The year is 1985: Rick Hansen is beginning his Man in Motion tour, Ronald Reagan is sworn in for his second term in office, and a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic is confirmed.
And, of course, fledgling Canadian director Atom Egoyan screens his first feature film, Next of Kin, for a newborn Yukon Film Society at the Guild Hall in Whitehorse.
Now, forty years after the Yukon Film Society began, they’re welcoming Egoyan back – this time to the Yukon Theatre – to share his first film and those that have followed, specifically the Oscar-nominated The Sweet Hereafter.
Egoyan gave a masterclass on scenes from two of his other movies -- Chloe and Remember -- for local filmmakers at the Yukon Theatre on Nov. 24.
Egoyan coached them on aspects such as the use of sound and rhythm in filmmaking. He also shared stories from his time directing Hollywood stars like Julianne Moore and Christoper Plummer.
Andrew Connors, the artistic director for the Yukon Film Society, said bringing Egoyan back to the North was a nod to the society and the director’s shared history. Egoyan was one of the first artists hosted by the Film Society.
“We've shown his work consistently over that time, and we've never hosted him since then,” said Connors.
Connors acknowledged that the society has grown since first hosting Egoyan.
“We're much more of a presence in the community than we were in 1985 for sure, and so, yeah, much bigger organization,” said Connors.
Connors said that the society wants to support Yukon storytellers get on screen with events like this.
"They're going to bring an authentic eye and an authentic voice to stories from the North,” he said.
He also said that the society wants to “create space and support narrative sovereignty for Indigenous filmmakers.”
During the workshop, Egoyan made reference to the fact that the Yukon was one of the first places he toured to with his first feature film, Next of Kin. He said the territory made an impression on him then, and then when he returned to film Gross Misconduct in Carcross.
The Yukon Theatre screened Next of Kin on Nov. 24, which was followed by a Q&A session with the audience. On Nov. 25, The Sweet Hereafter will be screened with a similar Q&A with Egoyan afterwards.
The anniversary of the society coincides with the Yukon Theatre’s 70th anniversary, for which there is still a raft of events and special film screenings coming, said Connors.
Dennis Allen, a filmmaker from Inuvik, will be visiting Whitehorse to discuss his film later on, CBQM said Connors.
In December, the society will assist with the streaming release of multiple Yukon documentaries from the archives.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
