
Crown Lands will perform at the imagineNATIVE Awards Presentation. Photo Credit: Lane Dorsey
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is thrilled to announce the performers for the opening day festivities and special events as part of the 22nd Annual Festival, taking place in person and online October 19-24, 2021.
On October 19 imagineNATIVE will welcome audiences and participating artists from around the world with the online Welcome Gathering, and Opening Night Party. imagineNATIVE’s Cultural Advisor Pauline Shirt will begin with an Opening Prayer at the Welcome Gathering, followed by traditional song and dance from All My Relations Dance Group from British Columbia, Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers from Winnipeg, and Tribal Vision Dance from Six Nations. Later that night, after the nationally broadcasted in-person screening and Q&A of Night Raiders by Danis Goulet, imagineNATIVE’s legendary Opening Night Party takes over for a night of special online performances featuring Kee’ahn, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, and Digging Roots.
On October 23 imagineNATIVE’s annual concert The Beat will feature virtual performances by Indigiqueer pop artist Nimkish, Métis pop artist Indigo, and the Godfather of PowWowStep DJ Shub. Presented in partnership with 50/50 Arts Collective, and hosted by Suzette Amaya, this evening will feature some of the top music videos by Indigenous musicians and filmmakers PLUS the 2021 Harmonize Mentorship recipient announcement.
On October 24 the 2021 imagineNATIVE Awards Presentation will celebrate the many accomplishments of Indigenous filmmakers, actors, musicians, podcasters, visual artists and more. Hosted by Crystle Lightning, the Awards Presentation will include online performances by Anishinaabe electronica artist Classic Roots, and 2021 Juno Award winning rock duo Crown Lands.
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world’s largest Indigenous festival showcasing film, video, audio, and digital + interactive media made by Indigenous screen-content creators. The Festival presents compelling and distinctive works from Canada and around the globe, reflecting the diversity of Indigenous nations and illustrating the vitality and dynamism of Indigenous arts, perspectives, and cultures in contemporary media.
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
October 19 – 24, 2021
Toronto, Ontario
Festival schedule and passes available now at:
www.imagineNATIVE.org