The 12th annual Yellowknife International Film Festival (YKIFF) begins tonight with the premiere of local flick Elijah and the Rock Creature.

The opening film features a majority-Northern cast and crew and was shot in and around Yellowknife and Wood Buffalo National Park, outside of Fort Smith. Jeremy Emerson, YKIFFSA国际影视传媒檚 festival director, hails the film as an example of what Northern content creators can achieve.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of an exciting time for the film community in the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� said Emerson. SA国际影视传媒淓lijah and The Rock Creature is the second feature, narrative dramatic feature, that is made here. So itSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty rare, but youSA国际影视传媒檙e seeing more of that kind of thing happening.SA国际影视传媒�

Now Emerson hopes that the festival will be a way for filmmakers to come together and collaborate on future projects.

SA国际影视传媒淲e often find people working in isolated silos and they donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what their neighbours are making, or someone next door or in the next community are making, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e hoping that throughout the festival and seeing local work people can start collaborating (on),SA国际影视传媒� said Emerson.

The festival will run from this evening until Sept. 30 with numerous showings, debuts and workshops put on by industry professionals. The Grizzlies will be the feature film of the week, showing on Saturday evening. The Grizzlies is based on a real story from Kugluktuk, Nunavut. It received three standing ovations at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this month.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 the last film on our program this year, so people should come check it out,SA国际影视传媒� said Emerson.

In addition to the film screenings, the festival will feature workshops that will help Northern filmmakers connect with and pitch to established industry professionals.

SA国际影视传媒淧itching, getting your shows made and how to get companies on board and get money to make your work,SA国际影视传媒� is how Emerson described the workshops.

Emerson noted that there will also be acting seminars for youth on Saturday and a class on Sunday teaching participants how to film in 360 degrees.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 like to see a lot of people come out and get involved and participate in the workshops and see some films,SA国际影视传媒� said Emerson.

A full schedule of the festivalSA国际影视传媒檚 events can be found online.