Director Jeff Barnaby’s feature film debut Rhymes for Young Ghouls has begun production in Montreal, it was announced Tuesday.

The film stars Kawennahere Devery Jacobs, Glen Gould (One Dead Indian) and Brandon Oakes (Into The West).

Barnaby (pictured, left), who was born on a Mi’gMaq reserve in Listuguj, Quebec, also wrote the script

“I want to take the violence and sadness that exists on reserves, and create a human hero. I need to show Native people just how strong we are,” said Barnaby in a statement.

Rhymes for  Young Ghouls is set in 1976 on the Red Crow reservation, and tells the story of a 14-year-old girl who, during her father’s imprisonment, has become involved in the drug trade while taking care of her dope-slinging uncle, and her bid to escape the reserve following her father’s release.

The film was selected to participate in the 2012 Tribeca All Access program, which gives filmmakers from traditionally under-represented communities access to industry professionals working in development, production and distribution through meetings, workshops and panels.

The script also won the Tribeca 2012 Creative Promise Award for Narrative, a juried $10,000 cash award.

Filming will run from Oct .21 through to Nov. 22, with the film slated for release in fall 2013.

John Christou and Aisling Chin-Yee (pictured, middle, right) of Montreal-based Prospector Films are producing Rhymes for Young Ghouls, which is being developed and financed under the CFC Features program and supported by Astral’s TMN, Corus’ Movie Central, SODEC, Telefilm Canada, CFC and the Harold Greenberg Fund.

Seville Pictures will handle distribution in Canada, and eOne is handling international sales.