Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee will be screened at the Uptown Cinema on Saturday September 29, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Aboriginal Showcase at the Calgary International Film Festival presented by American Express. This film won a 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie due in part to the support and participation of hundreds of Aboriginal people from Alberta performing as background actors, special skills, stunts, and actors. This is an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal contribution to film and television.

Actor August Schellenberg, who provided an Emmy nominated performance, as Sitting Bull, will attend the Festival and screening. He was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Made for TV Movie.

“Aboriginal people are encouraged to attend the Festival,” said Robin Wortman, President of the Aboriginal Film & Television Foundation. “The Aboriginal Showcase at the Festival includes a number of feature films, documentaries, and short films. The contribution of Aboriginal people to film production in Alberta is gaining recognition in the industry, and the films being presented at this year’s Festival are an excellent example.

Aboriginal people in the film and television industry will get a boost on Saturday, September 29 with the launch of the Dream Makers educational DVD and website. Since 2002, thousands of Aboriginal people have worked on major films in Alberta – Dreamkeeper (2002), Into the West (2004), and most recently Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2006). The Dream Makers DVD and website (www.dreammakers.tv) will be used in native schools across the country to promote Aboriginal participation in the film and television industries. The educational DVD version of the Dream Makers was funded by the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

According to Joe Novak, President of the Alberta Motion Pictures Industries Association, “This kind of empowering event by the Aboriginal Film and Television Foundation to expose young and emerging Aboriginal talent to the opportunities for careers behind and in front of the camera is what will ensure Alberta stories keep being told and that we are the shooting location of choice.” Joe Media Group is the production partner for Dream Makers.

The Calgary International Film Festival presented by American Express will screen several Aboriginal films at this years’ festival, including the World Premiere of Elijah, a film about Elijah Harper, his life, and his battle to defeat the 1990 Meech Lake Accord. See these films on the big screen and enjoy the Festival.