imagineNATIVE at the Berlinale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4 February 2013

imagineNATIVE at the Berlinale
Prestigious Festival Spotlights Indigenous Cinema

 (Toronto) – The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is thrilled to announce the presentation of Reel Kanata, curated by Jason Ryle, at the Embassy of Canada in Berlin, Germany. Reel Kanata is presented during the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) as an independent screening funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. The 63^rd Berlinale from 7-17 February 2013 launches NATIVe - A Journey Into Indigenous Cinema, a special three-year series spotlighting international Indigenous film and video.

“The Berlinale has long been a supporter of Indigenous works and a friend of imagineNATIVE,” says Jason Ryle, imagineNATIVE’s Executive Director. “This prestigious festival will further promote what is becoming increasingly evident: that Indigenous Cinema is one of the cinematic world’s most exciting, innovative and creative movements.”

In celebration of Indigenous talent in Canada, and with support from the Canada Council, Jason curated a screening showcasing 12 contemporary film and video works created by some of Canada’s most talented Indigenous filmmakers. imagineNATIVE has a strong presence at the NATIVe spotlight in Berlin: in addition to serving as one of the spotlight’s international Advisors, Jason is also a panellist on the Berlinale’s Talent Campus: Indigenous Cinema, Beyond Tribe and Nation session and is moderating Telefilm Canada’s Talent To Watch: Sacred Female Voices panel.

“This year’s Berlinale will be a very special meeting place of Indigenous artists, Indigenous arts leaders, and international industry professionals celebrating our cinema,” Jason adds. “It is an unprecedented spotlight from one of the world’s most esteemed film festivals.”

For full details on the NATIVe series at the Berlinale, visit www.berlinale.de.

To set a meeting with Jason Ryle in Berlin, please email jryle@imagineNATIVE.org.

Reel Kanata Screening Times:
Monday, 11 February, 15:30-17:00
Thursday, 14 February, 14:00-15:30
Location: Embassy of Canada, Leipziger Platz 17, Potsdamer Platz

Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch: Sacred Female Voices:
Monday, 11 February, 13:30-14:30
Location: Embassy of Canada

Talent Campus: Indigenous Cinema, Beyond Tribe and Nation:
Wednesday, 13 February, 11:00-12:30
Location: Hebbel am Ufer 3 (HAU3), Tempelhofer Ufer 10

About the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

imagineNATIVE is an international festival that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples at the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. Each October, the Festival presents a selection of the most compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe. The Festival's screenings, parties, panel discussions, and cultural events attract and connect filmmakers, media artists, programmers, buyers, and industry professionals. The works accepted reflect the diversity of the world's Indigenous nations and illustrate the vitality and excellence of our art and culture in contemporary media.

The 14th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival takes place October 16-20, 2013.

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For more info contact:

Isidra Cruz | programming@imaginenative.org | +1 416 585-2333