FOLKTALES
From Oscar®-Nominated Filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
Victoria – Vic Theatre – August 14 + 16
Toronto – TIFF Lightbox – August 15 – 21
Vancouver – VIFF Centre – August 15 – 21
London – Hyland Cinema – August 17 + 20 + 21
Ottawa – ByTowne Cinema – August 22 – 28
Toronto – Hot Docs Cinema – September 23 – October 2
PRESS RELEASE
A life-affirming Arctic adventure about finding meaning, connection, and one’s place in the world.
It’s time to embark on an unforgettable journey to the edge of the world when FOLKTALES, the latest documentary from Academy Award®-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp, One of Us) opens August 15 at TIFF Lightbox Cinema in Toronto.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Arctic Norway, FOLKTALES follows a group of teenagers who converge at Pasvik Folk High School, a unique, tuition-free “folk” high school where there are no grades, no exams, and life lessons go far beyond the classroom. In place of textbooks, they turn to sled dogs, the vast wilderness, and one another.
Guided by patient teachers and a yard full of heroic Alaskan huskies, the students learn to survive in extreme conditions, navigate the challenges of independence, and forge deep bonds with the land, animals, and people around them.
Through intimate vérité storytelling and exhilarating cinematography, Ewing and Grady capture a coming-of-age journey infused with resilience, camaraderie, and self-discovery.
In Norse mythology, the three “Norns” weave the threads of fate and shape human futures. In modern-day Pasvik, the school’s mission is much the same, to prepare its students for whatever lies ahead, while giving them space to grow in unexpected directions.
FOLKTALES is a timely and heartwarming portrait of young people choosing an unconventional path in hopes of finding connection and meaning in today’s fast-paced world.
About the Filmmakers
Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady are the Academy Award®-nominated directors of Jesus Camp and Emmy-winning Detropia. Known for their powerful, character-driven documentaries, their work has premiered at Sundance, Berlinale, and Toronto International Film Festival, and been broadcast worldwide.