Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun

Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun

An intimate and thrilling portrait of a young Siksika woman Logan Red Crow and the deep bonds between her father and family in the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory as she prepares for one of the most dangerous horse races in the world... the Indian Relay.
 

 

About the film 

89 mins ·  Documentary · English · Blackfoot · Canada · 2023 · Produced by Taxam Films Inc

Taking us to the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory to the home of Logan Red Crow, a young Siksika woman whose passion is the Indian Relay. A sport for the truly brave, the Relay’s bareback riders vault from horse to horse in short, exhilarating races. Gentle and reflective, yet unshakeable in her determination, Logan is a champion in the making. Besides her skill and sheer grit, she has a loving family, an elite group of horses, and a home on her ancestral lands. Those are invaluable, but this rider will need more for victory. As we follow her through one competition after another, we see courage put to the test, and also get a picture of the other factors involved in the sport—including blind circumstance.

Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun offers the dual pleasures of serenity and suspense: we get leisurely, lyrical immersion in rural life as well as the thrill of rooting for victory. Logan's bond with her horses is palpable, and we see her tender interactions with them contrasted with gripping races. The animals are beautiful in their mute strength, and the film honours them with loving, graceful images.

The connections explored here are profound and lasting: those between Father and Daughter, animal and human, family and community, ancestral tradition and contemporary life. Graceful, compelling and uplifting, this is inspirational gem offers, through Logan, her horses, her family and her Nation, a portrait of radiant heroism.

Awards 

Winner - Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (2023)
Big Sky Award

Winner - American Indian Film Festival (2023)  
Best Documentary Feature

Winner - Santa Fe International Film Festival (2023)
Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature

Winner - Vancouver International Film Festival (2023)
Audience Award - Northern Lights

Winner - Calgary International Film Festival (2023)
"Generation Next" Audience Choice Award

Winner - Available Light Film Festival (2024)
- Best Canadian Documentary: Audience Choice Award
- Best Canadian Feature Film: Made in the North Awards

Winner - Yellowknife International Film Festival (2023)
Best Canadian Documentary Feature

Winner - Red Nation International Film Festival (2023)
Best Documentary Feature (shared with: Common Ground)

Winner - San Diego International Film Festival (2023)
Kumeyaay Award

Winner - Shining Mountains Film Festival (2023)
Best Feature

Winner - Leo Awards (2023)
Best Feature Length Documentary | Best Screenwriting | Best Cinematography | Best Editing | Best Sound

Winner - Gimli Film Festival (2023)
Audience Choice Award | Indigenous Spirit Award | New Voices Award

Winner - Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival (2023)
Cinema Indigenized Outstanding Talent Award

Winner - Slamdance's The Indies Awards (2024)
Outstanding Cinematography - Documentary Feature

Special Mention - Port Townsend Film Festival (2023)
"Special Mention for capturing the Soul of Cinema"

Honourable Mention - Salt Spring Film Festival
Audience Favourite

Nominated - Canadian Screen Awards
Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Documentary

Cast 

In Order of Appearance
IISUNAKII ~ LOGAN RED CROW
SIIPIISTOOKIMA ~ ALLISON RED CROW
NIITATSTIPIM ~ RACEY BIG SNAKE
IISTAASAAKAII ~ JAYME BIG SNAKE
IISOMIIKOPII ~ CLARENCE RED CROW
MARK BIG TOBACCO
CODY BIG TOBACCO
ZARIANNA BIG TOBACCO
KAYZEN BIG TOBACCO
ROSE RED CROW
KITANA ARCAND
SHARMAINE WEED
ERIKA MAD PLUME

Crew 

Executive Producers
IZZY PULLEN
CAREY NEWMAN

Producer
MIKE WAVRECAN

Director
BANCHI HANUSE

Writers
BANCHI HANUSE
TANYA MARYNIAK

Editor
TANYA MARYNIAK

Cinematography
BEN GIESBRECHT
LUKE CONNOR

Production Manager
SAM GRAHAM

Location Sound
ARIANA BROPHY
BRENDA SEVILLA

Additional Camera
ANTHONY STENGEL

Camera Assistant
JOSH MANYHEADS
CALVIN STIMSON

Assistant Editor
SOMIT SHARMA
CINDY AU YEUNG
SEBASTIAN CARMONA
JOHNNY COLE
OLIVIA VANDERWAL

Colourist
JAMES CHASE

Composers
JASON BURNSTICK
NADIA BURNSTICK

Sound Design
TYLER GILLIS

Dialogue editor
ZAK COHEN

Sound editor and Foley
JAYME LANGEN

Re-recording mixer
DAVID PARFIT

Post Production Audio
SEASIDE SOUND

Production Accountant
DEBBI-JO MATIAS

Production Bookkeeper
MONICA FRIESEN

Special Thanks
RED CROW FAMILY
SIKSIKA NATION
OLD SUN RELAY TEAM
PRETTY YOUNGMAN RELAY TEAM
SIKSIKA DEERFOOT SPORTSPLEX
MASKÊKOSIHK – ENOCH CREE NATION
MEGAN YELLOW FLY
DEXTER BRUISED HEAD
CARA MORIN
JESSICA MAYHEW
NAPI COLLECTIVE
LES MCINTYRE
RANDY TAYLOR

Produced with the support of TELUS:

Vice President in Charge of Production
AMIT NAG

Executive in Charge of Production
CAMERON ZINGER

Managing Production Executive
LEAH CAMENZIND

Senior Production Executive
CHRISTINA WILLINGS

Senior Marketing Manager
KELLY FOX

Filmed in
SIKSIKA NATION
TSUUT’INA, ÎYÂXE NAKODA, BLACKFOOT TERRITORY
ENOCH CREE NATION ᒪᐢᑫᑯᓯᐦᐠ MASKÊKOSIHK
CASPER, WYOMING

Distributor 

To obtain Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun for distribution, screenings, exhibition, educational use or home-use, please contact:

Taxam Films Inc
EMAIL - Producer: Mike Wavrecan

Media Kit

Screenings 

APTN Lumi (Blackfoot language version)
streaming

PARAMOUNT+ Canada
streaming

TELUS ORIGINALS
Telus Optik channel 8

P A S T   S C R E E N I N G S

BIG SKY DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
Feb 25 & 26, 2023
Missoula, Montana, USA

HOT DOCS CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL
April 29 & May 3, 2023
Toronto, Ontario

DOCLANDS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
May 11, 2023
San Rafael, California, USA

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SIFF)
May 18 & 20, 2023
Seattle, Washington, USA

BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL
June 15, 2023
Bentonville, Arkansas, USA

HOT DOCS TED ROGERS CINEMA
June 21 & June 23, 2023
Toronto, Ontario

GIMLI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
July 27, July 28 & July 30, 2023
Gimli, Manitoba

LOCAL SIGHTINGS FILM FESTIVAL - Northwest Film Forum
Sept 17, 2023
Seattle WA, USA

CINÉFEST SUDBURY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Sept 20, 2023
Sudbury, Ontario

PORT TOWNSEND FILM FESTIVAL
Sep 22 & 23, 2023
Port Townsend, Washington, USA

CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CIFF)
Sept 23 & Sep 30, 2023
Calgary, Alberta

EVANS THEATRE
Sept 29-30, Oct 1, 2023
Brandon, Manitoba

ARON THEATRE
Oct 4, 2023
Campbellford, Ontario

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (VIFF)
Oct 5, 7 & 8, 2023
Vancouver, BC

DOCTOBER - PICKFORD FILM CENTER
Oct 7 & 11, 2023
Bellingham, Washington, USA

NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL
Oct 16, 2023
Newport Beach, California, USA

ST. JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL (SJIWFF)
October 19, 2023
St. John’s, Newfoundland

TWIN CITIES FILM FEST
Oct 20, 2023
St Louis Park, Minnesota, USA

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Oct 21, 2023
San Diego, California, USA

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL
Oct 21, 2023
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SFiFF)
Oct 21 & Oct 22, 2023
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

FRIDAY HARBOR DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
Oct 27 & 28, 2023
Friday Harbor, WA

NATIVE SPIRIT FILM FESTIVAL
Oct 29, 2023
London, England

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL
Oct 28 & 30, 2023
Austin, Texas, USA

YELLOWKNIFE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 3, 2023
Yellowknife, NWT

GUELPH FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 4, 2023
Guelph, Ontario

INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL
Verde Valley Archaeology Center
Nov 4, 2023
Sedona, Arizona, USA

AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 5, 2023
San Francisco, California, USA

RED NATION INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 5, 2023
Beverly Hills, California, USA

WILLIAMS LAKE FILM CLUB
Nov 16, 2023
Williams Lake BC

CHILLIWACK INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 18, 2023
Chilliwack BC

NORTH BAY FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 19, 2023
North Bay, Ontario

SMITHSONIAN's NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
Native Cinema Showcase
Nov 17-24, 2023

SHINING MOUNTAINS FILM FESTIVAL
Dec 2, 2023
Aspen, Colorado, USA

CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS (CCA)
Jan 12-18, 2024
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

REEL CANADIAN FILM FESTIVAL
January 28, 2024
Fernie BC

INVERMERE FILM FESTIVAL
February 4, 2024
Invermere BC

ROAD TOUR - YELLOWKNIFE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
February 9, 2024
Fort Smith, NWT

AVAILABLE LIGHT FILM FESTIVAL
February 17, 2024
Whitehorse, Yukon

TIDEMARK THEATRE
February 27, 2024
Campbell River BC

SALT SPRING ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL
March 1, 2024 - Opening Night Film
Salt Spring Island BC

OWEN SOUND'S REEL FESTIVAL
March 2, 2024
Owen Sound, Ontario

HURONIA MUSEUM FILM SERIES
March 6, 2024
Midland, Ontario

HUDSON FILM FESTIVAL
April 16, 2024
Hudson, Quebec

VANCOUVER ISLAND REGIONAL LIBRARY
April 17, 2024
Sooke BC

DREAMSPEAKERS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
April 27, 2024
Edmonton AB

ĀCIMOWIN FILM FESTIVAL
June 6, 2024
Saskatoon SK

KNOWLEDGE NETWORK - Broadcast
June 13-14, 2024

CARIB THEATRE - QUESNEL FILM CLUB
September 22, 2024
Quesnel BC

3 EARS INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL
September 29, 2024
Powell River BC

APTN TV broadcast (English)
Oct 26, 2024

KNOWLEDGE NETWORK
November 12, 2024

Check back for upcoming screenings or join the film on Instagram: @BeforetheSunFilm and Facebook.