Fort Simpson (Jan 07/05) - It wasn't Cannes or Sundance, but it was distinctly Deh Cho.

After offering a video course in November, the Open Sky Creative Society showcased students' handiwork in a short film festival at the youth centre last month.

Father and son Jerry and Jonathan Antoine each directed a film - Jonathan actually turned out a couple.

In his first, Expressway to Wildrose, a Lower Life production, he filmed himself and bandmates Myles Lafferty and Keone Villeneuve jamming in a basement.

There were interspersed roving shots from around Fort Simpson. A comedic scene in which Lafferty is chased by a black lab drew laughter from the crowd.

Jonathan said it was his crack at editing. "I'm just having fun with it," he said.

Chuck Blyth, one of the audience members, complimented Jonathan on the lighting and composition of some of his shots. His second effort briefly followed the amusing antics of a person in an old man's mask, which featured flowing white hair and nose hair. The old man has a series of encounters with others, each concluding with a primal yell.

Jerry Antoine's short film was shot while on a trip with relatives to River Between Two Mountains. It was stocked with picturesque footage as they travelled to a cabin in the fall. A few of Johnny Landry's Slavey songs were inserted to complement the scenes. The campers performed a number of chores, such as sawing wood, cleaning the site and setting a fish net while the camera rolled.

Tracy Kovalench's movie, Golo-Dheh, also spoke to the importance of traditional practices, particularly the value of moose hide.

Julia Tsetso provided occasional voice-overs, explaining the significance of the fall hunt and having people like Louisa Moreau show youth how to tan a hide.

Doug Tate opened the show with Wonderful World, a movie starring his infant twin sons Patrick and Lucas.

His wife Heather played a supporting role.

The youngsters, who were on hand for the screening, were frequently transfixed as they watched themselves cooing on the big screen. "This is my first foray into film-making. It was a lot of fun," said Tate.

Kovalench said another video production course may be offered in February.