June 2025
justNEWS
Greetings for this the month of the summer solstice, a time to celebrate the longest day of the year and a time of light, growth and energy.
Many dates in June’s calendar highlight the diversity of people in Canada, reflecting a range of social justice matters relevant to us here and globally:
June 1-30: National Indigenous History Month
June 1-30: ALS Awareness Month
June 1-30: Pride Month
June 19: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
June 20: World Refugee Day
June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 23: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
June 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day
To honour National Indigenous Heritage Month, here are two links for NFB short documentaries.
Sisters & Brothers
Kent Monkman 2015 3 min
In a pounding critique of Canada’s colonial history, this short film draws parallels between the annihilation of the bison in the 1890s and the devastation inflicted on the Indigenous population by the residential school system. This film is part of Souvenir, a series of four films addressing Indigenous identity and representation by reworking material in the NFB’s archives.
These Are My People...
Michael Kanentakeron Mitchell, Willie Dunn, Barbara Wilson & Roy Daniels
1969 13 min
Released in 1969, These Are My People… was the first NFB film made entirely by an Indigenous crew of members from the Indian Film Crew (IFC). The IFC, an all-Indigenous unit established in 1968 as part of Challenge for Change, a broader organizational initiative to use media to effect social change. One of the first Canadian documentaries to foreground an Indigenous perspective on the history of Indigenous-settler relations, it features Standing Arrow and Tom Porter, from the Kanien’kéhaka (Mohawk) community of Akwesasne, who discuss longhouse religion, culture, government and the impacts of settler arrival on their way of life.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT (SOON): CJFF DIRECTOR KEIRA PRETTE
Our next spotlight will focus on Keira Prette, Director of Social Media
SUMMARY OF CJFF 2025 AGM
Embarking on its 20th year, the CJFF board of directors hosted its AGM on June 9 with a larger-than-required quorum of members. Chair Bassem Hafez offered welcoming remarks, and Jenny Krabbe, a founder and long-time president, was recognized. Each director reviewed the successes and challenges of 2024 and highlighted the opportunities that beckon us forward.
In a nutshell, our volunteer board is energetic and committed, and we are proud to be a financially secure operation serving a diverse community. Although a small film festival as compared to other more prominent film fests in the city, CJFF provides an important voice via the artistry of filmmakers to depict social justice issues of impact near and far.
With immense gratitude to River Park Church, which offered CJFF a “home” for almost two decades, we have relocated to The Confluence. In addition to this central location in Calgary, and with a unique, intimate space for the Peace Market, our new venue allows screening of multiple films at the same time in two different viewing areas.
Our expanding CJFF partnerships are of mutual benefit to our organization and theirs. As well, marketing via select street sign-boards and enhanced social media efforts helped us to realize a larger-than-expected audience at the November 2024 film festival, despite a cold, snowy weekend! Plans to expand the publicity and finances for this year’s festival are underway.
The members of the Programming Committee continue to select high-calibre films of interest and relevance for concerned and discriminating audiences. Post-film discussions enhance the value of the films screened. Film selection for the 2025 festival will be completed earlier than last year, which, in turn, means that efforts to obtain expert speakers who can assist with enlarging the social justice conversation can begin sooner.
Over the next year or so (yes, it’s a long process), we await approval from CRA for our application to gain charitable status. When this occurs, CJFF donors can be offered a tax-deductible receipt. In the meantime, we rely on grants, the generosity of small businesses, and individual contributions.
CJFF Annual Film Festival: November 6-8, 2025
We look forward to another vibrant year of growth with our organization!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
For the fourth year in a row, Calgary International Film Festival made the list of 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee
Check out other upcoming events hosted by our partners:
VOLUNTEERS & BOARD MEMBERS NEEDED
If you have some extra time and are interested in getting involved with an active and productive team, we have several ways in which your skills can be put to use:
Event and Volunteer Coordinator (July to November)
Website Manager (Year-round)
Social Media Manager (Year-round)
Grant Researcher and Writer (Year-round)
Board Secretary (Year-round)
If interested, please reach out to social@justicefilmfestival.ca, Instagram or Facebook.