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ᑕᓂᓯ! Tansi! Tawnshi! Edlanat’e! Aba washded!

Ācimowin Film Festival is located in Treaty 6 territory – the traditional lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dene, Dakota, Lakota, Nakota, and Métis nations.

In Saskatoon, the Ācimowin Film Festival stands as the pioneering Indigenous film festival and currently holds the distinction of being the sole Indigenous Film Festival in the province. The vision for this festival extends beyond mere entertainment; it aims to champion the development of a thriving film industry on the prairies. The goal is to inspire artists and visual storytellers to either remain rooted in their ancestral lands or to join the vibrant community of artists already present.

In addition to fostering a sense of place, Ācimowin Film Festival has established year-round film programming for Saskatchewan youth. Collaborating closely with like-minded community organizations that share the festival's core values. The festival's inception is driven by a commitment to inspire the next generation of Indigenous filmmakers and bolster Indigenous cinema in Saskatchewan. The overarching objective is to make Ācimowin Film Festival an annual fixture, addressing the void in the province's film scene concerning authentic representation of Indigenous people both on and off the screen.

The festival's mission to empower Indigenous voices to share their narratives, offer a learning experience for allies, and fulfill a crucial need for proper representation, particularly for the youth. Ācimowin Film Festival envisions a transformative shift towards a more equitable and just world, introducing Indigenous filmmaking to the prairies as a catalyst for cultivating an inclusive film industry accessible to all.

Eligible films must be made by Indigenous people (Global)

- 2/3 (Director/Writer/Producer/Actor) key creatives roles must be Indigenous
- Completed anytime from 2023 - 2026

WHO ARE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
• Self- identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member.
• Historical continuity with pre-colonial and/or pre-settler societies
• Strong link to territories and surrounding natural resources
• Distinct social, economic or political systems
• Distinct language, culture and beliefs
• Form non-dominant groups of society
• Resolve to maintain and reproduce their ancestral environments and systems as distinctive peoples and communities.

https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/5session_factsheet1.pdf

Overall Rating
Quality
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  • tanner zurkoski

    Fantastic festival, I was unable to attend due to childcare but the organizers were in touch throughout and during the screening. Looking forward to see this festival continue to grow with a strong community backing.

    June 2026
  • Dennis Møller

    Such a beautiful festival, it's nice to feel welcome and the concept of "pay what you can" is also amazing.
    Can't recommend the festival enough, and already looking forward to next year.

    June 2026
  • Great festival - incredibly warm and welcoming team! I'll have to come back again, whether or not I have a film playing! It's only an 8-hour drive. See you in 2027!

    June 2026
  • GARUWA Film

    Such a wonderful festival, was so excited to share our music video from Australia across the other side of the world. So important to share Indigenous filmmaking across borders!

    October 2025
  • Robert Joe

    It was an honour to screen our film, "Fistful of Vodka" at the beautiful Broadway theatre in Saskatoon. Mussi Cho (thank you) to Tristan Greyeyes and the hardworking festival staff. Looking forward to coming back next year!

    July 2025