TIFF 2024 Spotlights Circumpolar Cinema and Indigenous Co-Productions

TIFF 2024 showcases circumpolar Indigenous cinema with two notable films and features distinguished speaker Anne Lajla Utsi of the International Sámi Film Institute 

Circumpolar Cinema International Films Indigenous Filmmaking Film Industry

The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) shines a spotlight on circumpolar narratives as part of its Indigenous cinema program. This year’s selection includes two notable films from the North: a documentary on Yup’ik masks and a Sámi feature film. Complementing these screenings, the festival hosts a panel discussion on Indigenous co-productions, featuring distinguished speaker Anne Lajla Utsi, CEO of the International Sámi Film Institute, alongside other industry leaders. This event highlights TIFF’s ongoing engagement with circumpolar Indigenous storytelling on a global platform.

Featured Films:

TIFF 2024 highlights two significant circumpolar films:

SO SURREAL: BEHIND THE MASKS directed by Neil Diamond and Joanne Robertson – A documentary exploring Yup’ik (Alaska) masks.

MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER directed by Egil Pedersen – A film from Sápmi, Norway.

 

SO SURREAL: BEHIND THE MASKS
Directors: Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson
Category: TIFF Docs
Runtime: 88 minutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2024
World Premiere

Brief Description: So Surreal unveils the fascinating connection between the work of famed Surrealist artists and Yupʼik and Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw ceremonial masks, and the quest to bring some of the masks back home. Part detective story and part illuminating history, this documentary masterfully weaves together the threads of cultural and artistic histories.

Director’s Note: Neil Diamond is a Cree filmmaker and photographer from Waskaganish, Quebec. Joanne Robertson is a Montreal-based director, researcher, and producer.

MY FATHERS’ DAUGHTER

(Biru Unjárga)
Director: Egil Pedersen
Countries: Sápmi (Norway/Sweden/Finland)
Category: Discovery
Runtime: 78 minutes
Languages: Sámi, Danish, English, Norwegian
World Premiere

Brief Description: Egil Pedersen’s delightful debut film follows the wistful teenaged Elvira (Sarah Olaussen Eira) as she discovers the truth about her father’s identity. This coming-of-age story, set in a coastal Sámi village, explores themes of identity, family, and self-discovery. The film features a cameo by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones), playing himself.

This film marks a historic moment as the first Sámi-language feature to world premiere at TIFF, highlighting the growing presence of Sámi cinema on the international stage.

Panel Discussion:

Title: Indigenous Perspectives on New Models for Co-Productions

Event Type: Industry Conference

On September 6, TIFF and the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) will host a panel discussion on new models for Indigenous co-productions. 

Description: This panel explores emerging models for international collaborations in Indigenous productions, addressing the barriers faced under existing co-production treaties. Indigenous filmmakers and funding agencies will share experiences and initiatives, applying an Indigenous lens to global production industry challenges.

Featured speakers include:

Anne Lajla Utsi, CEO of the International Sámi Film Institute
Mitch Stanley, Wiradjuri producer
Kerry Swanson, CEO of the ISO

This panel highlights the growing importance of Indigenous-led co-productions in the global film industry, with a special focus on circumpolar collaborations and the role of institutions like the International Sámi Film Institute.