like a fire we gather round: Phytograms, Ecologies, and Multivocal Agency

In 2023, Lindsay McIntyre and I attended Analogue Resilience: Film Labs Gathering in Tkaronto, hosted by LIFT: Liason of Independent Filmmakers Toronto. We attended as independent artists, arts workers, and to speak on a panel about our experiences with Colour Reversal(An analog-film-based arts incubator for BIPOC hosted by Saskatchewan FilmPool Cooperative). In the lead up, Lindsay was asked by Harbour Collective to write an essay about her experience of the gathering, and she asked me if I would come on to co-write the essay with her. I accepted and together we were commissioned by Harbour Collective and NIMAC (National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition) to develop the following essay.

My attendance of the gathering was supported by RADF: Regional Arts Development Fund to expand my knowledge of experimental filmmaking practices and bring back what I learned to share forward within my hometown of Gimuy / Cairns. Without this funding my attendance would not have been possible. As part of the grant-writing process, I received and included letters of support regarding my role in attending (as a writer and a panellist), and so I thank Jennifer Smith ED at NIMAC, and Hagere Selam “shimby” Zegeye-Gebrehiwot ED at Filmpool for writing letters in support of my attendance, and for their general support of me as an artist, arts worker and person over the years.

Thank you to my collaborator Lindsay, to artist Francisca Duran whose workshop we chose to focus our essay on, and a big shout out to all the arts administrators at all the organisations I’ve mentioned, without whom these dreams could not become a reality.

Photographs to soon be added as part of my July 2026 website update.