Skoden Indigenous Film Festival 2023
byThe Skoden Indigenous Film Festival is a two-day student-led film festival which features exclusively Indigenous filmmakers and creatives from across Canada, March 31-April 1, 2023.
Skoden Indigenous Film Festival
- When: Friday, March 31 & Saturday, April 1, 2023
- Where: Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema is located on the 3rd floor of Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver)
- Tickets: Passes are available online now. Individual program tickets are pay-what-you-can
Founded on the principles of truth and reconciliation, Carr Sappier (Wolastoqew) and Grace Mathisen created SIFF in 2019. Skoden is an Indigenous slang term that stands for ‘Let’s go then!’. According to Sappier: “Skoden represents a sense of happiness, inclusion and a space where all filmmakers can feel like they are part of something that holds them up in respect.” Instructor Kathleen Mullen adds: “We are sharing experiences and knowledge through this course with humour, dialogue, and respect!”
With welcoming comments by Elder Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph, who is also witnessing the Festival, this year’s edition of SIFF is split into five programs: Activating the Landscape; It’s a Long Story, with feature Ever Deadly; The Deepest Part of my Heart; Who I Am, Who We Are; and Our Connections.
The audience will enjoy an eclectic selection from both new filmmakers such as Robbie Tait Jr. (A Rainbow to Turtle Island) and Laura Fontaine and Yasmine Fontaine, (Our Way) and well-established artists such as Tanya Tagaq, Chelsea McMullan (Ever Deadly), Amanda Strong (Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams), and Ma-Nee Chacaby, Zoe Gordon, Shayne Ehman (Return to Ombabika).
Skoden Indigenous Film Festival is organized and led by a class of students from all over SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts and the Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology, and co-taught for the last three years by Carr Sappier and Kathleen Mullen.
Follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram for more info.
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