OWFF 2015: Day Three of the Film Festival in Pictures

The third day of the 2015 festival showcased docs and talks on the theme on ‘Our Home On Native Land,’ with screenings of Canadian and indigenous documentary films and panel discussions with filmmakers, documentary protagonists, and experts on Aboriginal Law and mining in Canada on our last day of programming at the National Gallery of Canada.

The day started off with an afternoon of Canadian Documentary Shorts with Ottawa Indie Fest, featuring short documentaries by Gary Marcuse, Jennifer Robbins, Marie Soleil Foisy (Mar Y Sol), and Howard Adler and followed by a Q and A with the filmmakers.

The afternoon program also included a screening of Martha Stiegman’s documentary Honour Your Word, which chronicles the plight of the indigenous people of the Algonquin First Nation of Barriere Lake. Norman Matchewan (Algonquins of Barriere Lake spokesperson and film protagonist), Martha Stiegman (film director), and Pei-Ju Wang (Barriere Lake Solidarity – Ottawa) joined us for a discussion after the screening.

Thank you to Canadian playwright and director Alanis King for being our MC and panel host for the afternoon and to the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) for sharing one of the heritage markers, commemorating the experiences of ‘Indian Residential School’ Survivors, featured in Howard Adler‘s short documentary An Object that has Spirit.

The festival was also proud to offer an afternoon of programming for children of festival-goers. This included opportunities for kids to learn about gardening, make dream catchers, play games, create art, and practice wilderness survival skills in the city with local E.C.E. teacher Brittanie Goodfellow and Alister Ogui Auge and Brittany Boychuk of Roots2Fruits.

Author and radio host Waubgeshig Rice from CBC Ottawa joined us as MC and panel moderator for our evening program, featuring the Ottawa premiere of award-winning documentaries After the Last River and Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World. A panel discussion on Aboriginal Law and Mining in Canada with filmmaker Victoria Lean (After the Last River), Professor Darren O’Toole (University of Ottawa), and Ugo Lapointe (MiningWatch Canada) followed the screening of After the Last River. The panel discussed the legalities surrounding mining practice in Canada and how it affects Aboriginal communities and the environment.

The evening wrapped up with our Festival Jury’s announcement of the 2015 One World Film Festival ‘Best of Fest’ award winners:

ONE WORLD FILM FESTIVAL 2015 WINNERS:
Best Feature: Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World (Canada)
Best Short: Sayachapis (Canada)
Congratulations to our winners!

Thank you to our 2015 OWFF Jury members:

Kat Fournier, Theatre Critic for Capital Critics Circle
Emily Ramsay, Co-Executive Director of Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival
José Sánchez, Professor of Film Studies at Carleton University

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for pictures from DAY THREE of our festival!

Join us for DAY FOUR of the One World Film Festival:

Sunday September 27th
One World Film Festival Presents: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
In co-operation with Inter Pares, The Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, and Oxfam Canada
10am to 5pm at Saint Paul University, 223 Main Street, Ottawa, K1S 1C4
Feeling inspired? Take the next step toward action with a full day of films, discussions, and interactive workshops with Inter Pares, the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution, and Oxfam Canada. FREE entry. Please reserve your spot here.

Dimanche le 27 Septembre
Festival du film One World presente: Les actes valent plus que les mots
Avec la coopération de Inter Pares, Institut canadien pour la résolution des conflits, et Oxfam Canada.
De 10 h à 17 h à l’Université Saint-Paul, 223, rue Main, Ottawa K1S 1C4.
Vous sentez-vous inspiré(e)? Alors prenez un pas de plus vers la mobilisation, grâce à une journée complète de films, de discussions, et d’ateliers interactifs menée par les organismes Inter Pares, l’Institut canadien pour la résolution des conflits, et Oxfam Canada.
L’entrée est GRATUITE. Veuillez réserver votre place ici.

Filmmaker Howard Adler at the 2015 OWFF.

Festival-goers had the choice to Pay-What-You-Can at the 2015 OWFF.

Q&A with documentary filmmakers Jennifer Robbins, Howard Adler and Marie Soleil (Mar Y Sol)

An ‘Indian Residential Schools Survivors’ heritage marker is displayed during OWFF’s Q&A with filmmakers Saturday afternoon.

Howard Adler talks about the heritage marker and his documentary An Object that has Spirit.

Documentary shorts directors Jennifer Robbins, Mar Y Sol and Howard Adler with heritage marker.

Sayachapis director Mar Y Sol rings the ‘Indian Residential School Survivors’ heritage marker.

Ed Kucerak, Blair Campbell and Jith Paul from Ottawa Indie Fest with filmmakers Mar Y Sol and Howard Adler

Festival goers in the Water Court Foyer at the National Gallery of Canada.

Members of Barriere Lake First Nation and supporters.

Discussion with Honour Your Word director and Barriere Lake First Nation members.

Members of Barriere Lake First Nation speak after Honour Your Word.

MC Waubgeshig Rice (CBC Ottawa) opens the OWFF’s Saturday evening program.

MC Waubgeshig Rice welcomes the audience to the festival and the Ottawa premiere of After the Last River, a documentary about the environmental, health, and economic challenges faced by the residents of Attawapiskat First Nation and the De Beers diamond mine neighbouring the reservation.

Festival-goers connect with organizations and get involved at the 2015 OWFF.

Volunteers are a crucial part of the OWFF.

OWFF volunteers Daniella and Chris at the OWFF box office.

A packed house for After the Last River’s Ottawa premiere.

An opening scene from Ontario filmmaker Victoria Lean’s documentary After the Last River.

NGOs and community organizations provide information to attendees of the 2015 festival.

Audience members mingle and browse information tables at the 2015 OWFF.

Discussions continue during the breaks at the OWFF, as festival-goers talk about the issues and get more information from NGOs.

UOttawa prof Darren O’Toole and Waugeshig Rice with audience member.

Friends of After the Last River filmmaker and producer came out to support the Ottawa premiere of the documentary at OWFF.

After the Last River producer Jade Blair (far right) with friends.

Friends of filmmaker Vicki Lean came out to support the Ottawa premiere of her film After the Last River.

The Council of Canadians reminded film fest attendees to vote on October 19.

The Council of Canadians raised awareness about election issues at the OWFF.

OWFF attendees mix, mingle, talk and visit info tables.

OWFF volunteer and A Luta Continua host Qais Ghanem recorded our panel discussions. Thank you Qais!

Darren O’Toole and After the Last River director Victoria Lean.

Waubgeshig Rice discusses Aboriginal Law and Mining in Canada with our panel.

A packed auditorium for our panel discussion on Aboriginal Law and Mining in Canada.

After the Last River panel discussion at the OWFF.

Victoria Lean shows off the new poster for her doc After the Last River at the film’s Ottawa premiere.

After the Last River producer Jade Blair, director Victoria Lean and friend.

Best short documentary winner Mar Y Sol thanks the film fest and audience.

Mar Y Sol’s Sayachapis won best short documentary at the 2015 OWFF.

OWFF jury member Emily Ramsay (Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival) and Jessica Ruano (OWFF Manager) with filmmaker Mar Y Sol.

The Best Feature Documentary award went to Haida Gwaii: On the Edge of the World.

OWFF volunteers Daniella and Hardeep at the box office.

Festival goers get informed at OWFF partners’ info tables.

OWFF committee member Maria at the Guest Services table on Sept. 26.

OWFF volunteers Daniella, Hardeep and Chris.

Volunteers make the OWFF happen. We couldn’t do it without them!

OWFF volunteers unwind at Memories Restaurant at the end of the night.

Sayachapis director Mar Y Sol, her partner and OWFF volunteer talk cell phones at Memories.

OWFF volunteers enjoyed great food, company and service at Memories Restaurant.

Decadent desserts satiated OWFF sweet tooths.

OWFF volunteers enjoyed delicious and nutritious treats at Memories Restaurant.

Volunteers built up an appetite that Memories Restaurant was happy to satisfy with delicious eats and treats.

For more info on our festival and the rest of our festival programming

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