Indigenous Drama ‘Angela’s Shadow’ Gets Canadian Distribution & International Sales Deal Ahead Of World Premiere

EXCLUSIVE: Canadian outfit Motion 58 has taken local distribution rights and international sales rights to indigenous drama-thriller Angela’s Shadow ahead of its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) on October 2, 2024.

Directed by Jules Arita Koostachin (WaaPaKe), the film features Sera-Lys McArthur (Outlander), Matthew Kevin Anderson (Never Let Go), Renae Morriseau (North of 60), Mahiigan Koostachin (MisTik) and Asivak Koostachin who will appear in the upcoming HBO Max series Duster from J.J. Abrams. 

In Angela’s Shadow, Angela and Henry, young 1930s socialites with a baby on the way, embark on a short trip north to the Cree community of KiiWeeTin to visit Angela’s beloved childhood nanny. When Angela is harassed by a menacing shadow figure, Mary moves to bless and protect her and her unborn child with illegal Cree ceremonies and medicine. As the truth about her ancestry and the spectral figure’s identity unfold, Angela must decide whether to delve into her newfound spiritual traditions in order to protect herself from her husband’s escalating purity-obsessed racism. The film is the second in a trilogy that follows three sets of Cree characters.

Pic is written, directed and produced by Jules Arita Koostachin (Broken Angel), co-written by Steve Neufeld (Coded), executive-produced by Patti Poskitt (Monkey Beach), edited by Lara Mazur (Allegiance), composed by Justin Delorme (Deaner ‘89), and cinematography comes from Michael Bourquin (BC: An Untold History). 

It was made with the support of Telefilm Canada, the Indigenous Screen Office, Hollywood Suite, William F White, the Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit, Creative BC, The Canadian Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit, the Government of Canada, UBCP ACTRA LOCAL, and the DGC BC.

The slate for Canadian distribution and production outfit Motion 58 (Eadweard), run by Kyle Rideout and Josh Epstein, includes Astrid’s Deathlist (Rideout and Epstein have scripted the project), which is in development at Paramount Pictures, Youngblood (Aircraft and Dolphin Pictures), and Knight’s Camp with Good Question Media, starring Sophia Lillis and Judy Greer.

“I wholeheartedly believe that Indigenous cinema is its own genre, a blend of comedy, sci-fi, drama, supernatural and thrillers. Our stories represent the strength of our diversity and our deep cultural connection to our communities and to our Ancestors,” said Koostachin. “Our stories are timeless, vital and have the power to reach beyond our own. As artists it is so important that our work is seen and experienced, which is why I am so thrilled to have Motion 58, a company of fellow filmmakers, distributing Angela’s Shadow.”

“We were captivated by this story of resilience. As filmmakers, we understand the importance of amplifying bold voices, and we’re eager to find and connect with viewers who resonate with Angela’s Shadow‘s powerful narrative of survival, defiance, and ancestral power,” said Motion 58’s Epstein and Rideout.