February 28, 2020
(Photos by Jon Antoine)
The red carpet was rolled out in Fort Simpson Feb 21-23 for the first-ever Líídlįį Kúę Film Festival.
The festivities were hosted by Líídlįį Kúę First Nation in partnership with the NWT Recreation & Parks Association and Parks Canada. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment’s (ITI) Dehcho Regional Office was pleased to provide support and assistance in organizing the festival.
The power of water was an underlying current in the festival’s film selections. The feature film was Nahanni: River of Forgiveness, which was filmed in the Dehcho Region in 2018 with support from the NWT Film Rebate Program. Director Geoff Bowie was in attendance at the festival for a Q&A with movie-goers, and later took the film to Nahanni Butte for a special screening.
“It is not every day that people in northern communities get to see themselves on screen in a film festival,” says Amos Scott, ITI’s Film Officer. “Events like this one can help foster the next generation of filmmakers. Filmmakers who will tell poignant funny stories about the adventures of growing up in our great communities.”
A collection of films from the 2019 Paddle Film Festival World Tour were also shown, including Junk Paddle, We Are Send, Waterway Jay and Live the Moment, amongst others.
“This was the first year that our region has hosted a film festival – and we hope to bring it back next year. It’s a great way to get involved in the territory’s film industry and there’s the added bonus of creating a new event for community members and tourists to experience when they’re in the region,” says Jennifer Thistle, ITI’s Regional Superintendent for the Dehcho Region.
The proceeds from the festival are being donated to a water camp clinic for youth in the region.