First Peoples’ International Festival
– August 4 to 13, 2026 –
CALLING FOR FILMS
DEADLINE: March 15th, 2026
Présence autochtone is much more than just a film festival: from August 4 to 13, 2026, join a symphony of diversity, where creativity blends with resilience, celebrating Mother Earth to the sound of ancestral rhythms.
We are seeking cinematic works that capture the very essence of Indigenous life, exploring its contemporary realities, its sacred legacies, its struggles, and its victories. Whether you are a seasoned filmmaker or an emerging star, we eagerly await the cinematic treasures you have to share.
Leave your mark on Indigenous cinematic history. Submission deadline: March 15, 2026. Do not let this opportunity evaporate into the mists of time. Submit your film today.
Submit a Film
The 2025 First Peoples Festival will kick off its 35th edition on Tuesday, August 5 at 7:30 PM at Théâtre Outremont, with an evening full of discovery and emotion.
Bunna Lawrie, an Aboriginal Elder from the Mirning Nation and a highly respected figure in Australia, will be the guest of honor. He begins a spiritual journey across the Americas, starting in Montreal.
Sedalia Fazzio, a Mohawk Elder, will open the ceremony and welcome guests from near and far.
The festival will feature:
“Midnight at the Lonely River” by Abraham Côté
“Moon Belly -Vientre de la luna” by Liliana K’an, a poetic film in the Tsotsil language
“Inkwo for When the Starving Return” by Amanda Strong (animated short)
The evening will also include two additional short films and a speech by André Dudemaine, the festival’s artistic director.
Cultural Activities
22 August 2025
Esther Willow
Since her performance in Montreal at The First People’s Festival in 2015, Esther Pennell has been…
See Details
29 August 2025
Malorie Y. Picard
Malorie Yawenda Picard, a member of the Wendat Nation, was born in Trois-Rivières, grew up in…
See Details
