Powwow People is a cinematic vision vividly brought to life by Sky Hopinka. By orchestrating the event he films, the filmmaker dissolves the boundaries between observer and participant. His presence, often acknowledged from the microphone, places him in the event, emphasizing collective experience and the spirit of shared engagement in Indigenous culture. Testimonies are presented in voice-over, after which the film yields entirely to the powwow, culminating in a final dance competition captured in a single long take. For this film, the filmmaker sets aside his search for an experimental form to capture the powwow as a living and immersive entity. The result is a celebration that transforms how we perceive community on screen. (ME)

Co-presented with the McCord Museum

Quebec Premiere

Powwow People