I recently had the pleasure of hosting a conversation with Dolly Kruger, recipient of the RBC Emerging Indigenous Filmmaker Award, and acclaimed filmmaker Sonya Ballantyne.
Funded by RBC Foundation and facilitated by the National Screen Institute, the award provides $10,000 financial support to a filmmaker and their current or future project or career goals. The award also comes with two hours of mentorship and advice from Sonya, who serves as the award advisor.
Part one
Dolly, a member of the Sn’pintktn Indian Band, and Sonya, from the Swampy Cree Nation, discuss the RBC Emerging Indigenous Filmmaker Award, their filmmaking journeys and finding inspiration in their communities. Dolly also gives a glimpse into the origins of S’tayena: a stickgames story, the documentary project which she submitted for her award application.
We spend more time with award mentor Sonya Ballantyne. I ask Sonya how she became the mentor for the RBC Emerging Indigenous Filmmaker Award and what role mentorship has played in her career. Dolly then guides the conversation towards what she would like to learn from Sonya.
What follows is a sneak peek into the mentoring that Dolly will receive. Sonya provides thoughtful, detailed advice for Dolly and other emerging filmmakers, with a special focus on female Indigenous filmmakers.
Sonya is candid and generous, sharing personal experiences and practical advice that filmmakers can implement right away, while also encouraging Dolly in both her filmmaking and entrepreneurial journeys.
Congratulations, Dolly! Read more about the RBC Emerging Indigenous Filmmaker Award in our media release. Follow along as we continue to share news about Dolly and the amazing work she’s doing!
