Image: Production still from REEL INJUN by Neil Diamond

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Cinema Politica is currently seeking submissions of independent Canadian Indigenous works for a special screening project called First Peoples First Screens. Led by Cinema Politica, the programming initiative is a partnership with the Conseil des arts et des lettres Québec (CALQ).

About First Peoples First Screens:
First Peoples First Screens is a specially curated program that will feature emerging and established Indigenous artists working in Quebec and Canada. The project will showcase up to 25 films and videos of varying lengths and techniques, including animation, fiction, documentary and experimental. For this distinct program, Cinema Politica will seek consultation from two of our long-standing collaborators: Indigenous filmmakers and media artists Alanis Obomsawin and Tracey Deer.

While Cinema Politica is particularly interested in submissions from across Turtle Island (Canada), we welcome works from international Indigenous producers as well.

First Peoples First Screens is a program that seeks to support Indigenous artists, while creating screening spaces of solidarity in order to contribute—through cultural and artistic representation—to the self-determination of communities ignored or maligned by mainstream media and violated by neocolonial government policies. As the Kino-nda-niimi Collective write in their 2014 volume on Idle No More, called The Winter We Danced: « Never before have Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers and artists presented to Canadians such rich art, stories, and expressive forms to others in such personal, intimate, and dynamic ways that provoke and evoke visions of the past, present and future. » This program takes its lead from those Indigenous artists, activists, storytellers, leaders and community-builders, and we look forward to any and all submissions.

Submitting Work:
Cinema Politica is looking for short, medium, and feature-length experimental, documentary, animated, and fiction films that focus on Indigenous art, culture, politics, activism, and history, made by Indigenous artists.

The submission deadline is April 30th, 2015.

Please send online screener links to: programming@cinemapolitica.org, with FIRST PEOPLES FIRST SCREENS – SUBMISSION written in the subject field.

Snail mail DVD submissions to the following address:
Cinema Politica Submissions – First Peoples First Screens
PO Box 55097 (Mackay)
Montreal, QC
H3G 2W5

For couriered packages, please send to:
Cinema Politica Submissions – First Peoples First Screens
5333 Casgrain, Suite #1109
Montreal, QC
H2T 1X3

Cinema Politica pays public performance screening fees for each programmed independent work, and fees vary according to length. There is no cost to submit your work to Cinema Politica and we are not responsible for lost or stolen items, nor are we responsible for returning submitted works. Our submission guidelines can be found at cinemapolitica.org/submit-a-film

If you have any other questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at programming@cinemapolitica.org

Posted with permission from Dan Leberg, Programming Assistant, Cinema Politica Network