Artistic Policy

imagineNATIVE considers film, video, radio and new media works made by Canadian and international Indigenous artists. In programming work for imagineNATIVE, the festival strives to represent a diversity of ideas, themes and genres in its programming, seeking representations of subjects that would not necessarily be made available through the mainstream forms of media. The festival prioritizes works that balance unique and new perspectives expressed within the content of the work, cultural and social relevance, a creative approach to form characterized by innovative expression, distinctive style, personal vision, as well as the practice of crossing aesthetic borders in terms of genre, medium and emerging content platforms. Priority is given to works that have not yet been broadcast in Canada. International and Canadian premiere status is also a consideration. Selection criteria for the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is based on:

• Artistic excellence;
• Innovation in representations, content, aesthetic form and genre;
• Relevance of the work to the Indigenous community and to general Canadian audiences as a whole;
• Relevance of the piece in terms of form and content, with consideration to emerging themes and issues that present themselves during the programming process, which create an artistic framework for the overall program
• A key member of the creative team (director, writer, producer) must self-identify as Indigenous.

imagineNATIVE is committed to a fair and democratic selection process. All works that meet eligibility requirements detailed in our submission process are considered, short-listed, and selected by the Programming Committee. Juries, consisting of community members including, at minimum, one indigenous member and one imagineNATIVE board member, choose winners for the festival's annual awards. imagineNATIVE’s Jury Guidelines state: “We especially support works that are innovative in form and content – ones that are creating a new aesthetic language and that contain new ways of telling stories, specifically from an Indigenous perspective.”

A note from the Programming Team:

We, the Programming Team, comprised of a group of peers and Festival employees, appreciates the dedication of all the artists who feel that their work compliments the artistic mandate, policy and vision of imagineNATIVE in the presentation their work. The programming process at imagineNATIVE is an involved and challenging one, and we wish to share with submitting artists that many factors are considered when selecting works. Decisions are made by consensus, with considerable thought and discussion during programming deliberations. If a film is not programmed, it is not a comment on individual achievements, nor does it reflect the artistic value of the work. Outside of our eligibility terms, artistic and programming policies, the programming process also includes considerations such as available programming slots, scheduling, thematic arcs, and representing the diversity of artistic and cultural perspectives from Indigenous nations in Canada and around the world.

We receive hundreds of submissions and the process of accepting and declining works is a necessary, but emotional, experience for everyone involved. As artists, we understand how difficult it can be to receive such news. We appreciate feedback on our processes, and in return are pleased to provide alternative exhibition strategies for your work beyond the official program. We hope to continue to receive your works and look forward to meeting you at the Festival.