Tag Archives: Tantoo Cardinal

Awards, Featured

Banff World Media Festival sets 2026 Rockie Honourees

Leave a comment

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) today announced its highly anticipated Showrunner Super Panel, alongside its 2026 Rockie Awards Gala Honourees, recognizing outstanding talents whose work has made a significant impact on the global entertainment industry. The prestigious Rockie Awards, including the Program Competition awards, will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor, director, writer, and executive producer Allana Harkin (Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) on Tuesday, June 16 at 6:00 PM MT (5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET).

As part of its 2026 programming lineup, BANFF will present its Showrunner Super Panel, bringing together an extraordinary lineup of award-winning and in-demand creators behind some of today’s most talked-about series and films. Representing a true who’s who of contemporary television writing and production, this rare gathering offers an unfiltered look at the creative forces shaping the industry today and where it’s heading next.

The panel will feature:

  • Nick Antosca, award-winning writer, creator, and showrunner whose work spans critically acclaimed series including Channel Zero (SYFY), the Emmy®-winning limited series The Act (Hulu), Brand New Cherry Flavor (Netflix), and A Friend of the Family (Peacock). He also executive produced Chucky, Candy, and Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and is currently showrunner and executive producer of Cape Fear for Apple TV+.
  • R. Scott Gemmill, Emmy®, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Humanitas Award-winning television writer, producer, and showrunner with decades of experience shaping some of television’s most successful dramas including JAG, ER, and NCIS: Los Angeles. He is the creator and showrunner of the Emmy Award-winning hit series The Pitt.
  • Amy B. Harris, an acclaimed writer, producer, and showrunner known for her work on Sex and the City, The Comeback and The Wilds and as the creator of The Carrie Diaries, whose upcoming series Every Year After premieres June 10 on Prime Video.
  • Lee Sung Jin, Golden Globe Award and three-time Emmy® Award winning creator, executive producer, writer and director of the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning Netflix series BEEF. Lee made his directorial debut with Season One’s finale, starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in Emmy-winning performances. For Season Two, Lee returned to write every episode and direct half the critically praised new season, starring Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac, three-time Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan, Golden Globe nominee Cailee Spaeny, Golden Globe nominee Charles Melton, Academy Award winner Youn Yun Jung, and Actor Award winner Song Kang Ho. He also served as Executive Producer on Alex Russell’s award-winning film LURKER, which premiered to rave reviews at the Sundance and Berlin International Film Festivals. Next, Lee is writing X-MEN for Marvel, which reunites him with director Jake Schreier. 
  • Glenn Kessler, Emmy®-winning writer, producer, and showrunner who co-created Damages and executive produced Bloodline, currently co-showrunning the Fox series Memory of a Killer alongside Aaron Zelman.
  • Oren Uziel is a renowned writer, director, and producer currently serving as co-showrunner and executive producer of Spider-Noir starring Nicolas Cage. The highly anticipated new series, produced by Sony Pictures Television exclusively for MGM+ and Prime Video, will premiere on May 25 on MGM+’s linear channel and globally May 27 on Prime Video. Oren’s credits also include The Lost City, 22 Jump Street, and The Cloverfield Paradox.
  • Aaron Zelman, Emmy®-nominated writer, producer, and showrunner known for Law & Order, Damages, and Bloodline, currently co-showrunning the Fox series Memory of a Killer alongside Glenn Kessler.

“The Showrunner Super Panel brings together some of the most compelling creative minds working in television today,” said Pam Silverstein, Head of Programming, BANFF. “These are the storytellers behind the shows audiences are watching and talking about around the world. This session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from them, how they create, lead, and continue to push the boundaries of storytelling in a rapidly evolving industry.”

BANFF is also proud to unveil its 2026 Rockie Awards Gala Honourees:

CANADIAN AWARD OF DISTINCTION: Jason Priestley (Private Eyes West Coast, Wild Cards, 90210)

Presented by the Canada Media Fund (CMF/FMC) and MadeNous, the award is given to a Canadian whose body of work exemplifies outstanding achievement in the entertainment industry. Past honourees include:  Stephan James, Simu Liu, Eric McCormack, Kim Cattrall, Sheila Hockin and Jean-Marc Vallée.

CREATIVE VOICE AWARD: Mae Martin (Wayward)

The creative voice award is bestowed on an executive or creative talent that has created outstanding work that breaks through, inspiring and connecting global audiences. Past honourees include Renée Elise Goldsberry, Rose Matafeo and Jennifer Podemski.

SIR PETER USTINOV COMEDY AWARD: Ken Jeong (Community)

The award recognizes a creative talent who has made an outstanding comedic contribution to the media industry. Past honourees include: Tom Green, Kenan Thompson, Sean Hayes, John Cleese, Tracey Ullman, Bob Newhart, Tantoo Cardinal, John Candy, Bill Hader, Ana Gasteyer and Craig T. Robinson.

CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Dances with Wolves)

The Career Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose extraordinary work has made a significant impact on the screen-based industries. Past honourees include: Alanis Obomsawin, Dan Rather, Christine Baranski, Larry King, Ed Asner, William Shatner, James Burrows and David Attenborough.

COUNTRY OF HONOUR: Spain

This distinguished recognition highlights Spain’s global influence on the entertainment industry and its trailblazing producers, media companies, and content creators.

“The Rockie Awards Honourees represent the very best of creative excellence and global impact in our industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, BANFF. “From iconic performances to bold, original storytelling, Tantoo, Jason, Mae, and Ken have each shaped the cultural conversation in meaningful ways.”

The Banff World Media Festival and Rockie Awards remain a premier gathering for the global media industry, offering more than 1,200 networking sessions and over 25,000 meetings connecting creators, producers, studios, streamers, brands, and decision-makers. BANFF 2026 will once again serve as a key destination for deal-making, thought leadership, and forward-looking conversations shaping the future of the industry.

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

APTN docuseries Animal Nation, narrated by Tantoo Cardinal, features iconic wildlife through the eyes of Indigenous People who share their lands

From a media release:

2Ducks Media and APTN are proud to announce the launch of the sweeping docuseries Animal Nation, premiering January 8, 2026 on APTN (in English) and streaming on APTN+. This groundbreaking project, created in collaboration with Indigenous communities across Canada and the U.S., takes viewers deep into the heart of some of the continent’s most beautiful wild spaces and tells the stories of seven iconic animals, guided by the people who have co-existed and protected their shared territories for generations. From incredible animal behaviour to on-the-ground conservation efforts, each of the seven episodes highlights a keystone species: Bear, Beaver, Bison, Caribou, Eagle, Salmon, and Wolf.

Filmed over two years, the series features spectacular landscapes and wildlife cinematography while highlighting a long-overlooked missing link in wildlife storytelling — the undeniable interconnectedness with generations of Indigenous people who have lived alongside these species and in these ecosystems. This coexistence has created an extensive knowledge base, unique conservation initiatives, cultural stewardship, collaboration with Western scientists, and a synergy evident throughout the episodes, as they all work to restore vital connections between the animals, the environment, and all of us who share these often-threatened spaces.

Created by Ojibway producer Jesse Bochner and Moroccan-born producer Ari A. Cohen, and a talented team of Indigenous key creatives — writers, directors, editors, composers and acclaimed narrator Tantoo Cardinal — the series blends everything audiences love in wildlife storytelling with the depth, insight, and relationships that come from Indigenous knowledge and culture. 

“I am honoured by the privilege gifted to us by the communities and the animals themselves,” says director and co-creator Jesse Bochner. “One day we’re wading through thousands of spawning salmon, the next we’re placing secret cameras to capture the genius of a beaver. Every moment reminded us how much knowledge and generosity lives in these places. It was amazing and humbling for our entire team.”

“This project changes the way you see the land, the animals, and our future,” adds producer and director of photography Ari A. Cohen. “Wildlife films often ignore Indigenous and local knowledge — and that knowledge is the key to moving forward on a better path.”

Filmed in often rugged and remote areas with privileged access granted by the communities, Animal Nation moves from the caribou ranges near Yellowknife to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in BC, to the salmon rivers of Labrador, the bison herds of Alberta and Montana, and the eagle territories of PEI and Sts’ailes — capturing moving connections between wildlife, culture, and people that are rarely seen on screen.

“I consider it a victory that these stories are being told,” says Tantoo Cardinal. “Growing up, I had a real relationship with the wind and the birds and the environment, so it’s kind of like in my blood, in my marrow to be able to be a part of speaking for the animals and to touch on the relationship we all have with the world that surrounds us.”

Animal Nation is produced in association with APTN and the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Rogers Series Fund, the Québec Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. French and Mohawk versions will air at a later date. 

Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail
Featured, Mohawk Girls

Mohawk Girls: The choice is yours

Caitlin, Zoe and Bailey from Season 1, Episode 1, “Welcome to Our World”.

When we first began, we met Bailey, Caitlin and Zoe, three longtime girlfriends who were coping with the mundanity of life, looking to meet Mr. Right. Then, along came this misfit Anna who just wanted to fit and make some new friends. Now here we are; the penultimate episode of Mohawk Girls. And, we are down to some serious, potentially life-altering CHOICES! Do they each choose this or that? Are you “In or Out?” Episode 5 laid these decisions out for our Mohawk Girls and for viewers.

Caitlin (Heather White) was trying every sexy trick she possessed to earn her way back into Butterhead’s (Meegwun Fairbrother) good graces. Foot massage, home cooked meal, and cancelling her salon renovations. She vowed to always put Butterhead’s needs before her own. She even gave up an opportunity to participate in a fundraiser in order to cheer on Butterhead in his weekend lacrosse match. Then the day of the fundraiser arrived and Butterhead was too hung over to play in his match. Caitlin was left disappointed in him, but most of all herself, for once again putting a man before her own wants and needs.

Now, if you recall from Episode 4, Ohserase (Shawn Youngchief) came to Zoe’s (Brittany LeBorgne) defence in the coffee shop and the Twitterverse began to wonder if there was life for #Zohserase. This week Zoe came clean and revealed to Ohserase why she dated him: to get her parents off her back. Can I just say, every woman needs an Ohserase in her life! Dude is the perfect boyfriend! At any rate, he was impressed with Zoe’s honesty and bravery! He even attended her jazz class and OH YES! It is safe to say that #ZOHSERASE lives!

No doubt boosted by  Ohserase’s forgiveness and support, Zoe finally mustered up the courage to visit her parents (played by Tantoo Cardinal and Erland Campbell), which predictably, went terribly wrong!

Last week, I was not certain that Bailey (Jenny Pudavick) recognized where the photo of James (Jeffrey Wetsch) and her was taken. This week we learned pretty quickly that indeed, she did know that the photo came from Anna (Maika Harper), and the two come to blows, literally. “This place has turned you into an animal!” But theirs were not the only tempers to fly. Sose (Glen Gould) stopped in to check on Bailey and found her packing to leave Kahnwa:ke. “Your great great great grandchildren will grow up to be those awful white people who say they might have some Indian blood in them. How can  you deny you and your future children their heritage?”

Feeling pressure from her father’s attack, Bailey unloaded on James, listing everything that she must give up in order to be in a relationship with him. However, later, at the same fundraiser that Caitlin had turned down, Bailey presented a cheque in absentia for Auntie Velma. Other benefactors also in attendance came to Bailey’s side, all supporting her decision to be with James, and all disgusted by the behaviours of the Marry Out Get Out movement.

And finally, our misfit Anna, who in the wake of her vicious fight with Bailey, returned to her cultural lessons drunk. Anna was at her breaking point, feeling trapped into the party life she’s fallen into as a means to stay connected to the memory of her father. The instructor of the class reached out to Anna with a bit of cultural perspective. Buoyed by that knowledge she began to recognize the hypocrisy and deep seeded anger within Iostha (Ally Pratt) as they reviewed the quality of the prizes at the fundraiser.

Alright, everyone, this is it. Co-creators Tracey Deer and Cynthia Knight have led us to this point. All of our ladies must each make a choice that could mean sacrificing their personal happiness. Will Caitlin choose Butterhead, or Leon or herself? Will Bailey choose to remain with James or choose her responsibility to culture? And, like Bailey, will  Zoe choose herself or her mother’s Mohawk vision for herself? And lastly,  will Anna finally, at long last, find her place in Kahnawa:ke?

How do you think the series will end? Let me know in the comments below!

The series finale of Mohawk Girls airs Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 8:30 p.m. on APTN.

 Facebooktwitterredditlinkedinmail