photo of Briar Grace Smith

We are pleased to share a recording of the August 16th, 2022 panel “Connecting and Contending through the Creative Process” which featured Indigenous women filmmakers from around the globe, Ángeles Cruz (Mixteca filmmaker) and Briar Grace-Smith (Māori filmmaker), in conversation with Dr. Natalia Gonzáles Möller. Unfortunately, due to internet connectivity issues, Ángeles Cruz was not able to join via Zoom but Dr. Gonzáles Möller explained the impact of Cruz’s filmmaking process on her behalf. You can learn more about Ángeles Cruz’s work by watching this video

The in-person and online audience were treated to an in-depth exploration of Briar Grace-Smith’s career as a Māori filmmaker and granted intimate insights into her recent film Cousins (2021) through conversation with Dr. Gonzales Möller.  

This panel was featured in the 8th Revisioning the Americas through Indigenous Cinema international conference—part of the Montreal First Peoples Festival—which brings Indigenous filmmakers and academics from around the world together for groundbreaking conversations. The panel occurred simultaneously in-person and on Zoom, with Spanish-English translation to ensure accessibility for all presenters and attendees/viewers.   

poster of conference

The 8th Revisioning the Americas through Indigenous Cinema international conference

This conference took place in Kahnawàke and Montréal August 15-16, 2022. It was organized out of Queen’s University, in partnership with Terres en vues, and in collaboration with the Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa Language and Cultural Center. Guest speakers included Alanis Obomsawin, Sterlin Harjo, Leo Koziol, Roxann Whitebean, Neegan Sioui-Trudel, Paula Pailamilla Baeza, among many other groundbreaking filmmakers and academics.  See accounts in Queen’s Gazette and on CBC.

The 2022 Conference gratefully received the support of: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connection Grant – PI: Isabelle St-Amand); Faculty of Arts and Science Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization (EDII) at Queen’s University; Queen’s University Vice-Dean’s Program Fund; Group of studies and research in international and intercultural communication (GERACII) at Université du Québec à Montréal; Queen’s University Principal's Student Initiatives Fund; Departments English, French Studies, and Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Queen’s University.