Portraits from a Fire

{{Short description|2021 Canadian comedy-drama film}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Portraits from a Fire

| image =

| caption = Film poster

| director = Trevor Mack

| producer = Rylan Friday
Kate Kroll
Trevor Mack

| writer = Trevor Mack
Manny Mahal
Derek Vermillion

| starring = William Lulua
Nathaniel Arcand
Asivak Koostachin

| music = Andrew Dixon
Conan Karpinski

| cinematography = Kaayla Whachell

| editing = Elad Tzadok

| studio = Portraits from a Fire Productions
Black Moon Media
Elemental Studios

| distributor = Photon Films and Media

| runtime = 92 minutes

| released = {{film date|2021|11|01|}}

| country = Canada

| language = English
Tsilhqot’in

| budget = $525,000 CAD

}}

Portraits from a Fire is a Canadian comedy-drama film, directed by Trevor Mack and released in 2021.Marsha Lederman, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-viff-2021-indigenous-filmmakers-are-here-to-teach-and-be-taught-long/ "VIFF 2021: Indigenous filmmakers are here to teach, and be taught, long-lost language lessons"]. The Globe and Mail, September 30, 2021. The first narrative feature film written and directed by a Tsilhqot'in filmmaker, the film stars William Magnus Lulua as Tyler, an amateur filmmaker living with his father Gord (Nathaniel Arcand) on a Tsilhqotʼin reserve in northern British Columbia, whose life is upended following the revelation of a long-hidden family secret.Fish Griwkowsky, [https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/festivals/portraits-from-a-fire-lights-up-the-35th-annual-edmonton-international-film-festival "Portraits from a Fire lights up the 35th annual Edmonton International Film Festival"]. Edmonton Journal, September 28, 2021.

The film was shot in 2019 on Tl'etinqox-t'in territory around the community of Anaham.Patrick Davies, [https://www.wltribune.com/community/mack-wraps-up-shooting-portraits-from-a-fire/ "Mack wraps up shooting Portraits From A Fire"]. Williams Lake Tribune, September 4, 2019. Mack has indicated that the film was inspired by a desire to tell a First Nations story that had nothing to do with colonialism or the Indian residential school system, as well as by a desire to reclaim the Tsilhqot’in language, which during his early life was typically spoken by people in the community only when they needed to discuss something they did not want their children to hear or understand. Many of the supporting roles in the film are performed by local residents of Anaham rather than professional actors.

File:Portraits from a Fire.jpg

The film had its official theatrical premiere on October 3, 2021 at the 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival,Craig Takeuchi, [https://www.straight.com/movies/vancouver-international-film-festival-returns-to-cinemas-for-40th-anniversary "Vancouver International Film Festival returns to cinemas for 40th-anniversary edition"]. The Georgia Straight, September 8, 2021. although it was screened on the online platforms of the 2021 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film FestivalColleen Romaniuk, [https://www.thesudburystar.com/entertainment/local-arts/cinefest-sudbury-unveils-its-2021-program-will-follow-a-hybrid-format "Cinéfest Sudbury unveils its 2021 program; will follow a hybrid format"]. Sudbury Star, August 26, 2021. and the FIN Atlantic Film FestivalJordan Parker, [https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/fin-atlantic-international-film-festival-films-to-watch-4333747 "FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival films to watch"]. Halifax Today, September 15, 2021. in September. It was also selected as the opening film of the 2021 Edmonton International Film Festival, and was screened at the 2021 ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival,[https://www.toronto.com/whatson-story/10477124-imaginenative-film-media-arts-festival-returns-to-toronto-with-in-person-virtual-events/ "imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival returns to Toronto with in-person, virtual events"]. Toronto.com, September 16, 2021. and the 2021 American Indian Film Festival.

It premiered commercially on November 1.Kelly Townsend, [https://playbackonline.ca/2021/10/06/photon-films-acquires-trevor-macks-coming-of-age-drama/ "Photon Films acquires Trevor Mack’s coming-of-age drama"]. Playback, October 6, 2021.