Tantoo to speak at Native film festival

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Well-known Metis actress, Tantoo Martin-Cardinal, will be one of the featured speakers at the first ever World Festival of Aboriginal Motion Pictures, October 8 to 11 here.

The hosts of the conference are the Pincher Creek Film Society, in co-operation with the five Indian tribes in Southern Alberta: the Bloods, Peigan, Stoney, Blackfoot, Sarcees and the Blackfeet tribe in Montana.

Suzann Lorinczi, one of the organizers, said that the festival is an opportunity for Aboriginal film makers to gain exposure and interact with others in their craft. She said entries will be welcomed from all over the world, wherever there are films and videos produced by, for and about Aboriginal people.

She added it's a non-competitive festival and expects more than 60 films and videos. About 1,000 people are expected to attend the four day festival.

Widely acclaimed festure felms such as the Four Bands in Hobbema motion picture, Running Brave, and Phil Lucas' production "The Honor of All" will be shown. Lorinczi says the festival is also an opportunity for Aboriginal film makers to learn and share information about the film industry.

Workshops and seminars tentatively scheduled include marketing and distribution of films and a personal recount by Martin-Cardinal on how to break into the motion picture business. Other workshops planned have not yet been finalized, said Lorinczi.

Other well-known Aboriginal film makers who will be in attendance are Alanis Obomsewin who will premiere her documentary on Richard Cardinal. The film is based on the tragic story of a young Cree boy in Alberta who committed suicide last year. He had been placed in a number of white foster homes.

The response to the film festival is encouraging, says Lorinczi. She and other staff members of the Pincher Creek Film Festival attended the recent National Aboriginal Communications Society conference in Banff to create awareness of the festival.

"There was so much interest and enthusiasm about the festival. A lot of people said they'll submit entries," said Lorinczi.

A press release from the film society organizers stated the festival is open to all levels of expertise in the film industry. "We hope film makers will be stimulated and encouraged to continue in their efforts to express their very different views of the world."

Lorinczi said the film festival will place Pincher Creek on the map, along with well-known film centres such as Banff, Yorkton, Toronto and Montreal.

A North American art exhibition, a ceremonial powwow and feast, Native displays and other existing cultural components will enhance the festival. A fashion show displaying the works of Blood fashion designer, Gerri Many Fingers, will also be shown.

Other committee members of film society are Percy Smith, manager; Lee Montgomery, public relations and Cory Holland, workshop coordinator.

The film society's festival theme is 'Searches' and is officially called Indian Summer Aboriginal Motion Pictures.