The Northlander (film) explained

The Northlander
Director:Benjamin Ross Hayden
Producer:Benjamin Ross Hayden
Wendy Hill-Tout
Jeremy Torrie
Adam Beach
Jim Compton
Starring:Corey Sevier
Roseanne Supernault
Michelle Thrush
Music:Michalis Andronikou
Cinematography:Dan Dumouchel
Studio:Manifold Pictures
Distributor:Raven Banner Entertainment
Runtime:98 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:English

The Northlander is a 2016 Canadian fantasy adventure film written and directed by Benjamin Ross Hayden.[1] The film stars Corey Sevier as Cygnus, Roseanne Supernault as Mari, and Michelle Thrush as Nova. The film was produced by Benjamin Ross Hayden's production company Manifold Pictures and filmed in Alberta.[2]

The film premiered at the 40th Montreal World Film Festival.[3] The film was selected in the Perspective Canada program at Cannes in 2016.[4] It was distributed under the banner Raven Banner Entertainment theatrically in Canada. The Northlander was lauded as one among "8 of indigenous cinema's most important films" by i-D magazine.[5] The Northlander theatrically opened in over ten major cities across Canada between October 2016 and April 2017.[6]

The Northlander won Best Screenplay Award at the 40th Alberta Film & Television Awards,[7] and for directing the film Hayden was awarded the RBC Artist Award at the Mayor's Lunch for Arts Champions.[8]

Plot

In the year 2961, the time is after humanity and nature have recovered the land. A hunter named Cygnus is called to protect his people. He travels across a desert valley to protect his tribe against a band of Heretics and must find a way for his tribe to survive.

The story is inspired by the historic journey of the Métis leader Louis Riel away from Batoche, Saskatchewan toward the Montana mountains in the 1880s.[9]

The film's futuristic styling of Canadian history has the film contributing to the science fiction movements of Indigenous Futurism.[5]

Cast

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientsResult
2016Best Dramatic Feature FilmBenjamin Ross Hayden[10]
Best Director
Best Screenwriter
Best Performance by an Alberta ActorNathaniel Arcand
Best Performance by an Alberta ActressMichelle Thrush
Best Costume DesignerDee Fontans, Shannon Chappell, Jessica Waddell & Samantha Huskisson
May 27, 2017Best Makeup DesignMelissa Meretsky, Jennifer Walton[11]
Canadian Screen AwardsMarch 12, 2017Melissa Meretsky, Jennifer Walton, Lisa Belyea[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alberta-shot sci-fi feature The Northlander examines identity and survival with a Metis twist. Calgary Herald. Eric Volmers. 8 October 2016.
  2. Web site: Indigenous sci-fi flick filmed in Alberta to screen across Canada. CBC News. 11 October 2016.
  3. Web site: Canadian identity resonates in new film. The Concordian. Jessica Kinnari. 6 September 2016.
  4. Web site: The Northlander - Perspective Canada. Telefilm Canada.
  5. Web site: 8 of indigenous cinema’s most important films. i-D. Braudie Blais-Billie. 15 November 2016.
  6. Web site: Calgary Aboriginal sci-fi beams back into theatres for second run. Metro News. Aaron Chatha. 6 April 2017.
  7. Web site: Reclaiming, retelling and revisioning Indigenous stories. CBC News. 23 April 2017.
  8. Web site: Calgary director Benjamin Ross Hayden. CBC News. 28 March 2017.
  9. Web site: The Northlander: Looking Both Directions with Métis Sci-Fi film. FREQ Magazine. 10 May 2017.
  10. Web site: Past winners and Nominees. AMPIA.
  11. Web site: 2017 Leo Awards Winners by Name. Leo Awards. 27 May 2017. 3 June 2017. 2 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170602001912/http://www.leoawards.com/2017/winners/by_name_may_27th.php. dead.
  12. Web site: 2017 Canadian Screen Awards Nominees Revealed. https://web.archive.org/web/20170118150400/http://etcanada.com/news/196011/2017-canadian-screen-awards-nominees-revealed/. dead. January 18, 2017. ET Canada. Brent Furdyk. 17 January 2017.