Yukon First Nation filmmakers Mary Code and Carol Geddes were part of a pan-northern delegation attending the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, last month. The festival, also known as the Berlinale, provided a professional development opportunity for the two producers.
The delegation also participated in the festival’s film trade fair. The European Film Market introduced the filmmakers to film buyers, distributors and producers who are interested in Indigenous film productions. The project was spearheaded by the Canada Council for the Arts and coordinated by the ImagineNATIVE film organization.
Code and Geddes were supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Yukon government departments of Economic Development and Tourism and Culture.
Quotes
“We are proud to support the ongoing development of these talented First Nation filmmakers. They are telling stories of Canada’s Indigenous people with great creativity, beauty and compassion, and sharing our unique cultures with audiences in the territory and beyond.”
–Minister of Tourism and Culture Jeanie Dendys
“The European film market is an important marketplace for international industry professionals to develop co-production partnerships. We are pleased to have provided support for these two Yukon producers to fully participate in the event.”
–Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
“The opportunity for a producer to attend an international forum such as Berlinale is invaluable. It gave me a chance to not only pitch projects to international production companies but also to get a sense of the kind of storytelling that is trending in the world marketplace. The networking opportunities extend far beyond the event itself and the cards I collected through meetings provide potential future opportunities. In addition, the experience of effective pitching will carry over into other domestic and foreign marketplaces.”
–Filmmaker Carol Geddes
Quick facts
- Carol Geddes is a member of the Teslin Tlingit First Nation and an award-winning independent filmmaker, writer and communications consultant. Her work has highlighted the stories and struggles of Aboriginal life in Yukon and other parts of Canada. In 2002, Geddes received the Queen’s Royal Jubilee Medal for her outstanding contributions to the cultural community. She is president of The Thing With Feathers Productions, Inc.
- Originally from western Hudson Bay, film producer and director Mary Code now lives in Whitehorse. Code is a member of the Sayisi Dene First Nation and has a special interest in the preservation of Indigenous culture, language and stories. Code has won awards for her work, often in partnership with husband Allan Code, including for Nuhoniyeh: Our Story, a history of the Sayisi Dene people.
Learn more:
Berlinale
European Film Market
Contact:
Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7478
sunny.patch@gov.yk.ca
Lucie Wright
Communications, Tourism and Culture
867-667-5318
lucie.wright@gov.yk.ca
Diana Dryburgh
Communications, Economic Development
867-667-5378
diana.dryburgh@gov.yk.ca
