Sonya Ballantyne

Sonya Ballantyne is a Cree filmmaker originally from Misipawistik Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. Growing up with parents who both had a palate for wild and bizarre films gave Ballantyne the freedom to grow her own fanciful imagination and further emerge into her principal storyteller role. Ballantyne’s films put Aboriginal girls and women in film genres where they are not traditionally included: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero films. Not only is Ballantyne breaking the mold as a filmmaker, but she is also a vocal advocate for the positive representation of Indigenous women and girls in media. Ballantyne’s award recognitions include the 2014 Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition at Gimli Film Festival, and the 2016 Short Film Pitch competition at ImagineNative Film Festival