Femme Family in Absentia
To our femmes about town, homebody femmes and femme family in absentia for whatever the cause, we see you. Just for you, we’ve curated a free night of at home Femme Wave style films…Enjoy!
In hopes to get you acquainted with the names and faces of those who have worked tirelessly and with unending passion to bring you Femme Wave, this program showcases selections from some of our Femme Family volunteers and collaborators past and present.
Femmemorph
In October 2017, together with our partners, we hosted a workshop for youth to become engaged in storytelling through film. Femme Wave, Quickdraw Animation, Antyx Community Arts, and the Stoney Nakoda AV Club, all worked together, with funding from Arusha’s Take Action Grant. Coordinators from each organization recruited youth with little access to or experience in film. These participants spent the day working together, discussing issues that affect young females growing up and this film is the result.
Nappily Ever After by Haifaa Al-Mansour
A soulful barber helps a woman piece her life back together after an accident at her hair salon makes her realize she is not living her life to the fullest. Watch on Netflix.
Selected by: Adora Nwofor, Femme Wave Comedy Coordinator
Bone Wind Fire by Jill Sharpe
An intimate and evocative journey into the hearts, minds and eyes of Georgia O’Keeffe, Emily Carr and Frida Kahlo.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/bone_wind_fire/
Selected by: Amanda Aust, Femme Wave Alumni
Agnes Varda: Filmmaker, Photographer, Instagrammer by Nic Wassell
Varda is a pioneer of the French New Wave, one of the only women recognized as part of the genre. A visual artist and filmmaker her work always centered women’s perspectives and stories.
Selected by: Amanda Foote, Film Co-Curator
John and Michael by Shira Avni
This short animation tells the story of two men in love. Animated with over 14,000 clay paintings on plexi so they could be backlit, the style is beautiful and reminiscent of stained glass. Narrated by a friend of the couple, it’s a heartwarming story.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/john_and_michael/
Selected by: Amanda Foote, Film Co-Curator
Black Soul by Martine Chartrand
A young boy traces his roots through the stories his grandmother shares with him about the events that shaped their cultural heritage.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/black_soul/
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Sisters in the Struggle by Dionne Brand and Ginny Stikeman
This documentary features Black women active in politics as well as community, labour and feminist organizing. They share their insights and personal testimonies on the double legacy of racism and sexism, linking their personal struggles with the ongoing battle to end systemic discrimination and violence against women and people of colour.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/sisters_in_the_struggle/
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Screaming Queens by Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker
When San Francisco police raided a popular late-night hangout for transgendered people in the city’s impoverished Tenderloin district in 1966, the patrons unexpectedly fought back. It was the first known instance of collective, queer resistance to police intimidation in United States history. Screaming Queens tells the story of this little known uprising that helped launch a broader fight for human rights in America.
https://www.pbs.org/video/truly-ca-screaming-queens-truly-ca/
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Dangerous Curves by Merete Muelle
Plus-size pole dancer Roslyn Mays uncovers vulnerability and strength through public exposure.
https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2017/06/28/dangerous-curves/
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Tough by Jennifer Zheng
Some things can only be understood with maturity. New light is shed on childhood cultural misunderstandings when a Chinese mother and her British born daughter speak as adults for the first time.
https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2017/06/26/tough/
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Protect Our Future Daughters by Maryanne Junta and Helena Lewis
Short docu-drama that educates viewers about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) of Canada and the Red Dress Project, narrated by Maryanne Junta, a young activist woman.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/protect-our-future-daughters/
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Daughters of the Dust by Julie Dash
An African American Gullah family leaves their coastal island home in 1902 and risks losing their culture to start a new life on the U.S. mainland. For all you Beyonce fans out there, Beyonce’s visual album Lemonade pays homage to “Daughters of the Dust”
Selected by: AMi Kenzo, Film Co-Curator
Skate Bitches by Samuel Shanahoy
A Short DIY film inspired by the 1986 Danny Potnick film Skate Witches.
Selected by: Caitlin McCann, Femme Wave Alumni
So Long Suburbia by Samuel Shanahoy
After her mother gifts her a one-year transit pass, a disillusioned 17-year-old decides to participate in her own adventures, providing they don’t take her very far from home.
Selected by Caitlin McCann, Femme Wave Alumni
I Like Girls by Diane Obomsawin
Four women reveal the nitty-gritty about their first loves, sharing funny and intimate tales of one-sided infatuation, mutual attraction, erotic moments, and fumbling attempts at sexual expression. For them, discovering that they’re attracted to other women comes hand-in-hand with a deeper understanding of their personal identity and a joyful new self-awareness.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/i_like_girls
Selected by: Calgary Queer Arts Society
Skin for Skin by Carol Beecher and Kevin D.A. Kurytnik
A dark allegory of greed and spiritual reckoning set during the early days of the fur trade.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/skin_for_skin/
Selected by: Calgary International Film Festival
How to Steal a Canoe by Amanda Strong
Amanda is an incredible Metis animator, in this film she teams up with musician Leanne Betasmosake Simpson to tell a haunting story of spirit.
Selected by: Nakoda AV Club
Savage by Lisa Jackson
Featuring youth activist Ta’Kaiya this groundbreaking genre mashup has been called a “residential school musical.” It feels like so many strange punches in the gut, one after another, and leaves you unsure how to think or feel. Welcome to our world.
Selected by: Nakoda AV Club
“Spirit Welling” by Grace Hunter
Made by one of our own filmmakers at a workshop, this film speaks to many of our members feelings about growing up in between worlds. Forced to participate in the world of education, daily work, and bills, we’d rather return to old ways where people mattered more than money, and the land was part of who we were not something to use and discard.
Selected by Nakoda AV Club
“Our Dear Sisters” by Kathleen Shannon
Kathleen Shannon’s film on Alanis Obomsawin.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/our_dear_sisters/
Selected by: Dr. Rebecca Sullivan, University of Calgary
“Forbidden Love” by Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman
A groundbreaking film on lesbians lives in Canada.
Selected by: Dr. Rebecca Sullivan, University of Calgary
Flamenco at 5:15 by Cynthia Scott
Oscar winning short on National Ballet School.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/flamenco_at_515/
Selected by: Dr. Rebecca Sullivan, University of Calgary
The Next Step, a 3 Film Series by Tina Horne
Three 30 minute films on different aspects of violence against women support networks at the beginning of the movement
Moving On: https://www.nfb.ca/film/moving_on/
Sylvie’s Story: https://www.nfb.ca/film/sylvies_story/
A Safe Distance: https://www.nfb.ca/film/safe_distance/
Selected by: Dr. Rebecca Sullivan, University of Calgary
Plant the Seed - What Feeds Us
Plant the Seed is a video that explores the difference between being charitable and acting in solidarity, the power of good food in bringing people together, and the importance of coming together to grow, cook, share and advocate for good food. Plant the Seed implores communities and politicians to think about the ways that we can shift our behaviour and policies to create a fair and dignified food system for all. This was an entirely youth-led and youth-made project.
Lacombe is Home: Spoken Word Team
A mini documentary highlighting the 2018 Father Lacombe High School Spoken Word Team as they seek to defend last year’s title reign at the annual Can You Hear Me Now? – Alberta’s Provincial Poetry Slam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmZpFtjghdY&t=15s
Selected by: Stephanie Banszky, Antyx Community Arts Community Engagement Coordinator
Lacombe is Home: NEO (Formerly LCMB)
With the support of a collective of community groups known as the Collaborative Funders’ Table, Antyx was able to undertake a digital youth arts project for the 2017 – 2018 school year at Father Lacombe High School that documented the journey of students involved with NEO (the school’s hip hop and choreography based dance team formerly known as LCMB), the Father Lacombe Spoken Word Team, and Youth Arts Action – South (Antyx’s weekly after-school arts program). These are their stories, and this is why, for them… Lacombe is home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmZpFtjghdY&t=15s
Selected by: Stephanie Banszky, Antyx Community Arts Community Engagement Coordinator
Antyx and Ian Bazalgette School – No One Understands
For the 2017-18 school year, Antyx Community Arts met with several Grade 8 students once a week to explore issues relating to LGBTQ issues, bullying, and youth violence. This is their creative project and their short film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX3b2CKvXdw
Selected by: Stephanie Banszky, Antyx Community Arts Community Engagement Coordinator
