Ed Archie NoiseCat says he's excited his son Julian Brave NoiseCat's documentary about a residential school in Canada has been nominated for an Oscar — and he hopes the recognition will bring more awareness about the abuses committed there.
The Secwépemc artist's story is a central part of "Sugarcane," which is up for best documentary feature.
Directed by Julian Brave NoiseCat and Toronto journalist Emily Kassie, the quietly haunting film follows an investigation into deaths, abuse and missing children at the former St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, a Catholic Church-run facility near Sugar Cane reserve in Williams Lake, B.C.
Ed Archie NoiseCat, who was born at the facility, said Thursday he's glad the film will now be seen by the broader public.
"I hope people actually see and understand that there were a lot of children that were sent there that were taken from their families forcefully, taken to the residential school, made to work, had their hair cut, and they were just tormented in every way possible," he said over the phone from Shelton, Wash., where he now lives.
"I just want those families to know that we are with them, and we want to bring some sort of recognition to those children that did not make it home and those parents that did not see their children again."
NoiseCat said he called his son immediately after hearing about the nomination and that his son was in "amazement." They both appear in the film, which explores long-standing allegations that priests who fathered children with St. Joseph's residents sent the infants to an incinerator.
"My life started there," NoiseCat said. "The fact that I was found there and that I lived, brought out this story and just gives strength and knowledge to the fact that this was actually going on. To be a part of bringing all this to light is major."
Julian Brave NoiseCat and Kassie said in a statement that they are "overjoyed and filled with gratitude" for the nomination.
"Above all, we want to acknowledge the courage and fortitude of our participants and the thousands of survivors of Indian residential and boarding schools across North America who have been ignored for too long, as well as the generations of families who continue to suffer their harms," they wrote.
"In a moment where justice seems out of reach, we are grateful that 'Sugarcane' has helped illuminate the truth, bring about healing and called institutions of power to account.”
Kassie is an Emmy and Peabody-nominated investigative journalist who connected with NoiseCat to work on the film when she began looking into St. Joseph’s Mission.
Also among the Canadian nominees announced Thursday are Quebec writer-director Denis Villeneuve and producer Tanya Lapointe, whose film “Dune: Part Two” is in the running for best picture. The marquee race pits the "Dune" sequel against nine other films, including leading nominee "Emilia Pérez," a musical about a drug cartel that's up for 13 awards.
Also up for best picture is “Anora," a tragicomic love story that earned Vancouver producer Samantha Quan a nomination alongside her U.S. husband Sean Baker and producer Alex Coco.
The box-office hit “Dune: Part Two” netted five nominations in total, including one for best production design, recognizing Montreal's Patrice Vermette and Dartmouth, N.S. set decorator Shane Vieau.
They face the production design team of "Nosferatu," which includes Toronto-born production designer Craig Lathrop, and "The Brutalist," which includes another Torontonian: set decorator Patricia Cuccia, a veteran in the field who has previously worked on “Brokeback Mountain" and “The Sweet Hereafter.”
David Giammarco of Welland, Ont., is up for best sound for his work on "A Complete Unknown," alongside others including U.K.-born Paul Massey, who left England at age 19 and spent 13 years in Toronto before moving to Hollywood.
Meanwhile, Toronto’s Linda Muir has been nominated for best costume design for her work on “Nosferatu,” Robert Eggers’ remake of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film.
"It's all pretty overwhelming. It's not something that I am at all used to," Muir said on a call from Toronto.
"I like to joke that I know the winter season and I don't know the awards season, but it's been fabulous."
Muir has worked in film, television and theatre since the 1970s, and has Canadian Screen Awards for her work on Atom Egoyan’s 1994 erotic thriller “Exotica” and John Greyson’s 1996 drama “Lilies.”
She’s worked with Eggers on previous horror films, including 2015’s “The Witch” and 2019’s “The Lighthouse,” as well as his 2022 historical action film “The Northman.”
Another "Nosferatu" creative — Newmarket, Ont.'s Traci Loader — is part of the team up for best makeup and hairstyling.
Ed Archie NoiseCat said he will attend the Oscars with his son and Kassie, joking that he might wear a vintage suit he found at a thrift store.
"I told Julian, I'm going to have to dust off my tux jacket. And he said, 'No, no, no. This time we're getting you a stylist.' So, I think we're moving up in the world a little bit."
The 97th Academy Awards will take place March 2 in Los Angeles and is set to air on CTV.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2025
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
