Gods Acre, written and directed by Fort Chipewyan’s Kelton Stepanowich won the Rosie Award in the Best Short Dramatic category at the 2017 Alberta Film and Television Awards announced this past April. And no wonder! It is a haunting story told with few words, strong images, in-your-face close-ups and soothingly beautiful music.
The 15 minutes film tells the story of a older Aboriginal man being forced to adapt to a constantly changing world. Climate change has altered the way people live, bringing droughts and floods to previously unaffected areas. And yet, a man continues to live alone in the wilderness like his family before him.
Even before global warming and it’s catastrophic consequences, he was an outlier to society. His roots remained firmly planted in the customs his family passed on to him. However, every day the outside world’s problems are landing closer to his doorstep. Water is rising and swallowing the land his cabin stands on. Now, he must abandon his birthplace or adapt to the new conditions.
About God’s Acre Director Kelton Stepanowich
Kelton Stepanowich is a Fort McMurray Aboriginal filmmaker from Janvier, Alberta. He has worked on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network award winning dramatic series ‘Blackstone’ as the director/producers assistant for season 3 and a production assistant for season 4. Kelton is also working with Canadian hip-hop recording artist John Dough directing music videos thanks to a Telus Public Records Music Grant.
Connect with Kelton on LinkedIn.
