Following Aberdeen, co-directed with Ryan Cooper, Eva Thomas is now making her solo feature directorial debut with Nika & Madison.

The film, which is a feature-length adaptation of Thomas’ short film Redlights, follows two Indigenous women who flee their reservation after a violent encounter with a police officer.

Ellyn Jade (Little Bird) and Star Slade (Burden of Truth) star as Nika and Madison, respectively. Jade reprises her role from the short.

Nika & Madison began production on Nov. 11 and continues through Dec. 9. It is filming in Toronto and the surrounding areas.

Thomas, who is a member of the Walpole Island First Nation, is producing the film and is a co-writer alongside Michael McGowan (Still Mine).

Nika & Madison is executive produced by Jade, Jennifer Podemski (The Other Side), Paula Devonshire (Indian Horse), Kaniehtiio Horn (Seeds), Tyler Levine (All My Puny Sorrows) and Katelyn Cursio (First Person).

The film has received support from Telefilm Canada, the Indigenous Screen Office, Ontario Creates, CBC Films and APTN.

Thomas’ feature directorial debut Aberdeen made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Redlights also had its world premiere at the festival the year prior.

Pictured (L-R): Eva Thomas (photo by Hayley Andoff), Ellyn Jade (photo by Farzam) and Star Slade (photo by Denise Grant)