by Keira Lumley and Cynthia Lung| Sept 27, 2024

Truth and Reconciliation day is around the corner, please enjoy some Indigenous films offered by the VIFF!


Indigenous Movies

“Seeds” |Watch on Sept 29th & Oct 1st

In this wild home invasion comedy thriller, Ziggy is a young Mohawk social media influencer who runs into danger when she returns to her family’s place on the rez and comes under attack by a mysterious stranger trying to steal her family’s heirloom seeds.

“The Stand” |Watch on Oct 1st & 5th

This rousing doc explores a 1985 dispute over clearcut logging on Haida Gwaii. Taking us from canny retrospective commentary to the thick of the action, director Chris Auchter employs animation and a wealth of archival footage to riveting effect.

“Ninan Auassat: We the Children” |Watch on Oct 4 th & 5th

In this wild home invasion comedy thriller, Ziggy is a young Mohawk social media influencer who runs into danger when she returns to her family’s place on the rez and comes under attack by a mysterious stranger trying to steal her family’s heirloom seeds.

“40 Acres” |Watch on Sept 30th & Oct 2nd

Two hundred years after the first Civil War, the descendants of African American farmers who settled in rural Canada struggle to keep famine at bay. Hailey Freeman (Danielle Deadwyler) and her husband Galen (Michael Greyeyes) have raised their kids to live off the land and protect their home. Their safety and comfort are interrupted when a bloodthirsty band of cannibals discovers their sanctuary.R.T. Thorne’s extensive resume in TV and music videos comes through in his exciting debut feature about a family in peril. The Black and Indigenous cast shines with Deadwyler and Greyeyes turning in powerful performances as parents desperate to protect their family, and Kataem O’Connor as Emanuel, the eldest son, who flirts with disaster when he discovers a young woman on the other side of the fence.


Short Films

“Delta Dawn (Film Short)” |Watch on Sept 28 – 29th

This documentary follows Dawn Murphy, or “Princess Delta Dawn”, who rose to fame in the 1980s and early 1990s and became the first Indigenous woman wrestler and the first Canadian woman wrestler to compete in Japan.

“Culture Shock (Film Short)” |Watch on Oct 3 – 4

This documentary follows Dawn Murphy, or “Princess Delta Dawn”, who rose to fame in the 1980s and early 1990s and became the first Indigenous woman wrestler and the first Canadian woman wrestler to compete in Japan.

“Uncommon Ground (Film Short)” |Watch on Oct 5 – 6

In the year 2171, Tawni and her aunt live in the Shadowlands. While on a journey to the capital for medicine, Tawni discovers a plane crash survivor and risks her own safety to treat him.

“Inkwo: For When the Starving Return (Film Short)” |Watch on Oct 6th

Set two lifetimes in the future. Dove, a gender-shifting warrior, uses their Indigenous medicine (Inkwo) to protect their community from an unburied swarm of terrifying creatures.


Live Performances

“Elisapie – Uvattini (Live Performance)” |Watch on Sept 28th

Set two lifetimes in the future. Dove, a gender-shifting warrior, uses their Indigenous medicine (Inkwo) to protect their community from an unburied swarm of terrifying creatures.

“Jeremy Dutcher & Alanis Obomsawin (Live Performance)” |Watch on Oct 4th

Set two lifetimes in the future. Dove, a gender-shifting warrior, uses their Indigenous medicine (Inkwo) to protect their community from an unburied swarm of terrifying creatures.


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