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Adam Beach touts ‘pop-up’ film theatres in First Nations communities

Adam Beach says he's hoping a plan to bring first-run and aboriginal films to First Nations reserves in Canada will help unify families and inspire a new generation of aboriginal filmmakers. Jonathan Hayward / The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Film and TV star Adam Beach says he hopes bringing first-run and aboriginal films to First Nations reserves will help unify families and inspire a new generation of aboriginal filmmakers.

The initiative is set to launch Friday at the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation on their reserve about 45 minutes north of Winnipeg.

It’s hoped the “pop-up” theatre — which uses portable technology including a nine-metre-wide screen and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound to convert school gyms and arenas into screening rooms — will also make its way to far-flung reserves across the country.

“A lot of these isolated communities have no access to film and for me it’s an honour to be able to bring them first-run movies now, as opposed to them waiting a month later,” says Beach, noting it offers families a night out together as well as a way for different reserves to mingle.

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“What it’s going to do is stimulate the growth of these communities.”

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The plan comes from Bandwidth Digital Releasing Inc. in partnership with the Adam Beach Film Institute.

Co-founder Jeremy Torrie says the aboriginal audience is a vital demographic that’s long been underserved. And because the films will include at least one aboriginal-focused feature, he’s hoping it encourages creative young filmmakers to tell their stories.

He says proceeds from the events, which include concessions and merchandise sales, will go toward Beach’s film institute, which creates jobs for aboriginal youth by training them in film distribution and exhibition.

“We are creating the next movies. We are creating the next ‘Rhymes for Young Ghouls,'” said Torrie, a director/producer who co-founded Bandwith along with the “Arctic Air” star and former broadcast executive Jim Compton.

“Adam wants to find the next Adam Beach or the next Tantoo Cardinal. He can’t do ‘Dance Me Outside’ anymore. He’s not a teenager.”

He says the portable theatres can be set up within hours in any recreation space. They will feature indigenous and first-run Hollywood films.

This weekend’s lineup includes evening and matinee screenings of Denis Villeneuve’s “Enemy,” Torrie’s “Path of Souls,” Neil Burger’s “Divergent,” “The Lego Movie,” Ivan Reitman’s “Draft Day” and Steve McQueen’s “12 Years A Slave.”

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Future screenings will be held April 17 to 20 on the Norway House Cree Nation reserve and on the Sandy Bay First Nation reserve April 25 to 27. Both are in Manitoba.

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