LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2018 Mentorship Announcement
2018 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Natasha Naveau
TORONTO, February 16, 2018—The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based artist Natasha Naveau is the recipient of the 14th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. Natasha was raised in Mattagami First Nation, and is of Dene (Chipewyan) and Anishnaabeg heritage. This annual mentorship was developed to offer an Indigenous artist living in the Greater Toronto Area the opportunity to expand their practice into the realm of film, and present their new work in a professional context. Natasha will be paired with suitable mentors, enrolled in LIFT’s seasonal workshops and will be provided with access to LIFT’s production and post-production equipment. She will receive additional financial and resource support from imagineNATIVE and other to-be-confirmed mentorship partners to complete a film for premiere at the 2018 imagineNATIVE festival (October 17–21).
“This mentorship has supported a broad range of projects over the year,” says Chris Kennedy, LIFT’s Executive Director. “This year we’re happy to support a documentary film, exploring the intimate tradition of drying and smoking fish. We expect this project will have a strong visual style that will use LIFT’s resources to beautiful effect.”
“We are looking forward to supporting Natasha’s new piece, which is contrasting the typical, expositive and traditional documentary format of recording Indigenous cultural practices, by making a visceral connection between living beings through experimentation in film. It should be a film experience that will engage our audience in a new way of understanding these connections in her own heritage. We can’t wait to see the result of her learning this year,” adds Daniel Northway-Frank, imagineNATIVE’s Industry Director.
“Being able to learn from and create a short through the LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship is an exciting opportunity for me. Having worked primarily with digital tools in filmmaking and photography, the chance to engage with 16mm film will be a great advantage and surely inspiring to the process of storytelling. It’s a great time to be a storyteller and to be inspired by the work of Indigenous artist/filmmakers that are telling stories in new ways, redefining ourselves and the practice. I’m honoured and happy to be one of the emerging artists chosen to bring to life a short film, with the help of access to the resources and knowledge of the established artists at LIFT.”
—Natasha Naveau
Natasha Naveau is an independent documentary content creator based in Toronto, Ontario. Her academic experience spans a multidisciplinary BFA from NSCAD (Halifax), to Commercial Photography in Vancouver, and now a MFA candidate in Ryerson University’s Documentary Media program. Since 2013 she has been behind the camera and editing work of a creative, reality-based, and non-fiction nature. From both eastern European and Dene and Anishinaabeg heritage, her work, like her interests have navigated conversations of identity and intersectionality, the environment, and connection to land and community.
Previous year’s mentees include actor and choreographer Michael Greyeyes (Seven Seconds); Dora and Juno Award nominee Jani Lauzon (eu•tha•na•sia); Michelle Latimer (Tomorrow); Tyler Hagan (Estuary), Adrienne Marcus Raja (Soli), Jaene Castrillon (Celebration of Darkness), Jamie Whitecrow (Heidi Lost) and Samay Arcentales Cajas (In Moment). Natasha will premiere her new short at the 19th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, October 17–21, 2018.
On behalf of the Selection Committee, thank you to all of this year’s incredible applicants! To find out more about this annual mentorship, and other artistic opportunities available through imagineNATIVE, please contact programming@imagineNATIVE.org
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About the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
LIFT is an artist-run charitable organization dedicated to facilitating excellence in the moving image through media arts education and production resources. LIFT exists to provide support and encouragement for independent filmmakers and artists through affordable access to production, post-production and exhibition equipment; professional and creative development; workshops and courses; commissioning and exhibitions; artist-residencies; and a variety of other services. Founded in 1981 by a small collective, LIFT has since grown to become one of the foremost centres of its kind globally. www.lift.ca
About the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Founded in 1999, imagineNATIVE is the international centre for Indigenous-made media arts. Its annual Festival celebrates 19 years in October 2018 and is the world’s largest showcase of film, video, audio, and digital media works created by Indigenous directors, producers, and screenwriters. Year-round imagineNATIVE presents a national tour, screenings across Canada and internationally, and a community screening series based in the Greater Toronto Area. imagineNATIVE is committed to the professional development of Indigenous artists through its numerous workshops, labs, and panels through its Industry Series and through strategic partnerships internationally. imagineNATIVE showcases, promotes, and celebrates Canadian and international Indigenous filmmakers and media artists and is committed to a greater understanding by audiences of Indigenous peoples, cultures, and artistic expressions. www.imagineNATIVE.org
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Friday 16 February 2018 –
Non-members:
Members:
Location:
Liaison of Independent Fimmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
1137 Dupont Street
Toronto ON Canada