MOOSE JAW — A filmmaker with deep Moose Jaw roots is earning national recognition after being selected for one of only 17 Telefilm Canada “Talent to Watch” grants, marking a rare win for Saskatchewan’s film industry and a significant step forward for Indigenous storytelling in the province.
Director and screenwriter Peter Kolopenuk, who grew up in Moose Jaw and still maintains a residence in the city, was awarded funding for his upcoming feature-length documentary POW WOW — a cinematic exploration of the traditions, energy, and cultural meaning of powwows.
“We applied way back in April, so it has been a long wait,” he said. “Then, sure enough, we got the call … and it was really exciting. We’re pretty thrilled about it and just really excited to get to work.”
The project relies on a small core team, including producer Laura Faul, who manages scheduling, sales, and industry communications, and director of photography Anastas Maragos, who helps shape the film’s visual storytelling.
Referring to Faul as “the glue that keeps it all together,” he added: “She’s an irreplaceable member of the team. We can’t do it without her.” He said Maragos’ creative approach has helped refine the cinematic style of the team.
Telefilm received roughly 500 original applications before narrowing the field to 120 and choosing 17 teams nationwide who will split a pool of $3.4 million in grant funding. According to Faul, this is only the third Saskatchewan-based team to be selected since the program began in 2014.
The project will be produced through Kolopenuk’s company, One Five Five Films, which specializes in Indigenous cinematic storytelling. The studio has spent years filming powwows, Treaty Day gatherings, sports tournaments, and cultural ceremonies across Saskatchewan.
“Over the years we’ve always been working on our craft and trying to make things more cinematic and … artistically beautiful on screen, so viewers can get the most out of … any content that we create,” he said. “We really focus on the storytelling and the cinematics behind the storytelling.”
Unlike traditional interview-driven documentaries, POW WOW will lean on visual immersion.
“This is going to be more of an experience,” Kolopenuk explained. “We want the viewers to experience something … like the power of the drum (and) the different regalia that symbolize different things … What are we dancing for? What are certain types of dances like?”
Kolopenuk hopes the documentary will deepen the understanding of powwow culture beyond what most viewers have experienced.
“There are so many people across Canada and, really, all over the world who don’t know much about the culture in itself – the traditions, the protocols, and things like that,” he said. “We’re really excited to show that and demonstrate that to the world.”
Kolopenuk, a former Canadian Forces member and Afghanistan veteran, discovered filmmaking while editing videos during his military service. Years later, he taught himself film and editing techniques, launching a career that has steadily accelerated across Prairie First Nations.
He previously earned international attention for In It 2 Win It, an award-winning documentary released in 2024 spotlighting the fast-growing Indian Relay scene and the rise of young jockey Joe (Jumpin’ Joe) Jackson. In It 2 Win It is now available for viewing on Paramount+.
“We work very hard to make sure that we’re putting in the best quality content in the industry,” he said. “We’re trying to create things that nobody has done before.”
As excitement builds, he’s focused on honouring the trust placed in his team.
“We’re just really excited to have the honour, and that they believe in our capabilities and our projects … now it’s up to us to prove them right.”
The project’s cultural scope is equally ambitious. The film will incorporate Plains Cree and English language elements and feature dancers and knowledge-keepers from multiple Nations across Saskatchewan.
Filming is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with post-production carrying into early 2027. The team intends to tour the film through festivals before pursuing distribution.
To learn more about the locally connected film company, visit OneFiveFiveFilms.com.
