Mitzi Opens Reelworld
by Staff
(September 19, 2019 – Toronto ON) The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw had its World Premiere earlier this year at the Art Gallery of Ontario. That shouldn’t surprise you since its writer and director is the famed Indigenous artist Shelly Niro. In addition to her work in film, Niro is also a painter and photographer. She is a fellow at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institute (1997) and was acclaimed by the New York State Historical Association for her exhibit, Where We Stand.
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw stars American-born Indigenous actor MorningStar Angeline (pictured above). When Mitzi’s mother becomes seriously ill she needs to return home. The story is set in the fictional reserve of Owl Island. Mitzi leaves behind a high-octane urban life as well as her dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Doing chores around the house and taking care of her miserable mother isn’t quite what she had in mind for her 25th birthday. It’s a comedy that is tinged with reality and provides a learning curve not just on the screen but for the audience as well. The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw has been selected to open the 2019 Reelworld Film Festival on October 17th.
The closing night film on October 20 is Becoming Labrador, an NFB production from Canadian Directors Rohan Fernando, Tamara Segura, and Justin Simms who take an intimate look at what it means to uproot yourself to try and find a new home.
Click here for a link to the Reelworld Film Festival and other October 2019 film festivals.
