Photo Credit: Riley Smith
Wildhood,
the Two-Spirit Odyssey,
from Writer/Director/Producer Bretten Hannam,
starring Phillip Lewitski, Joshua Odjick, Avery Winters-Anthony and Michael Greyeyes
to have World Premiere at
TIFF 2021.
Bretten Hannam, Producer at Mazewalker Films, Gharrett Patrick Paon, Producer at Rebel Road Films, Julie Baldassi, Producer at Younger Daughter Films and Damon D’Oliveira, Executive Producer at Flimshow are excitedto announce that Wildhood, the Two-Spirit odyssey from writer/director/producer Bretten Hannam (Wildfire, Deep End), will have its world premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Discovery Programme.
Wildhood, filmed in English and Mi’kmaw, stars Phillip Lewitski (Vikings, Utopia Falls, Supernatural), Joshua Odjick (The Swarm, Unsettled, Bootlegger), Michael Greyeyes (Firestarter, Rutherford Falls, Blood Quantum, True Detective, Fear the Walking Dead), Joel Thomas Hynes (Little Dog, Trickster, Frontier, Orphan Black), Steve Lund (Schitt’s Creek, Reign, Bitten), newcomers Avery Winters-Anthony (Wildfire), Trans Mi’kmaw youth Desna Michael Thomas, Wabanaki Two-Spirit Alliance Interim Executive Director John R. Sylliboy, and Mi’kmaw elder Becky Julian in a stand out performance. Guillermo Knockwood and Bobby Pierro, (Mi’kmaw leads in Wildfire, the short film version), round out the main principal cast.
In a rural east-coast trailer park, Link lives with his toxic father and younger half-brother Travis. When Link discovers his Mi’kmaw mother could still be alive, they light a flame and make a run for a better life. On the road they meet Pasmay, a pow wow dancer drawn to Link. As the boys journey across Mi’kma’ki, Link finds community, identity, and love in the land where he belongs.
Wildhood is produced by actor/producer Gharrett Patrick Paon of Rebel Road Films (I am Syd Stone, The Sinner), with Julie Baldassi (My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes, Dim the Fluorescents) and Bretten Hannam as producing partners, and Damon D’Oliveira (The Grizzlies, Honey Bee, The Book of Negroes) as Executive Producer,.
Writer/Director Bretten Hannam said, “I’m very happy to be sharing Wildhood at TIFF. This is a story about reconnection, which is dynamic and complex because our communities are real—they’re full of stories that are complicated, meaningful, and human. Being able to bring this story to Tkaronto to play at TIFF feels like coming full circle as filmmakers. It’s amazing to see all of the community support and hard work of our crew and cast finally payoff. Our three main leads, Phillip Lewitski, Josh Odjick, and Avery Winters-Anthony, are rising talents that poured all they had into every moment of every scene. It’s a privilege to be able to share the result of that hard work at TIFF.”
“This is a dream come true for Bretten and me,” said Producer Gharrett Patrick Paon. “So few Two-Spirit films have ever been made that we feel an immense responsibility to share Wildhood with as many people as possible. We can’t wait to share the film with TIFF audiences. Our selection represents the tireless work of so many passionate film friends. We’re a small team. It’s my first feature and Bretten’s second, but together with Julie and Damon, we conquered a global pandemic…and just in time to be able to spread some #indigenousjoy at this difficult time for the Indigenous community. Wildhood definitely gives you all the feels.”
Cinematography for Wildhood by multi-award winner Guy Godfree (Giant Little Ones, Maudie, Wet Bum), production design by Michael Pierson (Stage Mother, Werewolf, Trailer Park Boys), and costume design by Emlyn Murray (Splinters, Forgive Me, Halloween Party), and music by Neil Haverty (Sleeping Giant, Body and Bones).
