Director, Kaniehtiio ‘Tiio’ Horn is a Kanien’kehaka actress from Kahnawake, the Mohawk reserve outside of Montreal. Most recently she starred as Mari in the National Geographic series BARKSKINS, based on the 2016 bestselling novel of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx, and currently appears as Tanis in the critically acclaimed comedy series, LETTERKENNY, created by fellow Montrealer, Jacob Tierney, for which she won a 2022 Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Kaniehtiio Horn as Tannis in LETTERKENNY
Additional television credits include the irreverent digital series GHOST BFF, Netflix’s NORTHERN RESCUE and WAYNE for Youtube Red. She has also recurred on the Amazon series MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, DEFIANCE and ALPHAS for Syfy, and was a series regular on the Netflix/ Gaumont series, HEMLOCK GROVE. Most recently, Tiio was praised for her role as Deer Lady in the critically acclaimed FX series, RESERVATION DOGS. In 2017 Tiio starred in the action/thriller, MOHAWK, directed by Ted Geoghegan, for which she has received outstanding reviews. She holds supporting roles in IMMORTALS, ON THE ROAD, THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT and Brandon Cronenberg’s POSSESSOR. She will next appear opposite Anna Kendrick and Wunmi Mosaku in the Lionsgate thriller ALICE, DARLING, directed by Mary Nighy. In 2020, Tiio was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award as co-host of 2019 Indspire Awards. She was also honoured with ACTRA Montreal’s Walter Massey Breakthrough Artist in 2021.Tiio also serves as consulting producer on the Letterkenny spin-off SHORESY, slated to premiere on Crave in 2022.
References include Home Alone, Attack The Block and Get Out.
Developed with the assistance of Telefilm Canada
Distributed by LevelFilm
To be produced in association with Telefilm Canada and The Indigenous Screen Office.
Original Photo By Lane Dorsey
Ziggy is offered her first gig as an online influencer, promoting for Nature’s Oath, a seed and fertilizer company. When her cousin summons her back to the rez, she is forced into a battle to save her people’s legacy, finding her power along the way.
ZIGGY, a Kanienkehaka woman in her thirties, is heart broken and in mourning while she struggles to make ends meet in the city. She seizes a promising, high paying opportunity from Nature's Oath Seed Corp, a powerful seed and fertilizer corporation. Just as she prepares to promote the company on social media, her cousin WIZ asks her to house-sit their AUNTY's home back on the rez, devoid of reliable internet. Reluctantly, she embarks on the journey back to her ancestral land, accompanied by her beloved cat, POTATO.
When her cousin Wiz learns about her partnership with Nature's Oath, he warns her the company is the enemy and recommends she get out of her contract with the company right away. She dismisses his concerns as paranoia.
While seeking a cell phone signal in the forest, she stumbles upon information exposing Nature's Oath's sinister plot to genetically modify and patent heirloom seeds worldwide, exerting control over the food supply. Overwhelmed by the revelation, Ziggy returns to the house, only to find her cherished companion, Potato dead and bloody, a human ear clenched in his tiny little mouth...
She barricades herself in her room with no idea what to do next when her estranged boyfriend BANDIT shows up with some food and looking damn fine in that rugged way. In this heighten moment of drama, Ziggy and Bandit finally deal with an unresolved issue between them, and we find out what made her leave the Rez in the first place…
What Ziggy doesn’t know is that this entire time, a menacing man named BONDSMAN has been trying to find his way into her Aunty’s home to find the family heirloom seeds. He works for the same seed and fertilizer company, Nature's Oath, that she signed the deal with! (Gasp! Yes! The very same one.) He has been stalking her with the help of her family friend, naïve traitor and opportunist, NOOKIE.
After getting down with Bandit, Ziggy pieces together the truth behind Potato's murder and the intruder's motive: the seeds! These non-GMO seeds, referred to as "The Three Sisters" (corn, beans, and squash), hold immense significance for her family and people, representing their legacy and life-giving properties.
The Nature's Oath Seed Corp considers them a threat to their plan for global dominance over consumer choices. Bondsman will stop at nothing to destroy the seeds, serving the corporation's interests and lining his pockets.
Charged by her Aunty with protecting the invaluable seeds, Ziggy must summon her inner strength, aided by her spiritual guide, GRAHAM GREENE, who manifests in her dreams. She rediscovers the importance of family, sovereignty, and ensuring nourishment for the next seven generations to come, ultimately embracing her role as their guardian.
Written, directed and starring Kaniehtiio Horn. Also starring Graham Greene.
Seeds is a Kaniehtiio Horn-Batt Entertainment Inc / New Real Films Inc production. It is a majority owed indigenous production.
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Kaniehtiio Horn-Batt Ent. Inc.