Netflix has acquired Ceremony, an Indigenous feature documentary directed by Canadian filmmaker Bianchi Hanuse. The film will debut on the streaming service in 2027 after its world premiere at SXSW and subsequent recognition at Hot Docs and the Sydney Film Festival.
Ceremony focuses on British Columbia’s Nuxalk Nation and its work to restore the local ooligan fish population. The fish return each spring and play an important role in sustaining the First Nations community, as well as in its ritual celebrations.
The documentary also examines restoration efforts and the role of Nuxalk Radio in sharing information. These elements reflect the community’s resilience while addressing the pressures created by climate change and colonialization.
Hanuse said the Nuxalk people requested that their story be told, a responsibility that took 12 years because of the difficulty of confronting their history and experiences. The director added that the film was made for the community and will now reach audiences beyond the Nuxalk valley through Netflix.
Ceremony is written by Hanuse and Jessica Mayhew and produced by Smayaykila Films. The acquisition adds to Netflix’s Indigenous-focused Canadian catalogue, which includes films such as Rhymes for Ghouls, Indian Horse, The Grizzlies and the documentary Yintah. The platform also streams North of North, an Indigenous comedy set in the Arctic and produced with the CBC.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter.