Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics dives deeply into the innate contrast between the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Pride and Envy) and the Seven Sacred Teachings (Love, Respect, Wisdom, Courage, Truth, Honesty and Humility), as embodied in the life of a precocious Métis baby. Brought to life by Terril Calder’s darkly beautiful stop-motion animation, her inner turmoil of abuse is laid bare with unflinching honesty. Convinced she’s soiled and destined for Hell, Baby Girl receives teachings that fill her with strength and pride, and affirm a path towards healing. Calder’s tour-de-force unearths a hauntingly familiar yet hopeful world that illuminates the bias of colonial systems.

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics

Party girl Annie and Gordon, a homeless man, travel through a remote subway tunnel to a different time; to a world where two children are held captive and tormented by bizarre figures. A multilayered animated film which brings to life the dark history of the Canadian residential school system, in which – as recently as the 1990s – First Nations children were being indoctrinated and estranged from their parents and culture.

SNIP

Keewaydah explores the reclamation of Indigenous storytelling, identity, culture and history through stop motion animation. Produced with the assistance of the NFB's FAP program.

Keewaydah

At Archer’s Aunty Gladys’ funeral, he hears a tap on the window — it’s a bear named Jesus, who has come for Archer’s mom. “A Bear Named Jesus” is an allegory for religious interference, with an aching yet humorous look at estrangement and mourning for the loss of someone still living.