indigenous languages event
Tuesday 28th March
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Come and join us for a day full of film screenings and talks to
celebrate the Indigenous languages & cultures.
This year WOW commissioned two emerging artist filmmakers from Wales to make a short film on the theme of women and climate adaptation.
Bangladesh/Cymru Climate Stories
Commissioned by WOW Film Festival, as part of Bangladesh-Cymru Climate Stories, a partnership with Dhaka DocLab, funded the the British Council’s International Collaboration Grants.
Aberystwyth Arts, Tuesday 28th March, 2.30pm
Join us for a Q&A with the filmmakers after the films, and discuss what role cinema can play in responding to the climate emergency.
Adra ni, y Môr (U)
Director: Mared Rees
Run time: 10 minutes
Lara has built a life for herself and her daughter, Magi, with the sea at its heart, lived and explored in their mother tongue, Welsh. But as external forces push them ever closer to danger, their world begins to crumble around them.
She Sells Shellfish (U)
Director: Lily Tiger Tonkin Wells
Run time: 13 minutes
Filmed in black and white super 8, She Sells Shellfish is a collage of two Welsh women’s lives with those of the archived past. A curious exploration of the female cockle gatherers of South Wales, and the surprising secret shellfish and seaweed hold for our oceans’ health.
Commissioned by WOW Film Festival, as part of Bangladesh-Cymru Climate Stories, a partnership with Dhaka DocLab, funded the the British Council’s International Collaboration Grants.
LAND : LANGUAGE : LIFE
curated by Tweed, Director, Native Spirit Festival
In 2005 Mapuche leader Freddy Trequil founded Native Spirit Festival to promote knowledge and awareness of indigenous cultures. Festival Director Tweed joined in 2007 bringing thirty years experience working in arts education, health, indigenous cultural heritage and rights.
Native Spirit Festival celebrates narrative sovereignty with a programme of nine short films highlighting eight native nations and indigenous languages in four different countries: Northern Sami (Finland), Seri (Mexico), Fijian/iTaukei (Fiji); Anishinaabe, Inuktitut, Atikamekw, Eeyou/Crie-Cree, Innu-Aimun (Canada).
Aberystwyth Arts, Tuesday 28th March, 4.00pm
Ancient dreams (Dolos Niegut)
(Northern Saami, Finland, Marja Viitahuhta, 2022, 3’)
A mix of memories and documented imagery of nomadic ways of life and contemporary reindeer herding.
Bimaadiziwin (The Language)
(Anishinaabe, Canada, Mary-Agnes Shawana, 2018, 4’)
The Anishinaabemowin language and its importance in the preservation of the Wiikwemkoong culture, history, and identity.
Iskwew-Ishkueu
(Atikamekw, Canada, Maïlys Flamand, 2021, 3’)
A young woman recounts her journey that led her from her home community to the city and to reflect on the subject of belonging to more than one place.
The Future Innu
(Innu-Aimun, Canada, Stéphane Nepton, 2021, 6’)
An ode to the land in relation to the filmmaker’s double identity as an urban Indigenous person.
The Creation of The World (Hant Quij Cöiipaxi Hac)
(Seri, Mexico, Antonio Coello, 2019, 10’)
The creation myth adapted into an animated short film made by Seri Indigenous children and Elders.
Names for Snow (Katatjatuuk)
(Inuktitut, Canada, Rebecca Thomassie, 2018, 6’)
An Inuk woman around Kangirsuk learns the 52 Inuktitut words for snow.
Northern Comfort: A Drive Around Town
(Eeyou (Crie-Cree), Canada, Mélanie Lameboy, 8’)
Biraciality and trilingualism bring certain questions on the social dynamics between Crees and non-Natives.
Flames (Dolat)
(Northern Saami, Finland, Marja Viitahuhta, 2021, 5’)
Fire is at the root of human culture, as a tool, but also as a place for social gatherings and storytelling.