Foster Child film receives jury award

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The film Foster Child, by Edmonton Metis Gil Cardinal, was honoured with a special jury award for excellence at this year's AMPIA (Alberta Motion Pictures Industry Association) awards.

Directed by Gil Cardinal, who was the main subject of the film which was a high caliber competitor in its category. Along with Shooting Stars, the winning film, and Frozen in Time: The Franklin Mystery, the judges had difficulty selecting a winner. The films were close, said Jerry Krepakevich, the producer of Shooting Stars and also a co-producer of Foster Child.

Krepakevich informed Windspeaker that "all three films are really good" and that "the jury felt the film (Foster Child) was on a par with the winner." That, he said, was why both Foster Child and Frozen in Time received special awards.

The citation by the jurors regarding Foster Child described the film as "a deeply personal filma great work of integrity, balance, sensitivity and kindness."

Joanne Riediger of AMPIA further described the 43-minute documentary as a story which "transforms a foster child's courageous search for his parents into a compelling and important journey for all of us." The film takes it viewer into the real world of the frustrations experienced by Cardinal in his quest for his parents and his roots.

Foster Child was the only Native film to contest the documentary category in this year's AMPIA awards. In other categories, Anne Wheeler's film Cowboy's Don't Cry swept the most awards.

Interviewed by Windspeaker after the awards, Cardinal explained the film is getting a lot of exposure at workshops and conferences to a cross-section of people. Just some examples, he said are foster children, support groups, adoptive parent groups and social workers.

On a more personal note, Cardinal states the film has "totally changed my perspective" and given him a greater understanding of himself and the world around him. It has also changed some of the "bad attitudes" he used to harbor.

Work on the production helped to "settle" him and contributed to his "peace of mind. I have a more positive outlook," he contends.

At present, Cardinal is working in Saskatchewan with film producer-director Wil Campbell on another National Film Board documentary. This one, he explains is about Native cultural and spiritual ways and programs. He estimates it will take another six to eight months to conclude the film which has no working title, as yet.