STARWALKER

STARWALKER

COREY PAYETTE | CANADA | 2025 | 116 MIN | ENGLISH

COREY PAYETTE | CANADA | 2025 | 116 MIN | ENGLISH

FeatureINDIGIQUEER VOICESI+N CONNEXE

Presented by

Synopsis

“Ladies and well … gender is a spectrum.” Eddie Starwalker aka Star (Dillan Chiblow) is an Oji-Cree call boy whose life takes a fateful turn when he meets handsome Levi (Jeffrey Michael Follis), then watches his drag show at the House of Borealis, awakening the call to his two-spirit identity. Corey Payette’s musical delivers dynamic performances with Indigenous storytelling and drumming songs craftfully weaved among themes of queer joy, resilience, and self-determination. Contrasted by the rainy climate and industrial scenes of East Vancouver, the campy magic of the fictional drag club—run by Mother Borealis (Stewart Adam McKensy)—burns bright with punchy numbers featuring its star, Star, learning how to apply make-up and shop for dresses, proud despite the scornful gaze of shopkeepers. Then, the stage lights give way to some of the darker shadows of drag life—from addiction, to backstage rivalry, to discrimination from the health care system—as tragedy strikes Star’s newfound home and he begins to collapse under the pressure. Faced with his past—namely, the trauma of racism—Star longs to reconnect with his roots, and also to learn, for the first time, what it means to show up for family.

Trailer

Filmmaker Bio

Corey Payette is an interdisciplinary storyteller, writer, lyricist, composer, producer, and director. He is a member of the Mattagami First Nations, and lives on the unceded territories of the xwmeokweyem (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and sel'ilweta (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples. His film work includes the movie musicals Les filles du roi (2023), Starwalker (2025), the documentary Stories That Transform Us (VIFF 2021) and he composed the score for the documentary Amin Amir. He is the recipient of the John Hirsch Prize (Canada Council), three Ovation Awards, two Jessie Awards, and a Leo Award. In 2021, Payette received the inaugural BC Award for Reconciliation.

Producer

Corey Payette, Fabian Aspell Morales, Melissa Tsang

Writer

Corey Payette

Cinematographer

Ian Mrozewski, Parham Banafsheh

Cast

Dillan Chiblow
Jeffrey Michael Follis
Stewart Adam McKensy
Jesse Alvarez
Jason Sakaki
Connor Parnall
Ralph Escamillan
August Elzinga
Emma Slipp
Jennifer Lines
Hank Pine
Kevin Seward
Frederick Seward
Arthur Seward
Shadae Johnson
Iyanla Jensen Johnson + Mikylah Jenson Johnson

PARTNERS

Segal Centre

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