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WELCOME TO ALFF 2022
Welcome to the 20th edition of the Available Light Film Festival!
Dákwän’į yū shäw ghànīddän. We are happy to see all of you.
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Shàw níthan, Qujannamiik, thank you for coming to the 20th Available Light Film Festival.
This year we are celebrating a huge Milestone for Available Light: the 20th edition of the festival.
Audiences across the North and Canada can enjoy a robust and diverse program of films and live-streamed events on the ALFF virtual festival platform. Yukon audiences can also come to 35 in-person screenings of select festival films at our new venue, the iconic Yukon Theatre.
Our team is extremely grateful for your support, patronage and participation as we continue to re-invent our film festival, despite the not-always-easy circumstances. We live in an extraordinary region of the earth with a curious and engaged community, that shares our passion for independent cinema and arts. We feel lucky to have you as an audience to return to.
This edition of the festival will continue to offer the experience of a virtual festival, as well in-person events with limitedcapacity, that include lunchtime short film programming (Feb 21-25) and feature films screenings in the evenings (Feb 11-28). The in-person screenings will take place at The Yukon Theatre, newly re-opened in December by the Yukon Film Society. You are also invited to join us for an evening of special programming in partnership with Council of Yukon First Nations and the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on Wednesday, February 23rd . Available Light continues to celebrate and honor the experiences of Indigenous peoples and the work of Indigenous filmmakers by presenting over 40 films by Indigenous directors, including the ALFF 2021 Opening Gala Film; Wildhood, directed by Two-Spirit L’nu filmmaker Bretten Hannam. In their first feature film, Hannam crafts a road movie in which both the journey and destination offer opportunities for self-discovery. Wildhood has won the Best Atlantic Feature Presented by FIN Atlantic International Film Festival.
Some of other Canadian features include DƏNE YI’INJETL - The Scattering of Man, Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy, Rob is Analog (world premiere), Portraits from a Fire, as well as TIFF Canada’s Top 10 titles: Night Raiders and Scarborough. The international feature film highlights include Hive from Kosovo, and The Worst Person in The World from Norway—both shortlisted for the International Feature Film Award at this year's Oscars.
For ALFF’s 20th Anniversary, we are also honored to bring back Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner directed by Zacharias Kunuk. This 2K restoration marks the 20th anniversary of Kunuk’s landmark work, named in a 2015 TIFF poll as the greatest Canadian film ever made. Join us for a livestreamed talk with this iconic Canadian filmmaker on Saturday, February 12.
For a second year, Available Light spotlights Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour and LGBTQ2+ filmmakers with the Made in the North Award, with the generous support of Canada Goose. ALFF is happy to award cash prizes to the three outstanding films by underrepresented filmmakers in ALFF Official Selection. The Made in the North Award is designed to advance the talent
of Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and LGBTQ2S+ Canadian filmmakers with a focus on those living in the northern territories and regions of Canada. A jury diverse filmmakers will select the award-winning films. There are three award categories: Best Canadian Feature Film, Best Canadian Short Film and Best Northern Short Film (Yukon, Northwest Territories & Nunavut).
We are also thrilled to introduce this year Available Light Award for Best Cinematography by a Canadian womanidentified, IBPOC or LGBTQ2+ or diverse cinematographer generously sponsored by WarnerMedia Access Canada.
The Yukon Film Society is honoured to host many talented creators each year at Available Light. Thank you to all the filmmakers, creators, Industry delegates and documentary participants who have taken part in virtual Q&As, ALFF Industry sessions, concerts and ALFF Creator talks.
We’re also happy to announce that more than 60% of the films we’re presenting are BIPOC or 2SLGBTQ+-led and directed productions. A commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Principles in film needs to happen in the cinema and not just on set. We thank our audiences and partners for their support in championing emerging and diverse voices.
As always, we could not present this multi-faceted 18-day festival without the continuous and generous support of numerous Yukon businesses and partner non-profits, some of which are not able to support the festival as they have in previous years because of the pandemic. We know it’s been a challenging year and we acknowledge your on-going support. The Yukon Film Society is also acknowledging the ongoing support of Canada Council for the Arts, Yukon Arts Operating Fund, Yukon Lotteries, The City of Whitehorse and Telefilm Canada. This support that has made it possible for us to plan, produce and present this festival.
Thank you to Canada Goose our presenting partner, and supporter of the Made In the North Award and to our new partner, WarnerMedia Access for initiating the Available Light Awards for Best Cinematography.
Please join us in thanking the sponsors, community organizations and hardworking volunteers and staff that make Available Light 2022 possible.
Shäw níthän, gunalchîsh, mahsi cho, merci, gracias, chi miigwech, Qujannamiik and thank you for coming to Available Light and making this a very special community event every Yukon winter.
Siku Allooloo, Associate Programmer
Kinga Binkowska, Co-programmer
Andrew Connors, Festival Director
WELCOME TO ALFF 2022
FESTIVAL TEAM
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
MADE IN THE NORTH AWARD
Presented by Canada Goose
