WIFF 2023 Award Winners
Best Actor - Rhiana Yazzie, A Winter Love
Best Feature Film - A Winter Love, writer/director Rhiana Yazzie
Best Short Drama - Rose by Roxann Whitebean
Best Writing - Bruce Miller, Conviction
Best Documentary Feature - La Gente De La Tierra, Mitchell Tijerina and Benjamin Keller
Best Direction - Shane Belcourt, The Beautiful Scars of Tom Wilson
Best Short Documentary - MAWHIALEO OTE ALOWHA, Valeriya Golovina - Ukraine
Special Jury Prize - The Nature of Healing, director Faith Howe
CELEBRATING OUR YOUTH - OUR FUTURE
The Weengushk International Film Festival (WIFF) is a not for profit Indigenous-run independent film festival on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario featuring award winning filmmakers and indigenous leaders.
In 2023, Weengushk International Film Festival’s theme is youth. We celebrate storytelling about youth experiences, their journeys and remarkable accomplishments. This year's film festival theme and cultural event, is inspired by Founder and Artistic Dr. Shirley’s life's work, as it is dedicated to providing a safe space for youth to learn about their culture, land, language and to help youth find their voice and share their experience through storytelling.
"YOU CAN'T DREAM OF THE MOON, IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT YET"
- Presley Meawasige, Youth Participant, Weengushk Film Institute
VENUES
Venue One
Four Directions Complex AOK First Nation
Aundeck Omni Kaning, 1300 ON-540, Little Current
Venue Two
Elders Centre
Hill St, Little Current, ON AOK First Nation
Free Workshops
The Negaan'abik Daycare 48.1 Hill St Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation
Special Presentation & Music
M'Chigeeng Complex
94 ON-551, M'Chigeeng, ON P0P 1G0
HONOURING ICONS,
BUILDERS & TRAILBLAZERS
Don't miss out on this special celebration of our award recipients!
This year, we are proud to honour the outstanding contributions of our award recipients at our annual awards gala. We will be celebrating their hard work and dedication to the festival with an evening of recognitions, awards, and performances. Join us as we recognize the incredible achievements of our award recipients, including:
BEST FILM - BEST DIRECTOR - BEST DOCUMENTARY - BEST SHORT NARRATIVE - BEST ACTOR - BEST STUDENT FILM
BEST SCREENPLAY - BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
The Award Statues
Carvings done by Russell Noganosh and Sherry Dunstan
WHAT TO EXPECT
QUARANTINED QUARTET
Gary Farmer and The Troublemaker All Stars. Featuring Derek Miller
MURRAY PORTER
KEITH SECOLA
SPECIAL THANKS TO
The Indigenous Screen Office for co-sponsoring our Opening Night Film Program & Youth Tickets
Canadian Media Producers Association for Sponsoring Our 10 Hour Youth Filmmaking Program
Ontario Creates for sponsoring our Filmmaker & Guest Lounge
Individuals who have supported WIFF
Chris Rich
Nancy Lang
Robin Kay
Aviva Chepurny
Trish Dolman & Screen Sirens
Lesley Grant