A Gatehouse film-maker has reeled in an accolade in an international competition.
Ken Smyth received an Award of Recognition from the IndieFEST Film Awards for Skookum Jim and The American Dream.
The 40-minute film features a sequence of 29 poems by Gatehouse poet Chrys Salt narrated by Chrys and London-based actor Peter Marinker, a sound track by the Gatehouse-linked Richard Ingham Bakehouse Band and Ken’s artwork.
The powerful movie explores the impact of the 1896-9 Yukon gold rush on the indigenous people of north-west Canada and their culture and the accompanying environmental destruction.
Skookum Jim was the man who first discovered gold in the Yukon, unwittingly instigating an invasion of his culture and homeland.
Ken told the News: “So many people poured into the area to look for gold.
“I’m not sure the First Nation population ever recovered from the impact on their land.
“We are hoping the film will get shown in quite a few places.”
Ken was commissioned by Chrys Salt Productions to make the film, with the support of Creative Scotland.
Chrys said: “We are proud to receive this award from the prestigious IndieFEST Film Awards.
“The film has been described as a sensory feast of vivid poetry, harmonious voices, exquisite drawings and evocative music that add further depth to the familiar story of greed, adventure and exploitation and, ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit.
“That is what our collaboration sought to achieve.
“The poem sequence is a gift to the First Nations of the Yukon, many of whom still strive to regain the way of life they lost.
“We are particularly proud that our win comes under the heading of Liberation, Social Justice and Protest.”
For more about the film and to view the trailer visit https://skookumjim andtheamerican dream.co.uk/
