October 29, 2019
The world got its first glimpse of the anticipated Red Snow film during a sold out premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) earlier this month. Audiences must have been impressed by what they saw because the film went on to take home VIFF’s Most Popular Canadian Feature Award.
(Marie Clements at the Red Snow premiere. Photo credit: Gabriela Mejia - Vancouver International Film Festival)
“Being recognized as the Most Popular Canadian Film at VIFF this year and playing to sold out crowds for each screening was gratifying for the years of work it took to get there,” says Red Snow producer, Michelle Morris. “It proved that stories showing similarities and empathy between different cultures is important and impactful; some Indigenous people and Afghani-Canadians were moved to tears because they finally saw themselves represented on screen in a unique yet familiar way.”
The NWT connection in the film is strong: locals worked on the film, both in front and behind the camera; the community of Dettah was used in the filming; and music from local artists including Diga, Tiffany Ayalik, Stephen Kakfwi and Leela Gilday was used. NWT film industry staples, Jay Bulckaert and Pablo Saravanja (Artless Collective) were line producers on the film and got to walk the red carpet at the premiere.
Watch Red Snow Director Marie Clements give her opening remarks, below:
The Red Snow premiere was followed by a packed reception hosted by the NWT Film Commission that welcomed the actors, crew, director and producers along with other industry players.
Red Snow was not the only film with NWT-ties to earn a coveted spot at the festival. Three Feathers, a film based on the graphic novel by Richard Van Camp, and filmed in and around Fort Smith, was also showcased at the festival.
ITI’s Film Commission was pleased to provide support for both films through the NWT Film Rebate Program. The program launched in 2015 and to date has supported 10 productions with funding totaling roughly $385,000, with a return on investment of $1.25 million.
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Both films took ambitious approaches to language. Red Snow included Gwich’in, Inuvialuit, English and Pashto. Meanwhile, Three Feathers is believed to be the first movie ever to be shot in four languages simultaneously: Cree, Chipewyan, South Slavey and English.
“Working in the NWT was special because of the people. They’re smart, resourceful and film savvy. They were on board 100% from the beginning advising us on how to be supported by their funding and tax credits, when and where to shoot and connecting us with people and services in the community,” says Michelle.
Local residents can catch both cinematic pieces and more NWT films at the upcoming Yellowknife International Film Festival, which runs November 5 – 10 at the Capitol Theatre, in addition to a special opening screening of Red Snow at Chief Drygeese Centre in Dettah.