MEDIA RELEASE July 2006
Indigenous Media Arts Group
 
IMAGeNation 8th Annual Aboriginal Film & Video Festival June 22-25th, 2006 a SUCCESS!
 
The Indigenous Media Arts Group, Vancouver, B.C. celebrated the best in Aboriginal film and video production at the 8th Annual IMAGeNation Aboriginal Film & Video Festival June 22-25, 2006 at the Vancouver International Film Centre.
 
The Opening Gala commenced with the World Tea Party and Liliget - Cyss Wyss/Dolly Watts with a Media Installation by Ron Harris (Os12) and Vanessa Webster.
 
Master and Mistress of Ceremonies of the evening were Warren Arcan and Skeena. This year's festival the Indigenous Media Arts Group honoured interdisciplinary, award winning director and media artist Dana Claxton, honoring and comemorative video by Jeff Bear with a Traditional Coast Salish Blanketing Ceremony by Audrey Rivers. This year's "Shared Vision" component of cultural inclusion featured a presentation by Moikgantsi Kgama of the - Imagenation: A New York City based Black Film Festival (www.imagenationfilmfestival.org).
 
Festival Featured films included: Jidwah'Doh "Lets Become Again" directed by Dawn Martin Hill, The 5th World Directed by Blackhorse Lowe, Johnny Tootall directed by Shirley Cheechoo and Trespassing directed by Carlos Demenezes
 
The IMAGeNation Film Festival featured the following Programs:
Reel Warriors - Chronicles of triumphs and struggles of grass roots people in their fight for self-determination and social justice.
Super Heroes, Serpents and Frybread - For the Youngsters! Feast and participate in an interactive media display and new cartoons.
"Bana Ba Rona" - "For Our Children in South African Setswana Language" - Presented by the Imagenation: A New York City black based Film Festival Founder and Executive Director Moikgantsi Kgama of New York, NY.
Arts and Education Program - Two Documentaries about History, Mentoring, Magic, Mystery, and Native Identity.
Face-to-Face: Intimate Encounters Presented by Kevin Burton - As we lay face to face secrets are told, ideas shared, and life experiences are exchanged.
Made In New Caledonia: The Cree's Are Coming! The Cree's Are Coming! - These films were made in British Columbia by Cree Media artists.
Home - This mix of shorts, narratives and bold statements make up the comfort food you can expect when you go, Home.
 
This year the Aboriginal Media Lab presented the Panel Discussion: First Laughter Conceived of by filmmaker Loretta Sarah Todd, the AML is partnered with the Chief Dan George Centre and Simon Fraser University. Panel Discussion moderated by Skeena Reece with panelists, Linc Kesler, Karrmen Crey, Archer Pechawis, Ryan Mitchell-Morrison, and Thirza Cuthand.
 
IMAGeNation 8th Annual Film & Video Awards Recipients in the following categories:
 
Outstanding Documentary recipient: Alicia Woods for American Red and Black: Stories of Afro-Native Identity Sponsored by Edziza Marketing
Outstanding Youth Film/Video recipient: Melina Laboucan-Massimo for Beneath the Surface Sponsored by the Lonni Sparrow Memorial Fund
Best Experimental Short recipient: James Nicholas for Peuk Nepi, Meeting Waterwoman Sponsored by Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Advocates
Outstanding Animation recipient: Dennis Jackson for Wapos Bay- There Is No "I" In Hockey Sponsored by The Healthy Aboriginal Network
Outstanding Achievement in Independent Broadcast recipient:  Jason Krowe for Inside Hiding Sponsored by Shaw Cable
 
This year's Festival was made possible by the commitments of the staff, the Board of Directors and our generous community sponsors and partnerships. The IMAG Events Management Training Staff for emerging media artists and the IMAG Board of Directors carefully put the programs together. Staff included: Skeena Reece (Program Coordinator), Suzette Amaya (Publicist), Andrea Olson Bastien (Programming), Bracken Hanuse (Festival Management), Ann Baker (Volunteer Coordinator) and Marie Prince (Administrator).  A big Huy chewx to Cleo Reece for her dedication to IMAG, it's between her and god that made this possible.
 
Update: The 9th Annual IMAGeNation Film & Video Festival will be moved to November 2007 Dates To be announced.
 
IMAG gratefully acknowledges the generous support of: the Canada Council for the Arts, ACCESS, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, and the Aboriginal People's Television Network, the United Native Nations, Capilano College, The Audain Foundation, the Grunt Gallery, Galliano Island Film and Television School, Shaw TV, Terminus 1525, World Tea Party/Liliget, Nomadic Alternatives, Redwire Native Youth Media Society, Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association, Spirit Magazine, Shared Vision Magazine, ThinkNDN 102.7fm CFRO, Edziza Marketing, Matthew Jacob Photography and the Independent Community Television Co-operative.
 
For more info, visit their website: http://www.imag-nation.com/2006festival/index.html
 
-30-
 
Publicist:
Suzette Amaya
SAMAYA Multi-Media
604.889.8615