Written and directed by the filmmaker behind Kayak to Klemtu, the dramedy marks her second feature film.
Filming is underway on writer/director Zoe Hopkins’ second feature film, Running Home.
Written and directed by the Heiltsuk/Mohawk filmmaker behind Kayak to Klemtu (pictured), the dramedy follows a single mother who is goaded into running a marathon by the ghost of Onondaga Six Nations runner Tom Longboat – helping her get her life back on track in the process.
Big Soul Productions’ PJ Thornton (Guilt Free Zone) produces, with Laura Milliken (Fire Song) and Dan Nanticoke serving as executive producers. In addition, Devonshire Productions’ Paula Devonshire (People of Earth) co-produces. Cameras are currently rolling at the Six Nations reserve in Ontario, with production expected to continue through mid-October.
Prior to this, Hopkins’ debut feature film, Kayak to Klemtu, reeled in the Air Canada Audience Award at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in 2017 and subsequently had its Canadian rights picked up Toronto-based distributor Mongrel Media. The drama starring Spelling Bee‘s Ta’Kaiya Blaney also won the title of Best Canadian First Feature Film at the Victoria Film Festival and Best Director at the American Indian Film Festival.
Last year, Running Home was one of four Indigenous-led features to receive funding from Telefilm Canada. The film also received financial assistance from Ontario Creates, Bell Media’s Crave and Eggplant Pictures, as well as support from Nitro 54, William F. White International Inc. and SIM Digital.
Running Home stars an all Indigenous-cast, which includes Asivak Koostachin, Braeden Clarke, Salden Peltier, Lorne Cardinal and comedian Dakota Ray Hebert, who makes her film debut.
Image of Hopkins courtesy of Redworks