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

You might also like

BURLESQUE[I+N CONNEXE]7 minutes

Burlesque, a student documentary exploring the world of burlesque as a space for artistic expression and personal liberation, where performers channel their creativity and sensuality. Through their voices, they speak about the power of the stage to reconnect with their bodies and establish a deep connection with the audience. Burlesque is presented as a feminist, inclusive, and supportive environment, celebrating gender and body diversity. The action takes place at the Wiggle Room, located in Montreal. It is the only burlesque cabaret in Canada, known for its warm atmosphere and strong sense of community.

The Space You Need[I+N CONNEXE]21 minutes

Frustrated sci-fi writer Julian is facing a slump in his relationship. So will his fiancé Leo's trip into orbit with the world's first ever low-cost alternative spaceline provide them with just the space they need to get back on track?

JE SUIS [I+N CONNEXE]13 minutes

Camille, at the bar, is in the process of reflecting on its identity. It feels cornered by its work, social norms and external expectations. But a dance performance combining drag artists, circassian.ne. s and other performeur.se. will shake its thinking: it is taken. By this new world that will allow it to drop its mask and discover itself personally.

EMBOÎTER LEURS PAS (RETRACING THEIR STEPS) [I+N CONNEXE]20 minutes

By opening forgotten boxes in the Montreal Gay Archive Center, fragments of history from the LGBTQIA2S+ community are rediscovered. Among them are Michael and René, the first gay couple to get married in Canada, Linda and Catherine, two owners of the lesbian bar Le Kiev, and Kimura, multidisciplinary artists of diverse origins. The portraits of these diverse characters bear witness to the diversity of Montreal's queer communities.

FATAL TEMPTATION[I+N CONNEXE]13 minutes

As detective Evelyn Dubois arrests gangster Billy “the Devil” Dwayne, he gets shot in front of her. In her office with a blood stained shirt, a knock is heard on the door... Her client Liliane Wang comes to confirm the rumours circulating in town. But did she really come only for this reason?

win-nip-egg[I+N CONNEXE]4 minutes

In a city where victims of colonial history and dominant narratives intersect, a voice begins to examine the erasure of women and minorities. Between “win,” « nip », and « egg », she plays with words and identities, scrutinizing the violence of bodies and discourse—a fragile and political visual gesture.

L’ART DU DERNIER SOIR [I+N CONNEXE]14 minutes

The director revisits a pivotal period of his life, marked by frequent one-night stands. By exploring the complexities of his sexual orientation and the dynamics of his interpersonal relationships, the film immerses us in the era of hook-ups, where fleeting intimacy and the search for identity intertwine.

ENTRE L’AUBE ET L’AURORE [I+N CONNEXE]14 minutes

Through the game Final Fantasy XIV, we follow trans folks using the game to find a strong sense of community. They will discuss different topics related to gender, virtual life, identity and existing as a trans person.

HIKO[I+N CONNEXE]10 minutes

Hiko, 11, runs away from a neighborhood party after a disagreement with his mother over his refusal to wear makeup. He stumbles upon a mysterious circus tent, where an unexpected encounter reshapes his perception of himself. This magical adventure compels him to face his choices and explore his own identity.

STUBBLE[I+N CONNEXE]13 minutes

“Stubble” is an experimental documentary, in which Emma asks people when do you wish to be soft, when do you long to be rough, and when are you both at the same time? Each scene is a fantasy the subjects are invited to play inside. While interviewees’ honest answers offer glimpses into their own inner worlds and contrasting experiences. Merging both the real life and staged aspects of the film.

BURLESQUE[I+N CONNEXE]7 minutes

Burlesque, a student documentary exploring the world of burlesque as a space for artistic expression and personal liberation, where performers channel their creativity and sensuality. Through their voices, they speak about the power of the stage to reconnect with their bodies and establish a deep connection with the audience. Burlesque is presented as a feminist, inclusive, and supportive environment, celebrating gender and body diversity. The action takes place at the Wiggle Room, located in Montreal. It is the only burlesque cabaret in Canada, known for its warm atmosphere and strong sense of community.

The Space You Need[I+N CONNEXE]21 minutes

Frustrated sci-fi writer Julian is facing a slump in his relationship. So will his fiancé Leo's trip into orbit with the world's first ever low-cost alternative spaceline provide them with just the space they need to get back on track?

JE SUIS [I+N CONNEXE]13 minutes

Camille, at the bar, is in the process of reflecting on its identity. It feels cornered by its work, social norms and external expectations. But a dance performance combining drag artists, circassian.ne. s and other performeur.se. will shake its thinking: it is taken. By this new world that will allow it to drop its mask and discover itself personally.

EMBOÎTER LEURS PAS (RETRACING THEIR STEPS) [I+N CONNEXE]20 minutes

By opening forgotten boxes in the Montreal Gay Archive Center, fragments of history from the LGBTQIA2S+ community are rediscovered. Among them are Michael and René, the first gay couple to get married in Canada, Linda and Catherine, two owners of the lesbian bar Le Kiev, and Kimura, multidisciplinary artists of diverse origins. The portraits of these diverse characters bear witness to the diversity of Montreal's queer communities.

FATAL TEMPTATION[I+N CONNEXE]13 minutes

As detective Evelyn Dubois arrests gangster Billy “the Devil” Dwayne, he gets shot in front of her. In her office with a blood stained shirt, a knock is heard on the door... Her client Liliane Wang comes to confirm the rumours circulating in town. But did she really come only for this reason?

win-nip-egg[I+N CONNEXE]4 minutes

In a city where victims of colonial history and dominant narratives intersect, a voice begins to examine the erasure of women and minorities. Between “win,” « nip », and « egg », she plays with words and identities, scrutinizing the violence of bodies and discourse—a fragile and political visual gesture.

L’ART DU DERNIER SOIR [I+N CONNEXE]14 minutes

The director revisits a pivotal period of his life, marked by frequent one-night stands. By exploring the complexities of his sexual orientation and the dynamics of his interpersonal relationships, the film immerses us in the era of hook-ups, where fleeting intimacy and the search for identity intertwine.

ENTRE L’AUBE ET L’AURORE [I+N CONNEXE]14 minutes

Through the game Final Fantasy XIV, we follow trans folks using the game to find a strong sense of community. They will discuss different topics related to gender, virtual life, identity and existing as a trans person.

HIKO[I+N CONNEXE]10 minutes

Hiko, 11, runs away from a neighborhood party after a disagreement with his mother over his refusal to wear makeup. He stumbles upon a mysterious circus tent, where an unexpected encounter reshapes his perception of himself. This magical adventure compels him to face his choices and explore his own identity.

STUBBLE[I+N CONNEXE]13 minutes

“Stubble” is an experimental documentary, in which Emma asks people when do you wish to be soft, when do you long to be rough, and when are you both at the same time? Each scene is a fantasy the subjects are invited to play inside. While interviewees’ honest answers offer glimpses into their own inner worlds and contrasting experiences. Merging both the real life and staged aspects of the film.