Jules Koostachin Explained

Jules Arita Koostachin is a Cree writer and filmmaker from Canada, most noted for her 2022 film Broken Angel (MaaShwaKan MaNiTo).[1]

Background

A member of the Attawapiskat First Nation, she was born in Moose Factory, Ontario, and grew up in Moosonee,[2] and worked in social services before turning to filmmaking in the early 2010s.[3] She directed a number of short films, both narrative dramas and documentaries, before making Broken Angel as her feature debut.

Career

Broken Angel won the award for Best Film at the 2022 American Indian Film Festival,[4] and was longlisted for the 2022 Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award.[5]

Her documentary film WaaPaKe premiered at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival,[6] and has been shortlisted for the 2023 DGC Allan King Award for Best Documentary Film.[7] Her second narrative feature film, Angela's Shadows, was in development; as is a screenplay adaptation of Richard Wagamese's novel Ragged Company.

As a writer she published the poetry collection Unearthing Secrets, Gathering Truths in 2018,[8] and received a nomination in the English poetry category at the 2019 Indigenous Voices Awards.[9]

She has also had selected roles as an actress, including as Talia Spears in Bones of Crows and as the voice of Layla Mabray in the television series Molly of Denali.[10]

Personal life

Her son, Asivak Koostachin, is an actor.[1] Her twin sons, Pawaken and Tapwewin Koostachin-Chakasim, have had acting roles, notably in their mother's short film MisTik.[11]

She and her family are currently based in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she studied at the University of British Columbia.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Gail Johnson, "Whistler Film Festival: Jules Arita Koostachin draws on Cree cultural practices in Broken Angel", createastir.ca, November 24, 2022.
  2. Nick Krewen, "Jules Arita Koostachin’s dramatic thriller goes to camera". Playback, November 12, 2021.
  3. Jennifer Francis, "Regina-born actor stars in Indigenous movie about domestic abuse, survival". CBC News Indigenous, October 26, 2022.
  4. https://www.vimooz.com/2022/11/16/47th-american-indian-film-festival-award-winners-broken-angel/ "BROKEN ANGEL and POWERLANDS Win Top Awards at 2022 American Indian Film Festival"
  5. https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/jean-marc-vall-e-dgc-160000742.html "JEAN-MARC VALLÉE DGC DISCOVERY AWARD LONG LIST DROPS AT VISIONARIES"
  6. Haley Lewis, "‘I understand the pain’: Film explores residential schools’ intergenerational impacts". Global News, September 26, 2023.
  7. Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Women Talking leads film nominees for 2023 DGC Awards". Playback, September 20, 2023.
  8. Zainab Amadahy, "UNEARTHING SECRETS, GATHERING TRUTHS – BROKEN POETRY". Muskrat Magazine, November 10, 2018.
  9. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=2292 "Indigenous Voices Awards Finalists Announced"
  10. Dennis Ward, "Cree filmmaker Jules Koostachin believes industry now understands that Indigenous voices matter". APTN News, January 31, 2023.
  11. Crystal St. Pierre, "Survival the subject of two films by Cree filmmaker". Windspeaker, October 28, 2022.
  12. Dana Gee, "Vancouver-based Cree writer/director Jules Koostachin delivers story of survival and hope". Vancouver Sun, March 3, 2023.

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