(Contributed)

By Sydney Chisholm

Indigenous Film Festival

Showcasing Indigenous stories; Indigenous Film Festival returns to the Paramount Theatre

Sep 27, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS– Kamloops’ Indigenous Film Festival is back and bigger than ever.

In collaboration with Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc, the Kamloops Film Society is hosting its 3rd annual Indigenous Film Festival [IFF] at the Paramount Theatre.

Local filmmaker and IFF committee member, Shay Paul says storytelling has always been a big part of Indigenous culture.

“To be able to bring in films from a local level, from a provincial level and even a national and worldwide level,” said Paul.

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“To bring that Indigenous perspective into Kamloops for the people who live here is huge.”

Over three days, the Paramount Theatre will screen six films that highlight Indigenous perspectives, characters, and stories.

“I love film and a good film, it allows, you know, to showcase Indigenous people not just as tokens or as props like you would have seen traditionally in films like in old Westerns and things like that,” said Jason Mike Blair, IFF committee member and cinephile.

“It really brings a modern spin on storytelling and it showcases Indigenous people in a different light.”

Whether you’re looking for a family drama or a comedy, Paul says the festival has it all.

“There should be something for everyone, whether it’s a documentary… or a comedy– we love having comedies here,” said Paul.

“One of the things that leads a lot of the planning is making sure that we include laughter, include comedy, because laughter is medicine.”

While the festival is intended for film lovers in general, committee members hope celebrating Indigenous stories will inspire others.

“This also just showcases to other First Nations people, other First Nations youth, Inuit, Metis, First Nations that you can do other things,” Blair told CFJC News.

“There’s a place for you to tell stories and to be expressive in a really creative way.”

Committee members say every year the festival grows and this year is no different.

“This year, we definitely have had a lot more hands-on. We’ve had more committee members and we’ve had more time to commit,” said IFF event coordinator, Olivia Lane.

“So we have an artisan market that’s new this year happening both Saturday and Sunday, our closing party, usually we do a comedy show, but this time it is a drag show.”

Friday (Sept. 27) night’s screening kicks off the weekend with a documentary about the legacy of abuse steming from the Residential School St. Joseph’s Mission in Williams Lake.

For a full list of events or to buy tickets, click here.