Film Festival Enchants With Award Winning Films and Gala

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Cover photo courtesy of Western Arctic Moving Pictures (WAMP)

 

November 14, 2019

Northern romance, adventure, and culture. The horrors of war. The complexities of human relationships. A dash of humour for good measure. 

That’s what was in store for movie-goers as the Yellowknife International Film Festival took over the capital for another successful year.

One would have been hard-pressed not to find a new favourite film or become moved by the visions that flashed across the screens.

During the festival large crowds flowed into Yellowknife’s Capitol Theatre to experience over 30 films including NWT related productions: Red Snow, Summer Of Smoke, Aurora Love, Three Feathers, Salvage and Nahanni: River of Forgiveness, In the Footsteps of our Ancestors and much more. The festival kicked off in Dettah for a red carpet sold-out screening of Red Snow.

Related Stories:

Three Feathers – Four Languages

Aurora Love Film Showcased at Tourism Conference

Feature-Length Film Red Snow Shoots in Dettah

Pitch This! returned to the festival, sponsored by Northwestel Community TV, WAMP, and the NWTPMA, where lucky winner Jiah Dzentu won a $5,000 broadcast license with Northwestel and an extra $5,000 in Western Arctic Moving Pictures (WAMP) bucks to make her pitch a reality.

Virtual reality exhibit Northern Sights was jam-packed with northern options varying from a frozen piano performance to a piece from France where a viewer’s travels are guided by Charon — the ferryman of the Underworld from Greek mythology.

The festival culminated with the NWT Film and Media Awards where Jean-Francois (Jeff) Pitre of PIDO Productions took home the Industry and Impact Award.

Jean-Francois Pitre accepts his award from Minister Nokleby and Scott Clouthier

 

Other award winners were:

Best Short Narrative: Three Feathers – Dayah Films

Best Piece – VR/360/Interactive: Northern Sights VR – WAMP (Western Arctic Moving Pictures)

Best Commercial Non-Government: Slave River Paddlefest – Jimmy Thomson/Slave River Paddlefest 2018

Best Published Word: ‘Beyond what our instruments can tell us’: merging Indigenous knowledge and Western Science at the edge of the world. – Weronika Murray, The Narwal

Best NWT Radio/Podcast: The Sled Runners – Janna Graham

Best Commercial – Government: NWT Fire: How We Do Business – Environment and Natural Resources/ Artless Collective/ Aerials North

Best Published Photo or Photo Series of the Year: Northern Perspectives on the Sustainable Development Goals – Angela Gzowski Photography

Best NWT Short Documentary: An Inuk Comes Home Thorugh Art – Jimmy Thomson, The Narwal

NWT Film Commissioner Camilla MacEachern and Film Officer Amos Scott.

 

Hosted by WAMP, in partnership with the Association, the Yellowknife International Film Festival continues to exhibit the expanding film industry not just in the NWT but the rest of the North.

Industry, Tourism and Investment, through its NWT Film Commission, supports festivals like these to give creators opportunities to hone their skills and showcase their work; and our film scene to make its mark.

Inspired to make your own film?

Check out some of our programs that could help you get your creation onto the screen: 

Film Rebate Program

Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Program