Altona is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Heath Affolter, Jon Affolter, Nathan Affolter and Thomas Affolter, and released in 2023.Ozten Shebahkeget, "Manitoba town's grief in wake of teen's brutal murder over 30 years ago shown in new docufilm". CBC News Manitoba, December 5, 2023. The film centres on the 1990 Altona murder, in which Earl Giesbrecht, a teenager in Altona, Manitoba, assaulted two classmates, and then set the house they were located in on fire.Ben Waldman, "Documentary revisits Manitoba town’s darkest moment". Winnipeg Free Press, December 8, 2023.
The film centres principally on the experiences of Tyler Pelke, who survived the incident and went onto become a motivational speaker and victims' rights advocate. Giesbrecht himself does not appear in the film, although he granted an interview to the Affolters and wrote a statement of penitence which was read in the film by actor Gabriel Carter.
The film premiered at the 2023 Whistler Film Festival, where it was the winner of the Whistler Film Festival Documentary Award.Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Atikamekw Suns wins best Canadian feature at WFF". Playback, December 5, 2023. The Affolters received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Editing in a Documentary at the 13th Canadian Screen Awards in 2025,Pat Mullen, "The Tragically Hip, Okurimono Lead Canadian Screen Award Documentary Nominees". Point of View, March 26, 2025. and won the WGC Screenwriting Award for Best Writing in a Documentary.Greg David, "2025 WGC Screenwriting Awards Winners Announced". TV, eh?, April 29, 2025.
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