Howah Productions Inc.

Our short 2000’s inspired Native indie rom-com BIMAADIZI (Along in Space and Time) is having its WORLD PREMIERE at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. It will be playing during the imagineNATIVE Originals Program at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Cinema 3 on Friday, June 5th at 6pm.

This screening is part of TD FREE FRIDAY, meaning tickets are free. Tickets for screenings on Friday, June 5th cannot be purchased or booked in advance and will only be available on Friday, June 5th at the on-site imagineNATIVE Box Office. There is a limit of two tickets per person. So if you're planning on attending, please pick up your tickets on-site!

Starring Bert Whitecrow, Isaiah Kakepetum, Chloe Rondeau & Jonathon LeRose

With music by and featuring frank

Director & Writer - Katia Ferderber
Producer & VFX - Victoria Anderson-Gardner
Production Company - Howah Productions

Director of Photography & Editor - Amreen Kullar
Production Designer - Emma Wostyn

Sound Recorder & Designer - Peter Robinson

1st AD - Junitta Brownridge
3rd AD - Tessa Ruryk
HMU Artist - Irene Brotto
HMU Assistant - Cat Everson

1st AC - Yasith Weerasinghe
Swing & BTS - Jordan Wanakamik
BTS - Stefanie Alexander

Gaffer - Niklas Metcalfe
Key Grip - Aldrin Martin

Intimacy Coordinator - Christina Fox

Colourist - Jordan Benegbi
Colour Producer - Katie Methot

LIFT Mentor - Marcos Arriaga

Made with support from imagineNATIVE, LIFT & the Toronto Arts Council. ❤

Howah Productions is seeking out the following PAID - NON-UNION roles for a short film in Toronto, Ontario. All applicants MUST be located within Toronto or the GTA and able to get themselves to and from the filming locations.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

CIARAN
- Open gender
- Mid 20s - late 20s
- Indigenous
Ciaran is a modest person with a passion for film who longs for connection. In pursuit of their goals, they fall into the background of their own life. Living as a side character in their own story until they finally meet Alina - the first person to see them for who they thought they could be. But Ciaran has grown complacent in their relationship thinking they’ve left their old self behind. Ultimately, this brings back old habits with deep roots, leading Ciaran to ask themself - can I really change?

ALINA
- Open gender
- Mid 20s - late 20s
- Indigenous
A brash but deeply caring person who at their very core is constantly battling their impulses. Constantly flowing through life at their own pace, occasionally to their own detriment. Alina finds themself in new and unfamiliar situations, including a relationship with Ciaran. Being with someone who doesn’t compete with them is a welcomed change but it has slowly built into an uncomfortable crossroads - accept what is or trust what can be?

📩 To Submit:
Email [email protected] with the subject line:

AS THE INK FADES – [ROLE NAME] Submission

Include:
- Headshot
- Acting CV (optional)
- Demo reel
- A short note about yourself including whether you’re First Nations, Métis or Inuit, what community you’re from and what draws you to the role
- Your availability between May 16 to May 20.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or [email protected]

Howah Productions is seeking out family members of MMIWG2S victims who would be interested in sharing their missing family member’s photo to be used in a short film focusing on themes surrounding MMIWG2S. We welcome photos from across Turtle Island to submit.

We are also looking for the following role of “Kookum”. All applicants for the role of “Kookum” MUST be located within Toronto or the GTA. Open to both ACTRA and non-union submissions.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 (more open to photo submissions coming in a bit later if needed)

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
Introduce yourself and your relation to your MMIWG2S family member. Include any information in regards to their story that you’d like us to know. Only include photos you or someone you know took of them (we will need to have a release signed by the photographer to use the photo). We can meet virtually or in person to provide further information for how the photo will be used and we can go from there to decide you and your family’s decision to include the photo or not!

KOOKUM
- 55+ (or could pass as older/elderly)
- Indigenous
- 1 day needed
A concerned and worried Kookum (grandma) who is seeking help in finding her granddaughter.

📩 To Submit:
Email [email protected] with the subject line:
TEARS OF OUR SISTERS – [ROLE NAME OR PHOTO] Submission

If applying for Kookum role, include the following:
- Headshot
- Acting CV (optional)
- ACTRA Member Status & Number (if applicable)
- Demo reel or self tape introducing yourself
- Your availability on May 5 & 6.
- You may receive a callback with instructions to record a self-tape
- Let us know if you have any accessibility needs to help you submit!

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

Howah Productions is seeking out the following roles for a short film in Toronto, Ontario. All applicants MUST be ACTRA, located within Toronto or the GTA and able to get themselves to and from the filming locations.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

NEWS REPORTER
- Late 20s to 50s
- Open gender & ethnicity
- 1 day needed
A composed television journalist delivering updates on disappearance of MMIWG2S victim.

WOMAN
- Non-speaking role
- Female, mid 20s - late 30s
- Open ethnicity
- MUST have light brown skin with long dark, straight hair
- 1 day needed
A stranger who our lead briefly mistakes for her missing auntie.

📩 To Submit:
Email [email protected] with the subject line:
TEARS OF OUR SISTERS – [ROLE NAME] Submission
Include:
- Headshot
- Acting CV (optional)
- ACTRA Member Status & Number
- Demo reel or self tape introducing yourself
- Your availability on May 5 & 6.
- You may receive a callback with instructions to record a short self-tape based on your chosen role.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Closing out our festival circuit for Oshki-aya’aa (also known as Something New), we’ll be screening at the La Skins Fest in Hollywood at the TCL Chinese Theatres on Sunday, November 23rd during the 4:30pm block of shorts to close out the festival!

You can buy tickets at the link below:
https://filmfreeway.com/LosAngelesSkinsFilmFestival/ticket

“The journey that this film has been on and all of the things that we were met with along the way has been a crazy ride. This being the first project that I wrote and directed and having it be seen all over the continent has been a unique experience but it’s been so fulfilling. So many of my emotions are attached to this film, whether that be the anxieties, doubt, joy, pride or any other feelings that most people in this profession know very well. From the very beginning, my relationship to this film has evolved continuously from a place of extreme self criticism into a place of deep admiration and pride for what I was able to accomplish artistically for my very first film.

It was f**kin’ hard trying to give myself some grace but I got there eventually and I’m glad that the people that surrounded me lifted me up. So I’m nothing but grateful to my cast and crew for working so hard. Everyone holds a very large and special place in my heart for helping me do something in my life that truly matters to me. I have learned so much from this film and I only wish to continue to improve in my craft in the future.” - Jordan Wanakamik

It’s been quite the journey from when we first made the film to where we are now in terms of learning and navigating the festival circuit and the difficulties around having a longer short be accepted into festivals. But all a part of the learning process! We’re now going to be on the lookout to start having more community screenings across Turtle Island, and hoping to bring this film to as many people as we can. So if you or your organization might be interested in having access to our film to screen at an event or what have you, please feel free to contact us to arrange something! 😌

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

A chi-miigwetch again to the cast and crew for being a part of this film.

Starring Jordan Fiddler, Thurston Kwissiwa, Crystal Harrison Collin, Birdie Cantin & Sean Morriseau.

Original music by Birdsong Records, also known as Nathan Pakka & Johnny Longfeather.

DP’d & edited by Gf Pipitone.

Production designed by Savina Monopoli.

Sound recorded & mixed by Zoe Gordon.

Stay tuned for future updates on where to watch the film!

imagineNATIVE Original Short Film Casting Call - “Written in the Stars”
PAID - ACTRA ONLY
SHOOTING DATES: TBD, but 3 days sometime between Dec. 2 and 8, 2025. Specific roles only needed for 1 day of shooting, or recording - specified below.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: Friday, November 7, 2025.

Written & Directed by Katia Ferderber

Niibin, a young nish woman is very much single after a situationship and comes to meet a guy, Kinew, hidden in plain sight at the right place, right time. Will she allow herself to be open to kind, gentle, native love?

Howah Productions is seeking out the following roles for a short film in Toronto, Ontario. All applicants MUST be located within Toronto or the GTA and able to get themselves from and to the filming locations.

DANIEL - Male, mid 20s - late 20s. Open ethnicity. (1 day)
Ex-boyfriend of Niibin. Daniel is the typical indie dude that is egotistical. Has a very nonchalant attitude and has charm. How he dresses himself is very effortless.

KINEW’S FRIEND - Non-speaking role. Male, mid 20s - late 20s. Open ethnicity. (1 day)
Best friend of Kinew. He is a gentle, alternative dude with good fashion taste. He’s a supportive friend to Kinew.

VOICE OVER - Non-camera role. Female. Late 50s, onward. Indigenous. (1 day)
Narrator for the love story unfolding. Has wisdom in their voice. Think of Grandmother Moon.

BACKGROUND ACTORS - Open ethnicities. Open to all genders. (1 day)
Indie and alternative music scene people with interesting fashion taste.

📩 To Submit:
Email [email protected] with the subject line:
WRITTEN IN THE STARS – [ROLE NAME] Submission
Include:
- Headshot and acting CV (optional).
- ACTRA Member Status & Number
- Demo reel or self tape (whatever makes most sense for the role you’re applying for)
- A short note about yourself and what draws you to the role.
- If selected, and depending on the role, you may receive sides from the script to record a short self-tape or audio recording based on your chosen role.

Our short film "Oshki-aya'aa" also in English called "Something New", is available to watch online through the link below. Only until tomorrow through the Weengushk International Film Festival. If you have 20 minutes, please take a chance to watch this tender film about healing with your family. I think we could all use a lil healing energy!

SHORT DRAMAS | WIFF 2024 Your generous donations make it possible for us to continue this important work, providing a platform for Indigenous voices and fostering understanding and resilience.

Festival run is still going! We’ve had a few more official selections for “Oshki-aya’aa”, English name “Something New”.

We played this past summer during the online portion of the RIFFA - Regina International Film Festival and Awards, this past weekend in Ottawa as a part of the Asinabka Film & Media Arts Festival, and we have upcoming screenings in the USA at the Albuquerque Film & Music Experience, the Black Hills Film Festival and online during the Weengushk International Film Festival.

Links to each upcoming festival for ticketing:

www.afmxnm.com/event-details/film-block-20-indigenous-films-1

www.blackhillsfilmfestival.org/festival-information

www.weengushkfilmfestival.ca

There’s still more festivals coming up, but we can’t announce which ones yet! Stay tuned! 👀

We are thrilled to be invited to the European Film Market as a part of their Fiction Toolbox Programme alongside so many other talented filmmakers from around the world. We’ve been attending workshops over the past couple months to help prepare for the market and are so happy to be able to bring an Anishinaabe sci-fi, drama, romance feature narrative to international markets. There will be more to come!

If you’re going to be in Berlin for EFM or the Berlinale and want to meet up or say hi, let us know. 🙋🏽