MANITOULIN—The red carpet was a popular spot for a quick photo as the stars, directors and producers joined fans of great cinema in taking part in the 2023 Weengushk International Film Festival (WIFF), but the real action was taking place inside the venues set up in Aundeck Omni Kaning’s Four Directions Complex and the M’Chigeeng Community Complex, Elder’s Centre and Youth Centre, as films from around the world were being screened throughout the weekend.
The festival began with opening ceremonies that featured songs by the Bell Rock, performances by youth dancers and Bell Rock, an amazing young hoop dancer who brought that traditional dance form to the floor with a modern twist.
Two films, ‘Rose’ and ‘A Winter Love’ were screened on the opening night at the Four Directions Complex.
WIFF founder Dr. Shirley Cheechoo C.M. welcomed the attendees and congratulated the volunteers, performers, jury, board of directors, donors, sponsors, funders and communities without whom “WIFF wouldn’t be possible.”
Executive Director Phyliss Ellis performed the role of master of ceremonies for the opening night and joined Bridget Dockstader in a question and answer session with ‘A Winter Love’ director, writer and actor Rhianna Yazzie. Ms. Yazzie’s film follows Blue, a 35-year-old Navajo singer songwriter whose creative spark has been quenched by a series of bad relationships.
Ms. Yazzie explained that she set out to create a film that spoke to the experiences and lives of Indigenous people without a focus on “educating” non-Indigenous peoples. “I wanted people to look up at what was happening on the screen and be able to say ‘hey, that’s my life, I recognize that world’.”
Musical performances by Leland Bell, Juno Award winner Vern Cheechoo and the blues stylings of the incomparable Murray Porter capped the evening.
Following a weekend of outstanding feature and short length films and documentaries, the Sunday evening gala capped the festival with awards for those films chosen by the jury as best in their class. Presenters were Maria Cheechoo, a M’Chigeeng Oji-Cree youth and Nayala O’Connor, also from M’Chigeeng.
The Special Recognition Spirit Award, celebrating “the extraordinary accomplishments of a person who is successful in the arts and for their many years of devoting their life to the community” was awarded to Theland Kicknosway.
The Special Recognition Builders Award is awarded to “an individual who builds on our Indigenous community; and who has supported youth in more ways than one.” This year’s recipient was also the opening night keynote speaker, Kendall Netwmaker.
The Award of Excellence recognizes “an individual who distinguished themselves as leaders or outstanding advocates by inspiring or instilling a culture of excellence in promoting Indigenous arts.” This year’s recipient is Mason Wesley, a 21-year-old all-star hockey player and youth leader.
The Blake Debassige Emerging Artist Award is given “to an emerging artist to carry on the Anishnawbe voice for the next generation in the arts.” Mr. Debassige ba is the late husband of Dr. Cheechoo. His sister Cynthia, mother Pauline and brother Kevin were onstage to present the award to this year’s recipient, Courtnee Osawabine.
Mr. Netwmaker was called back to the stage to receive the Special Recognition Builders Award, for “an individual who builds on our Indigenous community; and who has supported youth in more ways than one.”
The Clearing the Path Award is presented to “an individual who has taken bold steps to improve diversity and inclusion through an innovative approach that promotes and provides stifled youth voices in mainstream media.” This year’s award was presented to veteran Canadian Indigenous actor Graham Greene. Mr. Green provided a short inspirational response via video.
The Culture Enrichment Award recognizes “a person that enriches one’s view of cultural differences with an eye toward replacing bad ideas about others culture with well-informed ones and enhances awareness for the world to see.” This year’s recipient is Derek Miller.
The WIFF Humanitarian Award recognizes “an individual or group who actively engages in promoting the welfare and social advancement of the community and its youth.” Recipients of the 2023 Humanitarian Awards were Barry and Laurie Green, for their many contributions to Indigenous organizations, and Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, for his work in bringing clean water to communities. Mr. Green accepted the award in person, Mr. Reynolds gave a brief acceptance speech by video.
The Cultural Enrichment Award recognizes “a person that enriches one’s view of cultural differences with an eye toward replacing bad ideas about other’s culture with well-informed ones and enhances awareness for the world to see.” This year’s recipient is Derek Miller.
The Merit Special Recognition goes to “a person whose work performance is outstanding and has shown successful achievements with their film business.” This year the award went to Sterlin Harjo, an American film and television director.
The Icon Award is presented to “an individual who has been instrumental in bringing music and arts to a wide audience.” This year, the award was presented to Murray Porter, an Indigenous icon whose music career has taken him all over the world for the last four decades.
The Joshua Mark Yesno Tribute Award “honours an individual who overcame adversity and has achieved great strides in the advancement of youth by providing opportunities to those whose voice is stifled in mainstream media.” This year’s recipient of the Joshua Mark Yesno Tribute Award is Shannen Koostachin ba. Ms. Koostach became a leader of the largest youth-led children’s rights campaign in Canadian history called Students Helping Students. Ms. Koostachin was killed in a tragic car accident in the spring of 2010.
The Legendary Award goes “to a person whose epic career is in its twilight. A person who has given dignity to their community. This person is more original and influential than just about anyone in their time.” Keith Secola is cited as “an icon and ambassador of Native music.”
Emma Morrison received the Youth Distinction Award. Ms. Morrison is Canadian pageant titleholder and the first indigenous person to win Miss Teenage Canada in 2022.
The award ceremony was presented with a screening of a student film by Presley Owl Meawasige (the original screening had been truncated by a technical challenge). The film, ‘Raining Sisters,’ presented a short horror genre film that leveraged Indigenous legends and land-based filmmaking that kept the audience glued to the screen. Ms. Meawasige was presented with the Best Student Film Award.
A quote from Ms. Meawasige was featured prominently in the WIFF guide. “You can’t dream of the moon if you’ve never seen it.”
Best Actor went to Rhiana Yazzie for her work in ‘A Winter Love.’
Best Short Narrative went to ‘Rose’ by Roxann Whitebean.
Best Short Documentary went to ‘Our Love’ by Maori filmmaker Valeriya Golovina.
Best Writing went to Bruce Miller for ‘Conviction.’
Best Documentary Feature went to ‘La Gente De La Tierra’ by Mitchell Tijerina and Benjamin Keller.
Documentary for his efforts. The feature film length doc can also run as a six-part series. photo by Michael Erskine
Best Director went to Shane Belcourt for ‘The Beautiful Scars of Tom Wilson.’
Best Feature Film went to Rhiana Yazzie for ‘A Winter Love.’
The Special Jury Prize went to Faith Hill for ‘The Nature of Healing.’
The Best Short Documentary, by Ukranian filmmakers Valeriya Golovina for ‘MAWHIALEO OTE ALOWHA’ (Our Love).
Each of the award recipients were presented with carvings created by Russell Noganosh and Sherry Dunstan. Each of the carvings are unique. Mr. Noganosh is an Indigenous artist from Henvey Inlet and a ‘60s Scoop survivor. Ms. Dunstan was born in British Columbia and began learning to carve soapstone under the mentorship of her uncle, Tommy Dunstan.
The closing musical performance was provided by the Quarantined Quartet. The group is comprised of husband and wife owners of New York Guitar Academy and their two sons, Joseph (10) and Noah (8). The Latin style music combined familiar compositions with a number of their own creations. The accomplished musicians have appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show, NBC News, ABC, CBS, SGN and performed at the Lincoln Centre.
