FESTIVAL PREMIERE
The Damnation
Director: Christopher Darton, Sébastien Godin
The Damnation’ takes place in the small largely Indigenous Canadian communities of Creek and Buffalo Mines. Since the closing of the mines a number of years ago the area is a shell of its once thriving past. The area is mostly made up of seniors and Indigenous people who have inhabited the area for hundreds of years.
To further complicate matters developers – led by a mysterious religious figure have appeared and are clearcutting the land. These developments and age-old colonial sentiments have helped un-earth a malignant evil that begins not only destroying the environment; but feeding on the blood of locals.
Eighteen year old Sarah Blackice is forced into taking action. Sarah, along with her cousins Birdie and Jimi, and their friend Wes approach a local talk radio host of a show about myths, monsters and urban legends.
The show titled the Val Helsing Show named Remi Gates for his expertise in helping combat the evil that has arisen.
This unlikely team must band together to overcome the dark malevolence they’re confronted with.
CAST & CREDITS
Director
Christopher Darton, Sébastien Godin
Producer
Christopher Darton
Writer
Christopher Darton
Key Cast
Norma Sue Whitlow, Osawa Muskwa, Ryan Lunn, Derek Groulx, Tim Denis, Sayla de Goede
DIRECTORS BIO
Christopher Darton (director/camera/producer/editor) is an award winning First Nation Anishinaabe writer, filmmaker and illustrator who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Indigenous Studies from Laurentian University as well as studying Illustration and graduating in Film at Sheridan College.
Chris has produced/directed/shot/edited two feature length documentary films for his production company Blues Harp Productions: ‘The Way We Was: The Story of the Kendall Wall Band’ and ‘Hard Working Man: The Music and Miracles of Danny Brooks’.
In 2019 he completed the short documentary ‘The Essence of Goodness: The Harold Axtell Story’ and in 2020 Chris produced and directed the award-winning short documentaries ‘At the Brink: A Personal View of Suicides Over Niagara Falls’ and ‘Angie: Tales of Determination,’ which won Best Director and Best Editor for short documentaries at the Hollywood North Film Award.
As well the film was chosen ‘Most Inspirational Film’ at the South Jersey Motorcycle Film Festival.Chris also produced the award winning music video/mini horror film ‘Halloween Baby’ as well as the horror short ’37% Pure Evil.’ Chris is also a producer on the documentary feature Project Cold Days as well as an Associate Producer on Greg Lamberson’s Guns of Eden.
The Damnation is the first non-documentary feature length film from Blues Harp Productions. Chris Darton acts as writer, producer, co-director and co-editor on the project.
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
The film was a beast. It was ambitious … way way too ambitious for the amount of money and the inexperienced crew we had. It came close to consuming us but we persevered somehow. Tenacity is what got us through. We had a core group that just wouldn’t give up on this project. Over 20 characters I believe and somewhere around 30 locations for a film with a smaller budget than most people buy a used car for. I shake my head at the thought now BUT we learned a lot about what it takes to make a film, what works and what doesn’t, who our tribe is and about ourselves.
