After training at the Dell’Arte Physical Theatre School in Humboldt County, and with various mask makers in Bali, Italy, France, and the West Coast of Canada, Xstine founded Green Fools Theatre, the Festival of Animated Objects, and CAOS, a multidisciplinary arts organization. She writes, directs and produces collaborative award-winning independent films including a short for Sesame Street.

CIFF: Alberta Shorts #1 https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/films/2022/shorts-alberta-spirit-1/

CIFF: SAVJ https://www.ciffcalgary.ca/films/2022/savj/

EIFF: SAVJ https://edmontonfilmfest.com/films

CTV News: Calgary filmmaker Tank Standing Buffalo explores family trauma in SAVJ https://tinyurl.com/ctvsavj

Daily Hive: CIFF putting the spotlight back on Alberta films ahead of next month’s festival
https://tinyurl.com/dlyhive 

Ici Alberta: Premier dévoilement de la programmation 2022 du CIFF : les films albertains ouvrent le bal https://tinyurl.com/icialberta

Calgary Herald: Spotlight back on Alberta films at Calgary International Film Festival this fall https://tinyurl.com/calhrld 

At CIFF, SAVJ was part of a nine film showcase that focused on Alberta’s diverse film-making talent: SHORTS Alberts #1. SAVJ screened alongside REBECCA’S ROOM by Gillian McKercher, COLD TEA by Asim Overstands, DEATH RATTLE by Eric Stroppel, FOUL by Ted Stenson, HEARTH OF THE LION by Vicki Chau, NOT THAT DEEP by Misha Maseka, and PIITA AAPASSKAAN by Brock Davis Mitchell.

This selection of 9 Alberta-made short films showcased diverse and plentiful talent from all around the province.

At EIFF, SAVJ was one of five shorts to be screened as a part of the Studio A 5.0 series, the final grouping in the Studio A series. Those videos included OBSCHEENIES (Dir Barry Bilinsky), THE VOICE THAT IS NEVER HEARD (Dir Shay Wilson), SPIRIT OF A NATION: THE PLACES WE BELONG (Dir: Brandon Wilson), and PEACE PIPELINE (Dirs Gitz Crazyboy & Tito Ybarra).

According to the EIFF website, this selection was chosen “to recognize Canada’s National Day For Truth and Reconciliation, today’s final instalment of STUDIO A showcases Indigenous stories, voices and creators. Thought-provoking, honest, insightful, this program will have you leaning in—wanting to learn more—and tossing your head back, in laughter.”

Tank Standing Buffalo and Cara Adu Darko at EIFF Premiere

From Stephen Hunt at CTV Calgary:

““The inspiration for SAVJ is my real life,” Standing Buffalo said. “Events in the movie actually happened.  That time we all lived in Rondeau Park (in southwestern Ontario) with no adults.

“It was the last time we were all together,” he said. “We were completely free. (It was) the best time with my seven siblings, before children’s services split us up.

“I wound up in juvenile detention, a lot of terrible events took place, and I never lived with the family again.” 

Coming on the heels of the horrifying discoveries of human remains of residential school children across Canada over the past several years, Standing Buffalo’s new film sounds ripped straight from the headlines.

“SAVJ speaks to deeper issues in Canadian culture and history,” Standing Buffalo says. 

“There are more Indigenous kids in foster care than there ever were in the country’s shameful residential school system, just the latest version of the same colonial system stealing kids when assimilation won’t work.””

Tank Standing Buffalo and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek

More screenings are happening this year for the outstanding short. ImagineNative Film and New Media Festival will screen SAVJ in Toronto on October 22nd, and Shockfest Film Festival: Theater of Mystery will screen it on December 10th 2022.

The ImagiNative Film and Media Arts Festival in Toronto “promotes Indigenous-made media by developing platforms for artists to assert their voices, express their perspectives, and share their cultures.” SAVJ can be found in Program 12 – Dark Matter, in person (October 22nd) and online (October 24-30). 

Who’s the Puppet Now?

Pick up this astonishing collection of photographic portraits of the brightest lights in the world of puppetry, mask, and animated objects. Photographer Sean Dennie takes you behind the mask to meet the person behind the art. Who’s the Puppet Now? is a beautiful hard-bound book comprised of over 100 imaginative and revealing portraits, captured by Dennie during six IFAO from 2002-2013. Artists’ thoughts, words, and philosophies accompany the stunning photography.

Purchase a copy online, or drop by the Festival Info / Merchandise Booth during IFAO.

CAOS thanks The Calgary Foundation for their support of Who’s the Puppet Now? and of the Festival Digital Video Archive, which has digitized six years of IFAO performances.

Supported by The Calgary Foundation.