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The 17th Annual imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival is excited to announce the final round of programming for the 2016 edition, running October 19 – 23 in Toronto, Ontario.

On Saturday, October 22, imagineNATIVE will present A Night for Chanie at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, an evening of words, songs, and images, in remembrance of Chanie Wenjack on the 50th anniversary of his death. A Night for Chanie is sponsored by RBC.

Chanie Wenjack was a young Anishinaabe boy who was taken to Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School at the age of nine. At the age of 12, Chanie escaped the school on foot to return to his family. On the night of October 22, 1966, Chanie died alone next to the railroad, over 60 kilometres from the school, but still hundreds of kilometres away from home. His death prompted a coroner’s inquest – the first for a student of a residential school – which recognized that the “Indian education system causes tremendous emotional and adjustment problems” for Indigenous children.

imagineNATIVE presents this special event honouring the memory of Chanie, and all former students of residential schools. Hosted by Connie Walker (CBC), A Night for Chanie will include an introduction by Senator Murray Sinclair, Chief Commissioner of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission; a reading and book signing by author Joseph Boyden from his new novella Wenjack, illustrated by visual artist and filmmaker Kent Monkman; a screening of the short film SNIP by Terril Calder, written and narrated by Joseph Boyden, which was inspired by the legacy of Wenjack; Keewaydah, a new performance artwork by Terril Calder as part of her {Re}conciliation project with Joseph Boyden; and a musical performance by Digging Roots.

imagineNATIVE will host the 12th annual Indigenous musical showcase The Beat, presented by FACTOR, on Saturday, October 22 at the Horseshoe Tavern. The Beat will begin by screening eight music videos by artists including Digging Roots, Projek Toombz, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Moe Clark, Clayton Michel, Binaeshee-Quae Couchie-Nabigon, and Sofia Jannok. Live performances will follow the videos featuring DJ Ariel, Shawnee, Wolf Saga, and DJ Shub.

The 3rd Annual indigiTALKS, the Festival’s lecture series, will feature Son of a Sun: The Life, Art, and Politics of Willie Dunn, presented by filmmaker and writer Zachary Johnston, and sponsored by the R&M Lang Foundation. Son of a Sun: The Life, Art, and Politics of Willie Dunn will focus on the life and legacy of this trailblazing filmmaker, musician and artist of Scottish/Irish and Mi’kmaq blood. Son of a Sun: The Life, Art, and Politics of Willie Dunn will take place on Thursday, October 20 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

imagineNATIVE’s free Industry Series brings leading industry professionals from across Canada and around the world to an intimate and welcoming setting designed to help advance professional careers of emerging and established filmmakers. The Industry Series will include an Indigenous VR Spotlight, pitch competitions, and panels about marketing and “discoverability”.

Please visit the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Website for more info on the festival program and events.