Local short film Best Documentary

ARTS/ ENTERTAINMENT — The Thompson-Nicola Film Commission (TNFC) is pleased to announce that TNFC Board member and Clearwater resident Ken Matheson has won the award for Best Documentary at the recent Vancouver Shorts Film Festival. Matheson won for his short film Little Moccasins.

Matheson’s short film focuses on residential schools and how modern-day elementary students from Calgary come to discover this dark chapter in Canada’s history.

Film Commissioner Victoria Weller said the win by Matheson is doubly sweet as he is both a local filmmaker and a member of the TNFC.

“We are so very proud of Ken’s accomplishment and thrilled that his talents have been recognized in this way,” said Weller. “His win is indicative of the incredible talent we have right here in the regional district.”

Matheson said that the win was one that he shares with the students whose journey of discovery was the focus of his documentary.

“This win illustrates the power that documentary film has to open people’s minds,” said Matheson. “What started as a simple project to document a student field trip turned into a powerful film that looked at the residential school issues through the eyes of present-day school children. I was there to document it, but in essence it is their award more than mine.”

Matheson said that the film is still in consideration at several other film festivals around the world, and was selected as a finalist at the Canberra (Australia) Film Festival back in September. Once it has completed the festival circuit, Matheson said it will be made available to libraries, schools, and possibly online.