After the successful screening of his film Cold Road at the Yellowknife International Film Festival (YKIFF) last fall, former Hay River resident and Dene filmmaker Kelvin Redvers is ready to bring home the final cut of the suspenseful drama.

The Riverview Cineplex will air the locally-filmed thriller this coming Friday. SA国际影视传媒 was also able to confirm a showing at the Capitol Theatre on Friday as well.

From its inception to the final rolling of the film credits, it was a long road for Redvers to travel to complete his debut production.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat was an extremely satisfying feeling after years of both working on this movie, and then, decades working towards wanting to make a feature film,SA国际影视传媒� Redvers said.

After the final remastering of the surround sound mix, Redvers, who also directed the film, said they recently held a special world premiere screening of the film at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, where his company, IndigiFilm Media, is based.

Big screen, big gratitude

SA国际影视传媒淎nd it was a slamming night SA国际影视传媒� like, it was just incredible. We had a packed house at the Rio and an extremely excited audience, really engaged, and you know, got to watch the movie on the big screen with a big crowd, a few friends and family, a few crew, and then a few audience members who wanted to see it and it went amazing,SA国际影视传媒� Redvers said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was everything that we could ever want from the final version and an incredible reaction from people.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd itSA国际影视传媒檚 just a powerful experience.SA国际影视传媒�

The release of the film in Hay River marks the beginning of another journey for RedverSA国际影视传媒檚 team, as they work to garner support from theatres to show the production. Currently, the film will be shown in Iqaluit and Lethbridge, Alta., and the list is growing.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the following weeks, itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to go on to more theatres. So weSA国际影视传媒檙e planning to, you know, kind of grow an audience for this movie over the coming months,SA国际影视传媒� Redvers said.

Because the decision to show a film is usually made by an individual theater, Redvers said people wanting to see the film in their local area should contact the theatre requesting it.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd so if any folks want to advocate and talk to the theater and say, SA国际影视传媒楬ey, we should bring in this movie, that is whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to make the difference.

SA国际影视传媒淪o itSA国际影视传媒檚 up to the people to ask for it.SA国际影视传媒�

If current reaction to the film is an indication of the filmSA国际影视传媒檚 success, the film will reach a widespread audience.

After the Yellowknife screening, Redvers said feedback was SA国际影视传媒渙verwhelmingly positiveSA国际影视传媒�.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was fun to talk with people who were just, like, excited about what they just watched and just brimming with enthusiasm, and wanting to talk about the plot and the story. The compliments or the types of things people would say - that helped us feel confident,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檇 be like, a couple that would come up to me and then the husband would say, SA国际影视传媒楳y wife nearly broke my hand during the movie squeezing it so hardSA国际影视传媒�.SA国际影视传媒�

The setting of the intense action film is on a cold, remote Northern highway, where Tracy, an Indigenous woman SA国际影视传媒� played by Roseanne Supernault SA国际影视传媒� and her dog Pretzel are being terrorized by the driver of a semi-truck as she tries to drive back to her home to see her mother before she passes away.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe Indigenous folks deserve badass heroes, told from our own perspective. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 very much what the story is: a character going from victim to hero,SA国际影视传媒� Redvers wrote in his DirectorSA国际影视传媒檚 Notes for the film.

Trailer tidbits

Redvers said he just completed the trailer for the movie and is preparing to put it online so potential audiences can see a preview of it.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd so, I think that thatSA国际影视传媒檒l be a good chance for people across the country to kind of see what the movie is all about for the first time,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd I think that once that gets out there, the interest of many more theaters should be coming.SA国际影视传媒�

While Redvers said there is something uniquely special about the experience of going to the cinema and watching a larger-than-life film, for those who prefer to stay home, a digital release of the movie is pending.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檒l be available to rent on platforms like YouTube and Amazon, Prime Video, and Apple. So that will be the kind of broad release,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He also said people can also follow along with the action on the filmSA国际影视传媒檚 Cold Road Facebook page.

But while the film is now set to be up and running across Canada, Redvers is far from resting on his laurels for creating his first feature film.

Coming down the pipe

SA国际影视传媒淎t the same time that weSA国际影视传媒檝e been finishing up this movie, ISA国际影视传媒檝e in the background, slowly been putting together some other projects and working with various broadcasters and working on developments.

SA国际影视传媒淪o, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a couple of TV series that I have in the pipeline that weSA国际影视传媒檙e working on developing. One is a documentary series, the other is scripted. And ISA国际影视传媒檒l be able to speak more publicly on those at some point not quite yet,SA国际影视传媒� Redvers said of his future plans.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou know, to make a career in media takes constant and consistent efforts. And ISA国际影视传媒檝e been lucky enough to be able to make my living by working in film and television, and so this is sort of the first time ISA国际影视传媒檝e gone into being a producer of putting together a whole project and releasing it.

SA国际影视传媒淚t takes a lot of work, but having started doing that, it feels like the right direction to go.SA国际影视传媒�

But meanwhile, the Cold Road awaits theatre-goers in his birthplace.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd ISA国际影视传媒檓 excited for Hay River folks to get to see it.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y Jill Westerman