KFS and Tk’emlups partner for first Indigenous Film Festival in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS — An Indigenous film festival will be held in Kamloops in early September.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Aug. 23), the Kamloops Film Society (KFS) says it’s in partnership with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) to present the inaugural Stseptékwles re Sk’elép (Coyote Stories) Indigenous Film Festival at Paramount Theatre from Sept. 1 to 3, 2022.

According to KFS, the festival will screen nine Canadian Indigenous feature films, as well as highlighting short films, Indigenous artists, and events. Dušan Magdolen, KFS executive director, says an Indigenous film festival has been a priority since they took over operations of Paramount Theatre.

“Our intention has been to use the success of our annual March Kamloops Film Festival to launch micro festivals featuring specific content aimed at various demographic groups,” Magdolen says. “We are thrilled to begin meeting this goal with the Stseptékwles re Sk’elép Indigenous Film Festival.”

KFS says the festival committee is made up almost entirely of Indigenous members from Kamloops and area. It says the committee has guided film selection and event planning for the festival.

Tk’emlúps Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says the festival is an opportunity to bring people together from different backgrounds.

“These are the kinds of actionable and enjoyable steps towards reconciliation that we want to encourage,” Casimir says.

More information can be found online.