Sedna, Canadian Film Festival Premiere, March 28, 2023

LINK to REEL to REAL FESTIVAL PAGE: Join us to celebrate R2R’s 25th anniversary with snacks, drinks, music and animation workshops! Inspired by stories that writer/director/producer Jerry Thevenet’s grandmother told him as a young boy. The film reimagines these stories to weave a modern tale that has been loosely inspired by one of the most compelling Indigenous legends of all time. A courageous young Inuit girl, Sedna is kidnapped by a duplicitous raven and held captive on a dark and secluded island. Escaping on kayak, Sedna falls into the frigid arctic waters and magically transforms into a mermaid-like goddess– the ruler of the sea. To Sedna, this newfound responsibility is a burden and a distraction, she just wants to go home to her family. With some help from the sea animals and a quirky two-spirited, friend named Kay, Sedna breaks the strings that bind and is at last able to choose her own destiny. This special animation is a light-hearted, action-adventure musical that uses comedy, metaphors and allegory to introduce young people to the concept of residential schools and their impact on Indigenous children and families. Sedna is also appropriate for younger audiences, with a guardian, and is fun for the whole family. Born in NunatuKavut, Thevenet’s company Jerryco Animation is North America’s first Indigenous owned and operated animation studio. Committed to the preservation of Indigenous languages and cultures, all of Jerryco’s productions feature Indigenous characters, settings and languages. Please join us on opening night to meet the filmmaking team behind this extraordinary and visionary feature film! Themes: elder knowledge, arctic folklore, cultural appreciation, identifying danger, dealing with bullies, family, impacts of residential school, friendship, teamwork Feature film recommended for age: 9+