The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Unveils Its 2026 Programming
Press Release
May 7, 2026, Tkaronto/Toronto—The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (imagineNATIVE) is pleased to announce the programming for its 26th festival year, taking place June 2–7, 2026, in Toronto and June 8–14, 2026, online.
As the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content, imagineNATIVE celebrates Indigenous film and media arts from around the world. This year’s festival features works representing 56 Indigenous Nations across 20 countries.
The 2026 theme centres around creating space for urgent dialogue, uplifting stories of resistance, solidarity, and truth-telling, and affirming Indigenous knowledge as a pathway toward a sustainable future and shared humanity.
Kicking off the festival’s opening night is a screening of the documentary AKI, directed by Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe), while the festival will close with the Canadian Screen Award-nominated historical drama Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband) from Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk).
Among the many highlights of this year’s programming is Mārama, a gothic horror film directed by Taratoa Stappard (Ngāti Toa/Ngāti Raukawa me Ngāti Tūwharetoa), and originally developed through the imagineNATIVE Institute’s 2020 Screenwriting Features Lab. The film will screen as part of TD Free Friday, where all screenings on June 5 will be free.
Additional highlights include REZervations for Two, a new reality dating series from APTN, and the imagineNATIVE Originals program, featuring new works from emerging to mid-career Indigenous filmmakers across Canada.
The festival also spotlights the future of Indigenous cinema with a youth-made shorts program, including the winning film from the 2025 imagineNATIVE Tour’s Indigenous Youth Short Film Contest.
In addition to its film programming, imagineNATIVE also announced its slate of special events and media arts programming, including the Welcome Gathering and the highly anticipated The Beat, a live concert at the El Mocambo featuring performances by Gary Farmer and the Dish and Spoon Band, Evan Redsky and MR SAUGA.
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is proud to present the following film works as part of its 2026 programming:
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