Up and coming Indigenous filmmakers showcased this week in K-W

A travelling film festival showcasing the work of young Indigenous filmmakers is in Kitchener and Waterloo this week. 

Cinema on Wheels highlights short films made by Indigenous youth through the Wapikoni mobile film production studio. 

This is their first coast-to-coast tour, intended to build reconciliation through the arts.

• Award-winning short films by Indigenous youth to be showcased at University of Windsor
• First Nations filmmaking project rolls into Pelican Narrows, Sask.

"We really do believe that Wapikoni has been able to give voice to isolated individuals and communities," Geronimo Inutiq, a projectionist and facilitator for the tour, told CBC K-W. 

"Our goal is to promote the project and also share the stories that have been made through the years, and really create the bridges between the communities."

A selection of films will be shown at Waterloo Public Square at 9 p.m. Tuesday and in Kitchener at the Victoria Hills Community Centre at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Film studio on wheels

The films are the product of a 13-year project started by founder Manon Barbeau. 

The dream was to put together a mobile film studio that could be moved into remote First Nations communities, giving youth access to equipment and guidance from mentors.

So far, more than 4,300 Indigenous youth have worked to create 900 short films, many of which have won awards and been screened around the world. 

The tour started in April, and by November, will have covered 10 Canadian provinces, stopped in 50 cities and 100 Indigenous communities.