The launch of three new channels devoted to the culture and realities of the first peoples will mark the start of Indigenous History Month on Wednesday. The NFB will also mark the start of LGBTQ+ Pride Month with special programming.
The nfb.ca platform will celebrate the 20e anniversary of the Wapikoni Foundation by dedicating a channel to it. The initiative founded by Manon Barbeau has helped lift the veil on Aboriginal cultures and realities while allowing people from different nations and communities to become familiar with the audiovisual industry. The collection put online will notably include the documentary Wapikoni – Stopover in Kitcisakikwhich gives an idea of the work done by the traveling studio.
The other two indigenous channels will be devoted to the transmission of indigenous knowledge and indigenous animated cinema. The NFB will also present documentaries online for the first time Along the water by Fritz Muller (June 12) and sound hunter (June 16). The latter is an art film featuring the quest of Inuk performer Tanya Tagaq, co-directed by Chelsea McMullan.
Since June is also Pride Month, the onf.ca platform is also offering a program starting Wednesday consisting of 31 films exploring various issues and stories of the LGBTQ+ community. When love is gay by Laurent Gagliardi and To the light by Sheona McDonald, who is interested in gender identity, are among the works offered on channel 2eLGBTQI+.
Last novelty, the curator Marc St-Pierre returns to the filmography of Gilles Carle. It will reflect on 30 years of documentary work, American Sunday (1961) to The Devil of America (1991).