Georgina Lightning

Georgina Lightning
Born
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, actress
Notable workOlder Than America
Children3, including Cody Lightning

Georgina Lightning is a First Nations film director, screenwriter, and actress.

Biography

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, she is an enrolled member of the Samson Cree Nation. She was raised off-reserve, near the Samson community in Edmonton, Alberta.

In 2007, she was featured in Filmmaker Magazine as one of 25 New Faces of Independent Film. In 2010 she was the recipient of the "White House Project- Epic-Award for Emerging Artist".[1] She co-founded Tribal Alliance Productions, partnering with executive producer Audrey Martinez, as a means to create opportunities for Native American, First Nations, and other Indigenous filmmakers.[2]

In 2008, Lightning directed, wrote, and starred in the supernatural thriller film Older Than America, becoming the first North American Indigenous Woman to direct a major feature film.[3] The film won several major awards at film festivals. She based the film on her father's experience with the Canadian Indian residential school system and other personal family stories.

Lightning is an outspoken advocate for First Nations and Native American causes, working towards a greater appreciation and awareness of the intrinsic value of North American Indigenous cultures to not only Indigenous people themselves, but to society in general.[4] In 2020, she criticised the TV show Big Sky due its lack of cultural sensitivity to the Indigenous community.[5]

Her three children are either currently or previously working actors. They are Crystle Lightning, Cody Lightning, and William Lightning.

At the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in Trickster.[6]

Filmography

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995 as Morning Dove)
  • Yellow Wooden Ring (1998 as Sissy Blea)
  • Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998 as an "additional voice")
  • My Brother (1999 as Mother)
  • Walker, Texas Ranger (TV, 1998-1999, two episodes, in Way of the Warrior as Sundance, and War Cry as Ellen Crow Feather)
  • Backroads (2000 as Mary Lou)
  • Johnny Greyeyes (2000 as Georgina)
  • Christmas in the Clouds (2001 as Louise)
  • Cowboy Up (2001 as Brenda)
  • The West Wing (TV, 2001, as Maggie Morningstar Charles in the episode The Indians in the Lobby)
  • Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (TV, 2002, as Lainie Proudfoot in four episodes: An Inspector Calls, Another Country, A Bridge too Far, and Bridge Over Troubled Water)
  • Dreamkeeper (TV, 2003 as Crystal Heart, also as associate producer)
  • Sawtooth (2004 as Lucy, also as executive producer and producer)
  • Hanbleceya (2005 as co-producer)
  • Ghosts of the Heartland (2007 as Tani)
  • Older Than America (2008 as director, writer, and as lead actress portraying the character Rain)
  • Blackstone (TV series, 2011, as Tracy Bull in the first season)
  • Trickster (TV series, 2020)
  • Pipe Nation (Canadian TV series, 2021)

References

  1. ^ "Edmonton Filmmaker Wins U.S. Prize at Gala". 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-01-09. Notice of Lightning's award ceremony where she received the White House Award for Emerging Artist.
  2. ^ "Debut of "Older Than America" press release". 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-22.[permanent dead link‍] Press release regarding Debut of "Older than America" film.
  3. ^ "Georgina Lightning: the first Native female director of a feature-length film". 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2010-08-22. Interview with Lightning.
  4. ^ "Georgina Lightning Sounds Off". 2003. Retrieved 2010-08-22. Lighting on the value of gaming revenues for Native Americans, and also on the many troubles experienced by Native Americans during the westward expansion of American society. (Referenced article at page's midpoint.)
  5. ^ "ABC's 'Big Sky' Creator Responds to Indigenous Leaders' Concerns". Native News Online. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  6. ^ Brent Furdyk, "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations". ET Canada, March 30, 2021.