The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the world's largest Indigenous-focused film and media arts festival, held annually in Toronto. The festival focuses on the film, video, radio, and new media work of Indigenous, Aboriginal and First Peoples from around the world. The festival includes screenings, parties, panel discussions, and cultural events.
As an organization, imagineNATIVE supports the creation of new works through their commissioning program, and national outreach to and for Indigenous communities through various off-site programs throughout the year. imagineNATIVE also commissions industry reports on the status of Indigenous film production in Canada.
Held in October each year for most of its history, in February 2024 the festival announced that it would not be held that year, and will shift to June in 2025."ImagineNative film festival scraps 2024 event, pushes 25th anniversary to June 2025". CP24, February 29, 2024.
History The festival was founded in 1998 by Cynthia Lickers-Sage in her capacity as the Aboriginal outreach coordinator for Vtape as a venue for the exhibition of short film and video work by Aboriginal artists. While initially operated through Vtape, the festival subsequently became an independent organization. An early programmer for the festival was Ojibway critic and journalist Jesse Wente, who continued in his role as programmer through 2010. In 2010, Jason Ryle took on the role of the festival's executive director; he was succeeded in 2020 by Naomi Johnson.. First Nations Drum, May 29, 2020. Ryle was subsequently named the winner of the Toronto Film Critics Association's Clyde Gilmour Award for his contributions to the Canadian film industry,Norman Wilner, "Toronto film critics are ride-or-die for Nomadland". Now, February 8, 2021. and joined the Toronto International Film Festival as lead programmer for Indigenous films.Barry Walsh, "TIFF unveils new programmers, details for 2022’s in-person edition". RealScreen, February 24, 2022.
In May 2023, Lindsay Monture was named the new festival director.Sam Laskaris, "imagineNATIVE appoints Monture as festival director". Windspeaker, May 9, 2023.
Awards The 2001 winner for Best Film went to Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner by Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk. This film was the first feature dramatic film in an Indigenous language by an Inuk director.
The 2016 festival focused on Inuit and northern films, with a special focus on films from Greenland. Award winners for that year included Bonfire, a film by Russian Sakha director Dmitry Davydov, for Best Dramatic Feature; Searchers (Maliglutit) by Zacharias Kunuk for Best Indigenous Language Production; and Angry Inuk, directed by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, which won Best Documentary Feature.
Audience Choice Award YearFilmDirectorRef2019nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand UpTasha Hubbard2020Brother, I CryJessie Anthony2021Run Woman RunZoe Leigh HopkinsRhiannon Johnson, "National Canadian Film Day puts spotlight on emerging and established Indigenous filmmakers". CBC News Indigenous, April 20, 2022.2022RosieGail MauriceSteve Gow, "Celebrated film exploring modern Indigenous identity opens in Halifax". CityNews, November 18, 2022.2023Café DaughterShelley NiroJustin Anderson, "In Brief: Café Daughter wins imagineNATIVE audience award". Playback, November 3, 2023.
Best Dramatic Feature YearFilmDirectorRef2001Atanarjuat: The Fast RunnerZacharias Kunuk20022003The Doe BoyRandy Redroad2004The Land Has Eyes (Pear ta ma ʻon maf)Vilsoni Hereniko2005The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros)Auraeus Solito2006The Journals of Knud RasmussenZacharias Kunuk, Norman Cohn2007Four Sheets to the WindSterlin Harjo2008Before Tomorrow (Le jour avant le lendemain)Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Madeline Ivalu2009The Wind and the Water (Burwa dii ebo)Vero Bollow2010BoyTaika Waititi2011Here I AmBeck Cole2012Charlie ZoneHank White2013Satellite BoyCatriona McKenzieSeine Shetty, "Award winners named in imagineNATIVE media fest". Playback, October 22, 2013.2014A White Day (Yryn kyn)Mikhail Lukachevskiy2015MekkoSterlin Harjo2016BonfireDmitrii DavydovPat Mullen, "imagineNATIVE Announces Award Winners". Point of View, October 23, 2016.2017Sweet CountryWarwick ThorntonRegan Reid, "Belcourt, Jackson’s Indictment wins at imagineNATIVE". Playback, October 23, 2017.2018The Lord Eagle (Toyon Kyyl)Eduard NovikovJordan Pinto, "Amanda Strong, Lisa Jackson win prizes as ImagineNative fest wraps". Playback, October 22, 2018.2019The Body Remembers When the World Broke OpenKathleen Hepburn, Elle-Máijá TailfeathersKelly Townsend, "imagineNATIVE awards ‘The Body Remembers’, We Will Stand Up". Playback, October 28, 2019.2020The Legend of Baron To’aKiel McNaughton2021BootleggerCaroline Monnet"Drama 'Bootlegger,' doc 'Warrior Spirit' among winners at imagineNATIVE festival". The Coast Reporter, October 25, 2021.2022We Are Still HereBeck Cole, Dena Curtis, Tracey Rigney, Danielle MacLean, Tim Worrall, Renae Maihi, Miki Magasiva, Mario Gaoa, Richard Curtis, Chantelle Burgoyne2023Hey, Viktor!Cody LightningKelly Townsend, "Hey, Viktor, Tautuktavuk among 2023 imagineNATIVE winners". Playback, October 23, 2023.2025We Were DangerousJosephine Stewart-Te WhiuJamie Casemore, "Seeds takes two awards at 2025 imagineNATIVE". Playback, June 11, 2025.2026MāramaTaratoa Stappard
Best Short Drama YearFilmDirectorRef2000200120022003Moccasin FlatsRandy Redroad2004MemoryCedar Sherbert2005There's No 'I' in HockeyDennis Jackson2006HawaikiiMike Jonathan2007Shooting GeronimoKent Monkman2008Sikumi (On the Ice)Andrew Okpeaha MacLean2009TungijuqZacharias Kunuk2010RedemptionKatie Wolfe2011SalarNicholas Greene2012Throat SongMiranda de Pencier2013AbaloneTracey Rigney2014The UndergroundMichelle Latimer2015Stoerre Vaerie (Northern Great Mountain)Amanda Kernell2016UFOGregory King
Best Canadian Short Drama (2006–2016) YearFilmDirectorRef2006133 SkywayRandy Redroad2007The ColonyJeff Barnaby2008A Small ThingAdam Garnet Jones2009Shi-Shi-EtkoMarilyn Thomas2010LumaajuuqAlethea Arnaquq-Baril2011Amaqqut Nunaat (The Country of Wolves)Neil Christopher2012A Red Girl's ReasoningElle-Máijá Tailfeathers2013Mohawk Midnight RunnersZoe Hopkins2014IndigoAmanda Strong2015Clouds of AutumnTrevor Mack2016God's AcreKelton Stepanowich
Best Short Work (Cynthia Lickers-Sage Award, 2017–Present) YearFilmDirectorRef2017I Will Always Love You KingenAmanda Kernell2018Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes)Amanda Strong2019Moloka’i BoundAlika Maikau2020Njuokčamat (The Tongues)Marja Bål Nango and Ingir Bål Nango2021Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's ApprenticeZacharias Kunuk20222023Nigiqtuq (The South Wind)Lindsay McIntyre2025RapidoRichard J. Curtis
Best Indigenous Language Production YearFilmDirectorRef2007Nikamowin (Song)Kevin Lee Burton2008L'AmendementKevin Papatie2009The Wind and the Water (Burwa Dii Ebo)Vero BollowIgar Yala Collective2010File Under MiscellaneousJeff Barnaby2011Samson & DelilahWarwick Thornton2012Throat SongMiranda de Pencier2013The Script (Baybayin)Kanakan Balintagos2014This May Be the Last TimeSterlin Harjo2015Bulunu MilkarriSylvia Nulpinditj2016Searchers (Maliglutit)Zacharias KunukNatar Ungalaaq2017Bowhead Whale Hunting With My AncestorsCarol Kunnuk, Zacharias Kunuk2018Eternity (Wiñaypacha)Oscar Catacora2019The Book of the SeaAleksei Vakhrushev2020KapaemahuHinaleimoana Wong-Kalu2021Matuna, la sombra del GuerreroRafael Roberto Mojica GilJeff Blagden, "Adaawk Takes Home ‘New Voice in Storytelling Award’, among 18 winners at imagineNATIVE Film Festival". CFNR-FM, October 25, 2021.2022MəcaRitchie Norman Hemphill2023The Bull of ColdAlexander Moruo2025The Legends of Eternal Snow (Khaar Kuyaar Nomokhtoro)Aleksei Romanov
Kent Monkman Award: Best Experimental/Innovation in Storytelling YearFilmDirectorRef2000200120022003Thorn GrassRobin Hammer2004Wagon BurnerTerrance Houle2005My Big Brother (Su naa)Helen Haig-Brown2006Women in Canada: A TrilogyMarnie Parrell2007Nikamowin (Song)Kevin Lee Burton2008Tsu Heidei Shugaxtutaan 1Nicholas Galanin2009HorseArcher Pechawis2010BurntAlejandro Valbuena2011The GiftTerril Calder2012Her Silent LifeLindsay McIntyre2013He Who DreamsDana Claxton2014CoveredTara (Beier) Browne2015Tai Whetuki - House of DeathLisa Reihana2016DolastallatMarja Helander2017Three ThousandAsinnajaq2018Birds in the Earth (Eatnanvuloš Lottit)Marja Helander2019The Creation of the World (Hant Quij Cöipaxi Hac)Antonio Coello2020Suodji (Shelter)Marja Helander2021PuisiPilutaq Lundblad2022The Original Shareholder ExperiencePetyr Xyst2023AykuoAyaal Adamov2025ConfluenceCharlene Moore, ODMK
Best Documentary - Short Format {| class="wikitable" !Year !Film !Director !Ref |- |2005 |Wirriya (Small Boy) |Beck Cole
|2006 |Coureurs de nuit |Shanouk Newashish
|2007 |The Vanishing Trace |Keesic Douglas
|2008 |Le rêve d'une mère |Cherilyn Papatie
|2009 |How People Got Fire |Daniel Janke
|2010 |Do Not Tell (Ne le dis pas / Nika tshika uiten mishkut) |Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
|2011 |Spirit of the Bluebird |Jesse Gouchey, Xstine Cook
|2012 |Songline to Happiness |Danny Teece-Johnson
|2013 |Inuit Cree Reconciliation |Neil Diamond, Zacharias Kunuk
|2014 |Treading Water |Janelle Wookey, Jérémie Wookey
|2015 |Nowhere Land |Bonnie Ammaq
|2016 |Cree Code Talker |Alexandra Lazarowich
|2017 |Lelum''' |Asia Youngman
|2018 |Fast Horse|Alexandra Lazarowich
|2019 |The Boxers of Brule|Jesse Adler
|2020 |êmîcêtôcêt: Many Bloodlines|Theola Ross
|2021 |Mary Two-Axe Earley: I Am Indian Again|Courtney Montour
|2022 |First Time Home|Noemi Librado-Sanchez, Esmirna Librado, Esmeralda Ventura, Heriberto Ventura
|2023 |Grape Soda in the Parking Lot|Megan Kyak-Monteith, Taqralik Partridge
|2025 |In My Hand|Marja Helander, Liselotte Wajstedt
Best Documentary - Long Format (Alanis Obomsawin Award) YearFilmDirectorRef2000200120022003Totem: The Return of the G'psgolox PoleGil Cardinal2004The Ghost RidersV. Blackhawk Aamodt2005Mohawk GirlsTracey Deer2006Waban-aki: People from Where the Sun RisesAlanis Obomsawin2007Water Flowing TogetherGwendolen Cates2008March PointCody Cayou, Nick Clark, Tracy Rector, Annie Silverstein, Travis Tom2009C.B.Q.M.Dennis Allen2010And the River Flows On (Y el rio sigue corriendo)Carlos Pérez Rojas2011The Tall ManTony Krawitz2012My Louisiana LoveMonique Verdi2013Who Will Be A Gurkha?Kesang Tseten2014My LegacyHelen Haig-Brown2015The Price of PeaceKim Webby2016Angry InukAlethea Arnaquq-Baril2017Indictment: The Crimes of Shelly ChartierShane Belcourt, Lisa Jackson2018Marks of ManaLisa Taouma2019Mothers of the Land (Sembradoras de vida)Alvaro Sarmiento, Diego Sarmiento2020CompañíaMiguel Hilari2021Warrior SpiritLandon Dyksterhouse2022Šaamšiǩ – Great Grandmothers HatAnstein Mikkelsen, Harry Johansen2023MamaXun Sero2025Singing Back the BuffaloTasha Hubbard
After Dark Award Award for speculative fiction films in memory of Jeff Barnaby. YearFilmDirectorRef2025SeedsKaniehtiio Horn2026KleeGavin BairdJamie Casemore, "In Brief: Darlene Naponse’s Aki wins at imagineNATIVE". Playback, June 10, 2026.
Best Music Video (2000–2016) YearTitleDirector2000200120022003Music is the MedicineRandy Redroad2004Slangblossom: PossiblyDaybi Slangblossom2005Tamara Podemski: MeegwetchBruce McDonald2006The Dust Dive: A Minor DisturbanceBlackhorse Lowe2007PunassiunSpencer St-Onge Francis Grégoire
Carl Grégoire
Jean-Christophe Gabriel
James Chescappin
Marco Bentz
Jonathan Germain
Wendy Germain
Nicolas Paradis
Jean Philippe Robertson2008Warrk WarrkTommy Lewis Julia Morris2009Ariana Tikao: Tuia (Stitched)Louise Potiki Bryant2010HauntedShane Ghostkeeper2011I Lost My ShadowNanobah Becker2012SidesMosha Folger2013RowHouston R. Cypress2014Haida Raid 3: Save Our WatersAmanda Strong2015Nitahkôtân (I Have Arrived)Moe Clark2016We Are Still HereSofia Jannok
Best Radio (2000–2013)