Available Light Film Festival Features Most NWT Filmmakers Ever

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February 2, 2018

Northwest Territories (NWT) filmmakers are making their presence – and talent – known at the Available Light Film Festival in Whitehorse, Yukon which runs February 3 – 11.

The annual film festival brings together industry professionals and up-and-coming filmmakers for networking, panel discussions, workshops and pitching opportunities.

NWT Film Commissioner Camilla MacEachern heads a record delegation of NWT film professionals and will share the NWT’s experience in a panel discussion.

“There is renewed energy and enthusiasm in the NWT’s film industry today,” MacEachern says. “It is especially apparent at moments like this. It’s an honor to have the NWT featured at Available Light, and today we’re being recognized by the festival itself for having the most NWT filmmakers ever. The quality and caliber of the NWT’s film industry continues to impress.”

For the first time, a special showcase has been developed to feature films from the NWT, including:

  • Great Slave Rock Slabs (Artless Collective, 6 min) Cory Brunelle, professional mountain-biker from Williams Lake, BC heads North to Yellowknife, NT to tread the rocky shores of the Great Slave Lake. Under the Midnight Sun, Cory encounters landscapes unlike any he has ever seen or ridden, before. Director in attendance.
  • Elevator Friends (Mitch Wiles, 8 min) Animation from Yellowknife
  • The Last Walk (Jerri Trasher, 16 min) Anna (Tiffany Ayalik) sets out into the unforgiving land to find her sister Emma (Kayley Mackay), who has been banished from their community for negligence that ended tragically. Emma has battled depression since the great loss, further isolating herself from her community. Knowing her sister lacks the skills to survive on her own, Anna attempts to forgive Emma and bring her home to continue their lives. Producers in attendance.
  • End of the Ice Age: The Last Winter of the Inuvik to Tuk Ice Road (Peter Clarkson, 24 min) This fascinating documentary is about the Inuvik to Tuktoyuktuk Ice Road, the connections that it provides, how it is made and what it means to the people that use the ice road. Produced in the final year before a permanent overland highway is opened, the film reveals the history of the ice road, businesses involved in its construction and maintenance and people that want to travel on it for the experience. World premiere. Director and producer in attendance.
  • Escape (Anjali Nayar, 8 MIN) JaBig, Montreal-based DJ, is on a quest to beat the record for the longest continuous bike ride in a single country. The last day of his ride across Canada is about to end at the Arctic Ocean near Tuktoyuktuk. World premiere. 
  • Dead North Showcase will also be featured the same evening.

Related Stories:
Project Made Possible: End of the Ice Age Documentary
Project Made Possible: The Last Walk, Jerri Thrasher

The showcase begins Saturday, February 3 at 8pm at Whitehorse’s Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre.