A Burnaby filmmaker’s animated short is screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival this week.
Christopher Auchter’s The Mountain of SGaana is showing on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 9:15 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 12 at 3:15 p.m. as part of a program of shorts called Strangers in Strange Lands.
Auchter is Haida and grew up in Haida Gwaii before studying media arts at Emily Carr University of Art + Design and computer animation at Sheridan College in Ontario.
“His goal is to create films that are as engaging and entertaining as the many people and environments that have inspired him, to help facilitate genuine contact between the Haida people and the global community,” a press release says.
His newest animated film is a gender-bent twist on an ancient Haida tale, relating the story of a young man who is stolen away to the spirit world and the young woman who rescues him.
Auchter’s film, described as a “10-minute dream-like gem,” entwines traditional animation with formal elements of Haida art.
Auchter, in a Q&A provided by the festival, noted that he wanted to tell the story because there was so much in it that appealed to his imagination.
“It has a master sea hunter, a transforming great killer whale, a mysterious trip to the supernatural world, and time travel. It was the perfect tale to turn into an animated film, and a great way to provide a small window into the beauty and complexity of Haida culture,” he said.
The Strangers in Strange Lands program will screen at International Village 8. See www.viff.org for full details, or buy tickets through www.tinyurl.com/VIFFStrangers.
