On the grounds of the St. Joseph Catholic residential school near the “Sugarcane” reservation, in addition to heart-breaking inscriptions made by desperate children, over 50 mass graves were discovered. Employing three interwoven storylines, this multiple-award-winning documentary shows how children of “Indian descent” were systematically mistreated and abused in these state-sponsored institutions in Canada, in the attempt to eradicate their culture. SUGARCANE gives a voice to the survivors of this unfathomable injustice.

“National Geographic Documentary Films” writes: “[A] stunning tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life [and] an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning.”

Julian Brave NoiseCat is a writer, filmmaker and student of Salish art and history. He is the author of the book “We Survived the Night”, and his award-winning articles have appeared in the “New York Times”, “Washington Post” and “New Yorker”. SUGARCANE is his debut film.

Emily Kassie is an award-winning investigative journalist and filmmaker. As a camerawoman, director and producer, she has been involved in reports on geopolitical conflicts, humanitarian crises and corruption. In her work for the “New York Times”, “PBS Frontline” and Netflix, she has focussed on the drug and arms trade in the Sahara and the detention of immigrants in the USA.

Filmography (together): 2024 SUGARCANE

Awards (selection): Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature (Nashville Film Festival, USA 2024), Golden Gate Award for Best Documentary Feature (San Francisco International Film Festival, USA 2024)