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In-person Arts & Culture

Dreamspeakers International Film Festival

April 15, 2026 to April 19, 2026

More Information

Organized by: Dreamspeakers Festival Society

This year's edition of the first Indigenous film festival in Canada will feature over 30 films: shorts, features, documentaries, and animations.

This year's festival will feature over 30 films: Shorts, features, documentaries, and animations. In-person screenings will be held at Landmark Cinema in Downtown Edmonton, from April 16-19, 2026, with a free screening of "Nika & Madison" at Metro Cinema at the Garneau on April 15th fresh from its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival; presented as part of National Canadian Film Day.

Dreamspeakers International Indigenous Film Festival (DIIFF) was first presented in Edmonton in 1992 and was the first Indigenous film Festival in Canada and the second in the world. It was founded by Indigenous filmmakers and creatives in response to the growing industry and to support Indigenous representation in film and media. The name "Dreamspeakers" was derived from a story about the first Dene filmmaker who returned home to his community in the north and struggled to talk to the Elders about his work because a word for "filmmaker" did not exist in their language. The Elders understood and called it Dreamtalking. We adapted our name from this story.

More dates and times

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 11:30am at Beaver Hills House Park — ᒥᑭᐊᐧᐦᑊ How to Pitch a Teepee (mîkiwahp) & Teachings with Elder Dr. Jerry Saddleback
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 1:30pm at CO*LAB — ᑕᐅᐧᐤ DIIFF 2026 Opening Ceremonies - tawâw
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 3:00pm at CO*LAB — ᓂᑲᐣíᐊᐧᐠ Community Dialogue: Walk of Honour - nîkâníwak
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 6:45pm at Garneau Theatre — Nika & Madison
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 10:00am at Edmonton City Centre — Artisan Market
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 10:00am at Kakio Studio Cafe — Micro Stories Workshop
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11:30am at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — The Source of Life (Te Puna Ora)
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 1:30pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Bring Them Home & How the Land Remembers Us
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 4:00pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — In the Land of Palm Oil
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 6:30pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 9:00pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Mountain Lion: Healing Film of St. Francis
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 10:00am at Edmonton City Centre — Artisan Market
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 10:00am at Kakio Studio Cafe — How to Pitch Your Film Idea Workshop
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:30am at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Munkha
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:30am at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Songs of Kamui
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 2:00pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — The Time of Waters
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 7:00pm at CO*LAB — Awards Ceremony & After Party
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10:00am at Edmonton City Centre — Artisan Market
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10:00am at Kakio Studio Cafe — Community Dialogue: Indigenous Film Academy
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:30pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — When we say evaluation, it isn't the same thing
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 4:30pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Tea Creek & Kanenon:we - Original Seeds
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 7:00pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Foster Child with Filmmaker & Elder Panel
Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 9:00pm at Beaver Hills House Park — Light Strikes: Walk of Honour
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 11:30am at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Te Pito o Te Henua & Becoming Air & Enchukunoto
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 12:00pm at Edmonton City Centre — Artisan Market
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1:30pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — Glen Reige 20 WP & MONSTR
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 4:30pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — So Surreal: Behind the Masks & Tule
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 7:00pm at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre) — THE TERRITORY OF PULOUI

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