The Yukon Film Society’s Available Light Film Festival (ALFF) will feature the world premieres of four Canadian feature- and mid-length films, including David Hamelin and Melaina Sheldon’s documentary Northlore (pictured).
The 54-minute doc is produced by Whitehorse-based Hamelin and Sheldon from Fireside Films and Shirley Vercruysse from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in association with CBC and Northwestel Community TV.
The documentary weaves live-action and animation to explore mystical stories and connections between people and wildlife in Canada’s north.
Ben Immanuel’s Are We Done Now? (Trigger Me Productions, Haven Films) will also be among the world premieres at the festival. The film is written and directed by Immanuel and produced by Immanuel, Kimi Alexander, Troy Mundle and Bernie Yao.
Are We Done Now? stars Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas) as a therapist whose clients participate in a documentary about the impact of global crises on mental health. The cast includes Favour Onwuka (The Order), Elliott Ramsey (Wilderness), Natalie Farrow (Balestra), Jennifer Spence (You Me Her), Giacomo Baessato (The Good Doctor) and Camille Sullivan (Shoresy).
The film was self-financed with Telefilm Canada supporting post-production, Immanuel told Playback Daily. Indiecan Entertainment is the film’s Canadian distributor.
Also making its world premiere at ALFF is B.C.-based Charles Wilkinson’s documentary Talk About Lonely (Shore Films). The film, produced by Tina Schliessler, explores the causes, conditions and potential remedies for loneliness.
Rounding out the feature and mid-length world premieres at ALFF is Daniel Janke’s and Erika Tizya-Tramm’s documentary Old Crow A Philosophy. The 47-minute documentary follows the remote northern community of Old Crow in the Yukon and their quest to achieve energy sovereignty.
Jessica Hall’s short film Saturday from the NFB will also have its world premiere at the festival. Produced by Teri Snelgrove, the Whitehorse-shot short documentary is a tribute to Hall’s mother and sister and chronicles their lives.
Other films screening at the Whitehorse festival include Christopher Auchter’s The Stand (NFB), Universal Language (Metafilms), 40 Acres (Hungry Eyes Media) and The Apprentice (Scythia Films, Tailored Films, Profile Pictures).
The 23rd annual ALFF runs from Feb. 7 to 16.
Image courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada and Fireside Films