Dreamspeakers, Rubaboo set to begin this weekend

The two in one festival— the 10th anniversary Rubaboo Arts Festival and the 25th anniversary Dreamspeakers International Film Festival— is going to be “epic” this year, said Christine Sokaymoh Frederick, executive director of the Dreamspeakers Festival Society.

The vent run April 26 to May 7. This year, Dreamspeakers will feature 44 films from around the world.

Frederick has been with the society since 1993 when she joined its youth council right out of school. Back in ’93, there was only two Indigenous film festivals in the world, she told Jacob LeBlanc of Windspeaker Radio. The growth in the industry has seen an increase in film festivals to more than 40.

 “Indigenous artists are knocking it out,” she said. And they are deliberating on some important issues.

Barry Bilinsky is excited about this year’s line up for Rubaboo. He is curating and festival directing the Aboriginal theatre and performing arts component. The title show will be Kaahsinnoniks by Making Treaty 7.

In the line up is a Gathering of the Indigenous Memers. A meme is a humorous image, video, or piece of text that is copied and spread rapidly through social media. The panel will answer some big questions people may have about the meme-making process such as: What role do memes serve in Indigenous humour? And, are memes an effective tool to spark conversations about Indigenous issues?

Rocko & Nakota: Tales From The Land, written and performed by Josh Languedoc, is hosted by Theatre Prospero

May 2 is Youth Day and there will be a casting director on site who will provide a workshop on acting and auditioning. There will also be a youth talent show.

The line-up is huge, said Bilinsky.

All film screenings will be held at the Metro Cinemas at the Garneau Theatre. Performing arts can be found at Allard Hall. Take a look at the website at https://dreamspeakers.org/ for the program for times and stages.