The Edmonton International Film Festival will feature Alberta and Indigenous tales from the National Film Board of Canada

The National Film Board of Canada’s (NFB) selection at this year’s Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF) will feature an impressive array of Albertan filmmakers and stories, as well as works by Indigenous creators.

Five NFB films will be screened at the festival, which runs from September 22 to October 1, including the world premiere of a short documentary filmed in northern Alberta.

EIFF will also present the Alberta premiere of four animated shorts: two works by Calgary-based directors as well as two by Indigenous creators.

Northern Alberta World Premiere

A motorcycle saved my life by lori lozinski (12 min)

Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/a-motorcycle-saved-my-life

• In A Motorcycle Saved My Life, the open road presents a starting point for director Lori Lozinski to process deep grief, as she cycles through British Columbia and the vast open spaces of northern Alberta. Revisiting the formative experiences that fueled his ambition, Lozinski examines the influence of his parents in today’s light.
• Lori Lozinski, born and raised in Edmonton, is recognized for producing socially responsible, character-driven stories with female creators. She recently co-produced with the NFB the award-winning documentary Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers.
• A Motorcycle Saved My Life was produced by Teri Snelgrove at BC and Yukon Studio in Vancouver.

Short Films from Calgary Creators

The Flying Sailor by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis (7 min 45 s)

Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/the-flying-sailor

• Based on a true story, the highly anticipated new film from Academy Award-nominated, Calgary-based duo Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby is an exhilarating contemplation of the wonder and fragility of existence. It is based on the remarkable account of a sailor who was blown skyward by the Halifax explosion, traveling a distance of two kilometers before landing uphill, naked and unscathed.
• The Edmonton premiere of The Flying Sailor follows its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
• Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis previously collaborated on When the Day Breaks (1999), which received an Oscar nomination and more than 30 international awards, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes, as well as Wild Life (2012), which received an Academy Award Nomination, among other accolades.
• The Flying Sailor was produced by David Christensen at North West Studio in Edmonton.

The Tempest by Monica Kidd (4 min)

Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/the-storm

• Global pandemics are like prairie storms. Full of terror and havoc, they eventually pass. Delivering a new baby can also feel like a storm.
• Combining great narrative flair with memories of childhood prairie skies and inelegant imagery, Calgary doctor and filmmaker Monica Kidd collaborates with Newfoundland animator Duncan Major on a story of disruption and rebirth.
• Produced by Annette Clarke for Studio Quebec and Atlantic in Montreal.

Indigenous animation

Arctic Song by Germaine Arnattaujuq (Arnaktauyok), Neil Christopher and Louise Flaherty (Taqqut Productions/ONF; 6 min 25 s)

Press Kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/arctic-song

• Inuit artist, storyteller and co-director Germaine Arnattaujuq (Arnaktauyok) portrays Inuit creation stories in all their glory. Arctic Song tells how land, sea and sky appeared in beautifully rendered animation. Telling traditional Inuit stories from the Iglulik region of Nunavut through song, the film revitalizes ancient knowledge and shares it with future generations.
• Arnaktauyok is an Inuit artist, writer and illustrator from Iglulik, Nunavut, best known for her prints and prints depicting Inuit myths, traditional ways of life and feminist stories.
• In 2012, Neil Christopher and Louise Flaherty worked with local elders to develop the animated film Amaqqut Nunaat: Land of the Wolves, based on a traditional story. The success of this film prompted Neil and Louise to form the film company Taqqut Productions with fellow publisher, Danny Christopher.
• Arctic Song was co-produced by Neil Christopher and Nadia Mike (Taqqut Productions) and David Christensen and Alicia Smith (NFB).

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics by Terril Calder (19 min 22 s)

Press Kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/meneath

• In this stop-motion film, creator Terril Calder traces a difficult journey for a precocious mixed-race girl as she contemplates her path to hell.
• One of the foremost Métis media artists practicing in Canada today, Terril Calder is a multidisciplinary creative born in Fort Frances, Ontario, and currently living in Toronto.
• Meneath won the Audience Award for Best Canadian Short Film at the 2021 GIRAF Festival of Independent Animation in Calgary and was named one of the top ten Canadian short films for 2021 by the Toronto International Film Festival.
• Produced by Jelena Popović at the Animation and Interactivity Studio in Montreal.

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