The filmmaker Christopher Auchter discusses his new NFB short film, Now is the Time (playing at the Vancouver International Film Festival this Thursday, 10 August 2019), a documentary that looks at the art and work of Haida artist Robert Davidson, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

When Robert Davidson was 22 years old, he carved the first new totem pole in Old Masset on Haida Gwaii. On the 50^th anniversary of the pole’s raising, Haida filmmaker Christopher Auchter revisits that day in August 1969 with Mr. Davidson in his new film Now is the Time. The short has been an official selection at the Toronto and Vancouver International Film Festivals, and is a marvelous view onto Robert Davidson’s artistry and craftsmanship, as well as the importance of the totem pole, how the Haida spirit was seemingly reborn fifty years ago and how it thrives still especially through the work of Davidson, his brother Reg, and of course with my guest now, Christopher Auchter who joins me again to talk about his film, and the animation that is in it. Christopher Auchter grew up on Haida Gwaii, and studied media arts at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver. He graduated with honours in computer animation from Sheridan College in Ontario. He was previously on the program when his film The Mountains of SGaana screened at VIFF two years ago. This new film is a National Film Board of Canada production, and will screen at ImagineNATIVE in Toronto on 24 October 2019. There’ll be an additional screening at the Vancouver Film Festival Thursday, 10 October at 08.30pm. Visit www.viff.org for tickets and information. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Christopher Auchter; Mr. Auchter, good morning.

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