World Premiere
Set in the 18th century just before the British conquest of New France, Marie, an Indigenous slave to a local surgeon, encounters a young girl whom she presumes to be her child.
Supported by
Community Partner
Soleil Launière, Fred-Éric Salvail
Canada
2023
In French, Innu-aimun, Abénakis and English with English subtitles
Depictions of Racism, Colonial Violence
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits
Producer
Geneviève Gosselin-G
Screenwriter
Julien G. Marcotte, Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Cinematography
Nicolas Poitras-Gamache
Editor
Pier-Philippe Chevigny
Art Director
Rebecca Dory
Directors
Julien G. Marcotte
Julien G. Marcotte is a screenwriter and director living in Montreal. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in film studies, he directed his first short film — Louise de 9 à 5 (2021). The film had its world premiere at the 22nd edition of the Off-courts Trouville festival and its Canadian premiere at the 50th edition of the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montreal. His artistic approach combines social issues, historical interpretation, and interpersonal conflicts.
Filmography: Katshinau (2023); Louise de 9 a 5 (2021)
Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush
Originally from the Innu community of Nutashkuan, Jani Bellefleur-Kaltush is a director, artist, and translator. She has directed several short films, one of which won an award at the imagiNATIVE Festival in Toronto. Nika tshika uiten mishkut was presented in official competition at the International Documentary Meetings of Montreal (RIDM), at the Rendez vous du cinéma québécois in Montreal and at the Festival Regard sur le court-film in Saguenay. Her latest film Tshima it (Amen) was selected at several festivals.
In 2017, she participated in a collective exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts entitled Kushapetshekan / Kosapitcikan. In 2022, she made La Forge – Édition 2022 and is in the middle of writing several projects.
Filmography: Katshinau (2023); Do Not Tell (2009)
VIFF Short Forum
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Short Forum 2: Anthropomaxx
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Short Forum 3: Workers of the World
The grind of the working class in a system that betrays its promises.
Short Forum 4: Immanence: A Life
You don’t have to look far; life is beautiful!
Short Forum 5: Somewhere Else
If space and time are pure perception, let’s build them differently.
Short Forum 6: Archive Lives!
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Short Forum 7: War at Home
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Short Forum 8: Queer Magic
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Short Forum 9: Big Time Sensuality
Explorations of desire and intimacy serve both pain and pleasure.
Short Forum 10: Are the Kids Alright?
The future kinda depends on it.