First Nations\First Features

We are pleased to have twenty-five distinguished directors involved in the First Nations\First Features Showcase.

Their work covers an enormous breadth of material and has won them Academy Award nominations, a host of prizes at Festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, and The Chicago International Documentary Film Festival, and prestigious awards from the Australian Film Institute and the Academy of Canadian Cinema's Genie awards, to name a few.

Learn here about the varied backgrounds and experiences that have shaped these artist's lives and work.

	Sherman Alexie (Coeur d'Alene/Spokane) is a critically acclaimed filmmaker... Featured Film: The Business of Fancydancing Country of Production: USA

	Crisanto Manzano Avella (Zapotec) is from the village of Zaragoza... Featured Film: Guia Toó (Powerful Mountain) Country of Production: Mexico

	Barry Barclay (Maori) is one of the foremost Maori filmmakers in Aotearoa... Featured Film: Te Rua Country of Production: Aotearoa/New Zealand

	Dante Cerano Bautista (P'urhepecha) has been exploring questions of cultural... Featured Film: Day 2 (Dia 2) Country of Production: Mexico

	Shirley Cheechoo (Cree) began directing films in 1997... Featured Film: Silent Tears Country of Production: Canada

	Chris Eyre (Cheyenne/ Arapaho) directs for film and television... Featured Film: Smoke Signals Country of Production: USA

	Nils Gaup (Sami) was one of the first indigenous filmmakers... Featured Film: Pathfinder Country of Production: Norway

	Vilsoni Hereniko (Rotuman) The Land Has Eyes (Pear ta ma 'on maf) is the first... Featured Film: The Land Has Eyes (Pear ta ma 'on maf) Country of Production: Fiji

	Zacharias Kunuk (Inuit) Born in Kapuivik, Canada, Kunuk spent his childhood... Featured Film: Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner Country of Production: Canada

	Anastasia Lapsui (Nenet) grew up speaking her native language in the village of... Featured Film: A Bride of the Seventh Heaven (Jumalan morsian) Country of Production: Finland/Russia

	Markku Lehmuskallio co-directed films with Anastasia Lapsui since 1993... Featured Film: A Bride of the Seventh Heaven (Jumalan morsian) Country of Production: Finland/Russia

	Blackhorse Lowe (Navajo) grew up on the Navajo reservation in Nenahnezad... Featured Film: 5th World Country of Production: USA

	Patricio Luna (Aymara) has been a cultural activist in highland Bolivia... Featured Film: Angels of the Earth (Los angeles de la tierra) Country of Production: Bolivia

	Victor Masayesva, Jr.'s (Hopi) ground-breaking experimental videos have... Featured Film(s): Itam Hakim, Hopiit, Ritual Clowns Country of Production: USA

	Merata Mita (Maori) is the first Maori woman to direct a dramatic feature... Featured Film: Mauri Country of Production: Aotearoa/New Zealand

	Tracey Moffatt (Aboriginal) is a world-renowned filmmaker, photographer... Featured Film: Bedevil Country of Production: Australia

	Shelley Niro (Mohawk) was born in Niagra Falls, New York... Featured Film(s): Honey Moccasin, The Shirt Country of Production: Canada

	Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki) is one of Canada's most distinguished... Featured Film: Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance Country of Production: Canada

	Rachel Perkins (Arrernte/ Kalkadoon) is the director of two features... Featured Film: Radiance Country of Production: Australia

	Randy Redroad (Cherokee) The Doe Boy, Redroad's feature film debut... Featured Film: The Doe Boy Country of Production: USA

	Marcelina Cárdenas Sausa (Quechua) has been active as video producer... Featured Film: Loving Each Other in the Shadows (Llanthupi munakuy) Country of Production: Bolivia

	Ivan Sen (Gamilaroi) drew on his own background as the child of... Featured Film: Beneath Clouds Country of Production: Australia

	Paul-Anders Simma (Sami) studied at the Swedish Film Institute... Featured Film: The Minister of State Country of Production: Sweden/ Norway/ Finland

	Lee Tamahori (Maori) The internationally acclaimed Once Were Warriors (1995)... Featured Film: Once Were Warriors Country of Production: Aotearoa/New Zealand

	Taika Waititi (Maori) Waititi's directorial debut, the short film Two Cars, One Night... Featured Film: Two Cars, One Night Country of Production: Aotearoa/New Zealand




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