Visitors to Victoria, British Columbia might want to plan if they want to take part at F1RST: A Celebration of Aboriginal Film while here. This short movie marathon run by the folks from the Victoria Film Festival is now in its second year. It may well be replacing Feast Food+Film, an event that may have ended when the pandemic hit.
In this follow-up to last week’s post, this introduction provides more information about this sophomore event and what to expect next. After this show is Free-B Summer Nights screenings at Beacon Hill Park.
When a lot of events, operations, and festivals, including this blog, makes our home in this region, we are all honoured to be based on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
As an individual who loves studying the legends and lore from these traditional worlds, including that from Australia to Egypt to Zimbabwe, there’s mystique to be found. A portion of the films presented at this local event not only explore aspects of this culture in that context but also in the modern day. I’ll also be providing a bit of coverage. I’ll post those reviews closer to the event.
From the Press Release:
The event, organized by the Victoria Film Festival, will have 11 feature films, and one program of shorts celebrating the work of B.C. Indigenous filmmaker Amanda Strong, who will be in attendance at the screening. Strong will also be one of three Indigenous people who will be leading filmmaking workshops for youth. In addition, the Festival will host a panel with funders and a grant-writing workshop for emerging Indigenous filmmakers. All the workshops and panels are free with registration.
“As the first Indigenous Project Coordinator hired, I am excited to help the Victoria Film Festival grow this important event. I want to establish meaningful and lasting relationships with Indigenous people within the film industry to create an uplifting and celebratory F1RST festival,” said Katie Pootoogook Manomie, an Inuk woman born in Nunavut, raised in the T’Sou’ke Nation, and currently an invited guest from Skip Dick in Lekwungen Territory.
The lək̓wəŋən Traditional Dancers will perform before the opening film #skoden on Thursday, June 19. #skoden director Damien Eagle Bear, who recently won Hot Docs’ Earl A. Glick Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award, will be in attendance. On Saturday, June 21, in celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, a free, all-ages screening of Reel Injun will be held. This Canadian documentary examines the portrayal of Indigenous people in film.
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