imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

‎"Clever and uncompromising, this spoken-word tour de force recalls the events of the Montreal massacre at École Polytechnique, making a bold statement for the abolishment of violence against women." ~ imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival


ImagineNATIVE 2010: My top picks by Samantha Anderson, CBC News: "Sunday, starting at 1pm is a compilation of women's programming with four films including Cara Mumford's December 6, purported to be "a spoken-word tour de force" that recalls the events of the Montreal Massacre."

A Celebration of Women, A Celebration of Dance!

Date: Sunday, October 3, 2010
Time: 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Temple B'Nai Tikvah
Address: 900 47th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

Before "December 6" premieres at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto at the end of October, and before I move back to Ontario this November, I would like to hold an afternoon screening in Calgary for all of my friends and family, including my extended families in film, theatre and dance communities, the Aboriginal and Jewish communities and, of course, the wonderful sisters (and brothers) that I met through Marsha Ellen Meidow. So come celebrate!

Music by Jadesong Ray Marlin
Dance Performances by dancers from the film,
including Charity Anne Doucette (photo)

A Demonstration by Capoeira Ache Brasil Calgary

A Screening of "December 6: a short poetry dance film"

There will also be a Wine & Cheese*
as well as a Silent Auction and Garage Sale Corner* to raise money for both the film and the Marsha Ellen Meidow Foundation, supporting organizations that aid women and girls in high risk situations.

* non-alcoholic beverages and lactose-free munchies will also be available
* I'm purging my apartment as I prepare to move and much of it is not silent auction worthy. So come dig through my books, music and movies (along with a few pieces of furniture) that are being abandoned and give some of them a good home! The profits from the Garage Sale Corner will also be part of the fundraising proceeds.

Admission is FREE
(but donations are welcome)

Feel free to invite your friends... and tell them to invite their friends. Let's really celebrate!

Filming Day!

Watch our day of filming condensed to six and a half minutes!

December 6: Filming Dancers on July 24, 2010 from Cara Mumford on Vimeo.

Dance promo on Vimeo

As I prepare to film two dancers this summer, I decided to put together a promotional video highlighting a few of the dancers filmed last summer:

December 6: Dance Promo from Cara Mumford on Vimeo.

RIP Marsha Ellen Meidow

It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of Marsha Ellen Meidow who spoke at the December 6 memorial screening. She died suddenly of a brain aneurysm on January 6, exactly one month after the memorial. She was only 34 years old. Here is the speech she made upon winning Calgary's Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2007:

Marsha’s sisters, Vagina Warriors, friends and loved ones are in the process of forming the Marsha Ellen Mediow Foundation. The Foundation will attempt to carry on Marsha’s tireless efforts towards a ‘World without violence toward women and girls.’

Screening for the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre

Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Temple B'Nai Tikvah
Address: 900 47th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB

An inspirational evening to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre while addressing the ongoing issue of violence against women.

Program includes:

Emcee Jennie Palmer, cohost of "Yeah, What She Said" (CJSW)
Music by Jadesong Ray Marlin
Performance by Walter MacDonald White Bear
Keynote Address by Marsha Ellen Meidow
World Premiere of "December 6," a film by Cara Mumford set to a spoken word piece by Evalyn Parry

Refreshments will be served after the screening. Information about the Youth Recovery Coalition will also be available.

Admission is FREE! Donations of non-perishable food items are appreciated.

Additional screening events:

December 2: "December 6" will also be screened before "Polytechnique" on Wednesday, December 2, 6pm at That Empty Space, MacEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary

December 7: There will be additional screenings of "December 6" along with readings of the biographies of the 14 women at Mount Royal University on Monday, December 7th.

Biographies:

Marsha Ellen Meidow: Calgary’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2007, Marsha Ellen Meidow has directed and produced of The Vagina Monologues and organized of The Femme Fatale Carnivale, a fundraiser for women at risk. Marsha worked tirelessly as a Front Line Counsellor for the YWCA’s Safe Haven Program until it recently closed its doors due to funding cuts. She is currently working on starting her own organization for At Risk Female Youth

Jadesong Ray Marlin: Singer songwriter, recording artist, mystic, queer, who grew up in Oregon, among the radical riff-raff of the left. She has made Calgary her home for the past eight years, recently becoming a permanent resident of Canada. Her performance and workshop styles have allowed her to combine both entertainment and healing. Jadesong is a graduate from Antioch University Seattle, and has rose from extreme poverty to be where she is today. She is currently working on her first recording.

Walter MacDonald White Bear: a Cree singer-songwriter originally from James Bay, Walter has been performing acoustic and flute music for several years. Walter’s music is a reflection of his personal journey as a First Nations person in Canada. He has shared his cultural knowledge with various audiences that range from correctional services to principals, teachers and students.