SNIP 2016 ( 6.5)

Party girl Annie and Gordon, a homeless man, travel through a remote subway tunnel to a different time; to a world where two children are held captive and tormented by bizarre figures. A multilayered animated film which brings to life the dark history of the Canadian residential school system, in which – as recently as the 1990s – First Nations children were being indoctrinated and estranged from their parents and culture.

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics 2021 ( 6)

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics dives deeply into the innate contrast between the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Pride and Envy) and the Seven Sacred Teachings (Love, Respect, Wisdom, Courage, Truth, Honesty and Humility), as embodied in the life of a precocious Métis baby. Brought to life by Terril Calder’s darkly beautiful stop-motion animation, her inner turmoil of abuse is laid bare with unflinching honesty. Convinced she’s soiled and destined for Hell, Baby Girl receives teachings that fill her with strength and pride, and affirm a path towards healing. Calder’s tour-de-force unearths a hauntingly familiar yet hopeful world that illuminates the bias of colonial systems.

Reclaim 2024