ReFrame Film Festival Announces Opening Night Celebration Details

ReFrame Film Festival is kicking off its 21st season with opening night scheduled at Showplace Performance Centre for Jan. 23, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of ReFrame Film Festival.

The night starts at 6 p.m. with a catered pre-show reception downstairs in Showplace’s Cogeco Studio. The event will officially open at 7 p.m. on the main stage by artist Alice Olsen Williams.

Attendees will be treated to a screening of the new Canadian documentary Red Fever (2024), directed by Neil Diamond and Catherine Bainbridge. The film follows Cree’s Diamond on his journey to explore the pervasive impact of stereotypical Indigenous imagery in popular culture says ReFrame Festival.

“Red Fever began as an exploration of cultural appropriation and how our spirituality, traditional wear, objects, identities and ceremonies were being exploited – often by people who meant well, but were ignorant of their significance,” said Diamond. “The idea behind Red Fever evolved into a study of the vast influence Native America has had, and still has, on Western culture from sports, fashion, politics, and the environmental movement today.”

“Neil and I welcome you to a new look at our history – and in Neil’s witty, teasing, understated Cree way that he tells these stories – we hope you come to appreciate Indigenous cultures with a new understanding – and can abandon the buckskin mini dress and braided wig in your mind – for images so much more inspiring, rich, and real,” said Bainbridge.

The evening will end with live musical performances by Missy Knott (Singing Wild Rice Girl) and James Mixemong.

The cost of the event is $25 or on a pay-what-you-can pricing basis.

Opening Night is not included with festival passes. Tickets for opening night must be purchased online.

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