1. Media Space

  2. Press Kit

THIS IS NOT A CEREMONY

AHNAHKTSIPIITAA
2022 | 20 min 56 s.
Cinematic VR Experience
English, Blackfoot with English subtitles

Awards and Festivals

  • Official Selection - New FrontierSundance Film Festival (2022)

Trailer



Long Synopsis


1 Liner


Director Statement


Q&A


Pronouncers (Blackfoot)


Format: Cinematic VR Experience

Teaser


Images


Wordmark Credit: NFB

The Spirit Buffalo approaches the fire at the center of the Arbour. Credit : NFB

Robert Sinclair explaining what happened to Brian Sinclair. Credit: NFB

The beautiful Southern Alberta farm from Adam's story. Credit: NFB

Our guide, Lillian, explains the ceremony to the poets. Credit: NFB

Team


Ahnahktsipiitaa (Colin Van Loon)
Writer and Director


Photo
Photo : Luis Alvarez




Jessica Dymond
Editor


Photo
Photo : Celeste Makow




James Monkman
Art Director and Visual Effects


Photo
Photo : Ryan Lebel




Nagamo Publishing
Music and Sound Design


Photo
Photo : Nagamo Publishing




Dana Dansereau
Producer (NFB)


Photo
Photo : Emily Cooper



Credits

Written and Directed by
Ahnahktsipiitaa (Colin Van Loon)

Produced by
the National Film Board of Canada

in partnership with
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

Featuring
Adam North Peigan
Robert Sinclair

Poets
Taran Kootenhayoo
Tawahum Bige

Matriarch Guide
Lillian Howard

Director of Photography
Olivier Leroux

Editor
Jessica Dymond

Art Director
James Monkman

Music
Nagamo Publishing
Nigel Irwin

Sound Design & Mixing
Nagamo Publishing
Drew Snyder

Assistant Director
Rob Guthrie

Production Designer
Sean McQuillan

Location Scouts
Michelle Bond (BC)
Quentin Johnston (Alberta)

Featured Cast
Brian Sinclair – David Lyle
Nurse – Marlies Dubois
Orderly – Arvind Johal
Security Guard – Otto Szabo
Social Worker – Michele Wienecke
Young Adam – Alexander Eagletail

Background Performers
Jamie Crozier
Donna Kodama
Leanna Nash
Mustafa Yilmaz
Montana Oglesby

Blackfoot Voiceover and Translation
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn

Portrait photography by
Alanna Blackrider-Onespot
Portrait Subjects
Adonis ManyChief
Zane Severite-ManyChief
Adonis Zaharjko
Billy Twigg
Leonard Little Mustache Jr.
Dakota Big Tobacco
Draytin Morden
Justin Meguire
Donald Saddleback
Everett Wolftail
Jonathan Brewer
Brody Bad Eagle
Nathan Avery
Herb Wilson
Kobe Alexander James Morning Bull
Dwayne Delaney
Brayson Breaker
Liam Breaker
Keeran Yellow Horn
Jayden Doore
Earnest Poundmaker
Montana Tyrell Redcalf
Danzel Ear
George Goodstriker
Daniel Pard
Tristen Beebe
Bobby Currie
Joseph Rex Across the Mountain
George Van Loon
James Across the Mountain

Gaffer
Cameron Watts

Grip
Torin Greyeyes-Starblanket

Sound Recordists
Tyler Lucas (BC)
Zack May (Alberta)

Wardrobe
Carmen Thompson

Wardrobe Assistants
Karuna Breeze Dampsy
Emmy Routledge

Hair and Makeup
Keesha Dawson-Harrison (BC)
Min Jee Mowat (BC)
Chenise Soosay (Alberta)

Set Photography
Soloman Chiniquay (BC)
Alanna Blackrider-Onespot (Alberta)

Data Wranglers
Odessa Shuquaya (BC)
Adam Solway (Alberta)

Property Buyer
Heather McQuillan

Community Liaison
Tawnya Plain Eagle

Production Assistants
Dustin McGladrey (BC)
Richard Wilson (BC)
Charlene Parsons (BC)
Kahka-Naikitstakii Crop Eared Wolf (Alberta)

Assistant Editor
Michael Morin

3D Animator
Brian Vowles
Kodai Yanagawa

French Translation
Gabrielle Lisa Collard

Craft Services
Salishan Catering

________________________________________

National Film Board of Canada

Producer
Dana Dansereau

Executive Producer
Robert McLaughlin

Project Manager
Laura Mitchell

Senior Production Coordinator
Jasmine Pullukat

Creative Technologist
Vincent McCurley

Studio Operations Managers
Camille Fillion
Janine Steele

Studio Administrators
Victoria Angell
Carla Jones

Marketing Manager
Tammy Peddle

Marketing Coordinator
Eric Bondo

Social Media Strategist
Hannah Martin

Education Marketing Strategist
Anne Koizumi

Publicist
Jennifer Mair
Katja De Bock

Legal Counsel
Christian Pitchen

________________________________________

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

Executive Director
Naomi Johnson

Executive Director
Jason Ryle

Institute Director
Daniel Northway-Frank

________________________________________

Special Thanks

Reba Rose DeGuevara
Edit Van Loon
Van Loon Family
Jimmy and Joanne Small Legs & Small Legs Family
Philip & Joanne Wolfchild
Jonathan Brewer, Kathy Brewer and Brewer Family
Harry Nose Clan
North Peigan Family

Piikani Nation Chief and Council
Chief Stanley Grier
Councillor Erwin Bastien
Councillor Wesley Crow Shoe
Councillor Che Little Leaf-Matusiak
Councillor Riel Provost-Houle
Councillor Doane Crow Shoe
Councillor Brian Jackson
Councillor Troy (Bossman) Knowlton
Councillor Theodore (Terry) Provost

Percy Bullchild & Bullchild family – Thank you Percy for all of the wonderful words and the stories you wrote down for all of us niitsitapi. Your book is a constant source of inspiration, guidance and wisdom.

Indigenious Matriarch 4 VR/VR (IM4-LAB)
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Vancouver Film School
BC Housing
Blackfoot Nation Films

Joan Ralph
Jeff Bullock
Calvin Sosick
Southern Alberta Vintage & Classic Car Club
Provost family
Margo Kane
Loretta Todd
Doreen Manuel
Cease Wyss
Tracey Kim Bonneau
Alannah Mandamin
Cheyanna J. V. Kootenhayoo (djKookum)
Kootenhayoo Family
Trevor Solway
George Van Loon
North Van Loon
Oveta, Dan & Roy Kennedy
Leanne Rooney
Robyn Weasel Bear
Jay Cardinal Villeneuve
Ken Tsui
Lizzy Karp
Tug Phipps
Shirley Vercruysse

Inii

________________________________________

This Is Not a Ceremony was created in Alberta on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Piikani (Brocket) Siksika, Kainai (Bloods), and Amskapi Piikani (Montana / Browning), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta;

in Vancouver on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations;

in Coquitlam on the core territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) (Kwee-kwet-lem) First Nation and lies within the shared traditional territories of the Tsleil-Waututh (Slay-wa-tuth), Katzie (Kate-zee), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), Quay Quayt (Key-Kite)​ First Nation​ and Sto:lo Nation;



Media Relations

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