Formed in 1998 though a partnership with V-tape, Canada’s largest independent video distribution centre, the non-profit Centre for Aboriginal Media (CAM) devotes itself to the professional support and development of Aboriginal peoples in the media industry.

CAM achieves its goals through several projects, specifically the imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, the imagineNATIVE Film & Video Tour, and the upcoming CAM Online Media Database. One of the first Canadian organizations to celebrate and promote Aboriginal media arts, all CAM programs provide necessary exposure to Aboriginal filmmakers and multimedia artists whose work is not widely accessible.

The imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival Mandate:
To advance the appreciation and knowledge of Aboriginal media arts by promoting festival film screenings, performances, and workshops featuring established and emerging local, Canadian, and international Aboriginal artists.

CAM’s Programmes

imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival
Now in its fourth year, the imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival is held every October in downtown Toronto, Canada. The festival provides an important forum for artists and industry professionals to connect with their peers and funders, distributors, and programmers from Canada and around the world.

imagineNATIVE includes the best in Canadian and international Aboriginally produced film, video, radio, television and multimedia as well as workshops, panel discussions, and cultural events. The works accepted reflect the world’s indigenous nations and illustrate the vitality and excellence of our art and culture in contemporary media.

An essential stop on North America's film festival circuit, imagineNATIVE has presented over 200 productions from around the world since its inception in 2000. Each year, the festival focuses on different countries for the international spotlight. Past festivals focused on works from Taiwan, Australia & New Zealand, and Russia. This year’s festival spotlights Brazil.

Check out imagineNATIVE’s successful and informative industry workshops for emerging and established film, radio, television, video, and multi-media artists. Headed by some of the most highly regarded media professionals today, our free workshops provide an invaluable opportunity to meet and connect with festival delegates, producers, directors, actors, emerging artists, and sponsors.

We are proud of our commitment to Canadian and international artists and we are proud of encouraging collaboration and exchange with world-renowned international artists.

imagineNATIVE Film & Video Tour
The annual tour travels to First Nations and other non-urban communities to broaden the audience of independent Aboriginal film, video, and media.

CAM Online Media Database
Scheduled to be launched in 2004, the CAM database will list Aboriginal media artists, producers, industry professionals, funding sources, distributors, broadcasters, festivals, and other valuable resource information. Please fill out this form (link to database page CGI script form, to be completed later)

imagineNATIVE: A New Millennium Time Capsule 2000
The imagineNATIVE CD-ROM is a celebratory and informative view of the course being charted by Aboriginal media artists in the new millennium. Featuring essays, web links, and short works, the time capsule captures a slice of the exciting world of Aboriginal media.

Artistic Policy & Role

Acting as a conduit for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal contacts, CAM builds bridges between artists and relevant companies. CAM also advocates on behalf of artists at conferences and festivals across Canada. CAM acts as a headhunting agency for those seeking Aboriginal media professionals and as a career counsellor for those looking to join production companies.

CAM’s main objective is to promote Canadian Aboriginal media artists whose work is not widely accessible to the Canadian and international audience.

In the Beginning…
Since 1997 CAM has been involved in a partnership with V-tape, Canada’s largest independent video distribution centre and holder of North America's largest collection of Aboriginally procuded work. Together we promote Aboriginally produced films and videos and continually develop an international network of programmers, producers, distributors, and funders to assist in getting Aboriginal media art seen by the general public. It was from this partnership that CAM's main project, the imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, was born.