The 10th Annual
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Ends a Hugely Successful 10th Year
With A Substantial 20% Rise In Sales At The Box Office
And Honours Filmmakers With Some Esteemed Awards

(Toronto – October 19, 2009) imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival came to a close last night with an awards reception at The Mod Club. Hosted by Jennifer Podemski - award-winning actress, co-founder of Big Soul Productions and founder of Red Cloud Studios – it was a packed house filled with filmmakers, musicians, artists, media and industry.

This record-breaking 10th year ended with significant results, with increased box office attendance and well over 70 filmmakers in attendance from Canada and around the world. The festival’s Opening Night screening of Reel Injun sold out at The Bloor Cinema with over 800 people in attendance, and the Closing Night screening of Barking Water also sold out at The Royal. In fact, this year’s festival included more sold out screenings than in any previous year before. And with this comes a huge spike in sales with over a 20% jump at the box office.

"This year's festival once again exceeded all of our expectations in terms of audience participation and enthusiasm,” says Executive Director Kerry Swanson. “Not only is it exciting to see the festival gain momentum year after year, it is a testament to the quality of work being produced by Indigenous artists and the hunger from audiences to access the work."

Awards were presented to the following:
For full winning details, including jurors and nominees, click here

BEST DRAMATIC FEATURE
BURWA DII EBO (THE WIND AND THE WATER) directed by Vero Bollow and the Igar Yala Collective
honourable mention
BARKING WATER, directed by Sterlin Harjo

BEST CANADIAN SHORT DRAMA
SHI-SHI-ETKO, produced by Marilyn Thomas

BEST SHORT DRAMA
TUNGIJUQ, Executive Produced by Zacharius Kunuk, an Igloolik Isuma Production
honourable mention
SHIMASANI directed by Blackhorse Lowe

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
HOW PEOPLE GOT FIRE, Animated by Chris Auchter
honourable mention
WELCOME directed by Daniel Gerson

THE ALANIS OBOMSAWIN BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD
CBQM directed by Dennis Allen
honourable mention
REEL INJUN directed by Neil Diamond

BEST EXPERIMENTAL
HORSE, directed by Archer Pechawis
honourable mention
INUKSHOP directed Jobie Weetaluktuk

BEST ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RADIO
Wabanakwut Kinew’s REVISION QUEST
honourable mention
THE SUSAN MUNROE SHOW, artist: Susan Munroe

BEST NEW MEDIA
TIME TRAVELLER™ by Skawennati Fragnito
honourable mention
WHAT THEY SPEAK WHEN THEY SPEAK TO ME by Jason Lewis

THE CYNTHIA-LICKERS SAGE AWARD FOR EMERGING TALENT
NIA’S MELANCHOLY, directed by S.F. Tusa
honourable mention
Beric Manywounds, director of I HEARD A LIGHT

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE PRODUCTION AWARD
BURWA DII EBO (THE WIND AND THE WATER) directed by Vero Bollow and the Igar Yala Collective
honourable mention
SHIMASANI, directed by Blackhorse Lowe

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
TUIA (STITCHED), directed by Louise Potiki Bryant
honourable mention
ARVAS (TUNDRA OF ARVAS) directed by Liselotte Wajstedt

CANWEST MENTORSHIP ROGRAM
Awarded to Darrell Dennis

DRAMA PITCH PRIZE
Awarded to Jeff Barnhart for his pitch Reset Town
honourable mention
EMANCIPATED by Leena Minifie

DOCUMENTARY PITCH PRIZE
Awarded to Jean-François Martel and Marc-André Manseau for Land of Deepest Night
honourable mention
NOT A GOOD DAY TO DIE by Bossy Beaux Ducharme and Lance Carlson

MILESTONE AWARD
Presented by imagineNATIVE
Awarded to Zacharius Kunuk