DRIFF: Alumni Spotlight 2021

In 2021, DRIFF awarded many talented filmmakers including some of which we will be shining the spotlight on today. In this post we want to honour Sudz Sutherland, Ann Marie Fleming, and Darlene Naponse for their feature films shown at DRIFF.

Sudz Sutherland’s film Home Again was featured at the DRIFF Drive-in Screenings and has won a BAFTA at the Pan African Film and Arts Festival. Sudz works on both sides of the fence as a writer and director. Sutherland has since gone onto build an impressive filmography, directing 2 episodes for Netflix’s Ginny and Georgia, CW’s Superman and Lois, and CBC’s For the Record. His current portfolio now has 46 directed films and series with upcoming projects in the works such as a comedy series for CFC-Netflix: #relationshipgoals and producing and directing a powerful documentary series BLK about lost Black History in Canada.

The next DRIFF alumni we’d like to shine a spotlight on is Ann Marie Fleming for her film Window Horses at DRIFF 2021. Her film has won Best Canadian Feature Film at TIFF and Best BC Film at Vancouver International Film Festival. Since the festival Ann has directed 33 projects including The Magical Life of Long Track Sam, Blue Skies and Can I Get a Witness Featuring Oscar-winning Sandra Oh and can be watched on Apple TV.

Lastly, we would like to shine the spotlight on Darlene Naponse for her feature film Falls Around Her. Since the festival, Darlene has directed two films, Aki in 2025 and Stellar in 2022, as well as episodes for two shows including the popular Canadian show Acting Good. The film Aki went on to win the Online Film Critics Society award in 2026. Since the year 2000 Darlene has worked hard on building her film production studio Pine Needle Productions/Baswewe Films Inc. Here she strives to protect Indigenous culture and storytelling by being authentic and working firsthand in Indigenous communities in Ontario as well as across the country while influencing her worldview in a positive way.

We’re proud to celebrate the continued success of our 2021 alumni and the meaningful paths they’ve carved in film and media. Their journeys reflect the lasting spirit of DRIFF championing creativity, community, and stories that matter.