Taxi the Empties, a short film written and directed by Siksika filmmakers Madden Running Rabbit and Gerald Little Light, has reached another exciting milestone after being named an official Finalist at the Director’s Cut International Film Festival in Oslo, Norway and also nominated for two awards in the upcoming Alberta Rosie awards in November—to name a few. The recognition places the film alongside outstanding independent productions from around the world and marks another important step in its international festival journey.
The film follows a single winter day in the life of a young Siksika man who sets out on what appears to be a simple mission—to collect enough money from recycling empty bottles—but soon finds himself navigating a series of encounters that reveal the humour, hardship, resilience, and humanity of everyday life on the Siksika Nation. Grounded entirely in lived experience, the story offers an honest and often humorous portrait of community, family, and belonging while exploring themes that resonate far beyond the reserve.
Earlier this summer, Taxi the Empties celebrated its World Premiere at imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, the world’s largest festival dedicated to Indigenous film and media arts. Then having is first home turf screening on Oct 17, 2025 held at the Confluence in Calgary. Also Premiering at imagineNATIVE and now earning recognition in Europe reflects a growing international appreciation for authentic Indigenous stories told by Indigenous filmmakers. Audiences around the world are increasingly embracing films that present genuine voices, lived experiences, and perspectives that have historically been underrepresented on screen.
For Madden and Gerald, the film represents far more than another festival selection. It is the culmination of years spent developing their craft and telling stories rooted in their own community. The two filmmakers first met while participating in the Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy at Old Sun Community College in 2022, where they discovered a shared passion for filmmaking and storytelling. Since then, they have continued writing, directing, and collaborating on independent productions while steadily building their experience within the Canadian film industry.
“We wanted to tell a story that feels real because it comes from experiences we’ve lived and people we’ve known,” said Madden Running Rabbit. “If audiences laugh, recognize themselves in the characters, and come away with a better understanding of life on the Nation, then we’ve accomplished what we set out to do.”
Gerald Little Light believes the international recognition demonstrates that stories originating from Indigenous communities can resonate with audiences everywhere.
“This recognition shows that our stories matter,” Little Light said. “When Indigenous people tell their own stories, audiences connect with the honesty, the humour, and the humanity behind them. It’s exciting to see people around the world responding to a story that comes directly from our community.”
The creative partnership between Running Rabbit and Little Light began through the Indigenous Film Academy. Since completing the program, the two have continued to develop their skills through independent productions and professional collaborations, with Taxi the Empties representing their most ambitious project to date.
As the film continues its international festival journey, its success is a source of pride for Siksika Nation and reflects the growing influence of Indigenous filmmakers whose authentic stories are finding audiences across cultures, countries, and continents. For Madden Running Rabbit and Gerald Little Light, Taxi the Empties is not only a celebration of where they come from, but a reminder that stories born on the Nation have the power to resonate with people around the world.
