Dreamspeakers branches out to attract varied crowd

The Dreamspeakers Film Festival has evolved into an attraction that draws in movie buffs from all walks of life.  In the 15th year of the event, careful selection of film screenings resonates with residents outside of the Aboriginal community.

“We are starting to get more recognition, because we are bringing more thought-provoking films to the audiences and we are starting to tap into the non-Aboriginal community,” said Dreamspeakers board member Robb Campre.

Dreamspeakers executive director Helen Calahasen said she was thrilled to see an increase of people at the screenings this year. She too noticed a diverse crowd, specifically at the showing of the Edmonton-based film The Plateau.

“We had a number of people out for that particular event and I would say 90 per cent of that audience was non-Native,” said Calahasen.

Some of the features that generated buzz from local media were documentaries created by filmmakers from around the world.

Reel Injun documents the American travels of filmmaker Neil Diamond as he recounts the Hollywood movies made about Native people over the last 100 years and how they have shaped the way Indians are seen by the world.
Maria Sabina: mujer espÌritu, directed by Mexican filmmaker Nicol·s EchevarrÌa, is a documentary about the most well known Mexican Indigenous woman.

The finale film was H2Oil. Produced and directed by Montreal-born Shannon Walsh, the 88-minute feature explores the tensions between the lucrative Alberta oil sands industry and residents who are forced to suffer the consequences. Water shortage, health and general environmental impacts are explored, with a specific concentration on the members of Mikisew First Nation in Fort Chipewyan.

“This particular film is near and dear to the Aboriginal community because it is about the environment and environmental stewardship going forward,” explained Campre, who hosted the film screening, which included audience members from the Fort Chipewyan community.
Walsh travelled to northern Alberta in 2006 and premiered the film in May 2009 at the HotDocs Documentary Festival.

“To me the Alberta audiences are the most important audiences because it’s happening right in their backyard,” said Walsh, who was excited to find out her film would be screened at Dreamspeakers.

Fort Chipewyan resident and oil sands activist George Poitras, featured in H2Oil, attended the screening and answered questions from the audience about the current status of his community.

The oil sands still continue in the community of 1,200, but both Poitras and Walsh commented on how the film has helped raise awareness about the issue.

“I think the film has had a big effect in terms of mobilizing people to get involved in what is happening in the tar sands,” said Walsh. “Now there is a lot more public support, but there wasn’t then.”

Films screened at Dreamspeakers are chosen by a volunteer selection committee. The 2010 Dreamspeakers Film Festival took place between June 2 to 5 at Metro Cinema and the Stanley Milner Library in Edmonton.