YINTAH (2024)

“Yintah” (meaning land in Wet’suwet’en) is a raw, unfiltered frontline documentary about Indigenous sovereignty, Wet’suwet’en resistance, and the struggle to defend unceded territory from pipelines, RCMP raids, and colonial industry. Shot over the course of more than a decade, the film documents land defenders standing their ground and refusing to be pushed off their ancestral lands in so-called British Columbia.

Now streaming on Netflix, Yintah is making waves globally and stacking up awards for its unapologetic storytelling and political power.

Amplifier Films: Story Architects of the Cut

The post-production team at Amplifier Films dove deep into the trenches—watching over 1,100 hours of footage, editing more than 400 scenes, and creating the story outline that formed the structural foundation of the finished film. This outline mapped the entire arc of Yintah, giving shape to its emotional and political journey.

Franklin López: Early Producer, Founder of Amplifier Films, Movement Filmmaker

During the early stages of the project, Franklin López, founder of Amplifier Films, worked as a producer, helping guide the creative and political direction of the film while collaborating closely with Mutual Aid Media. His leadership was instrumental in securing over $1 million in funding for the project and in building a key partnership with the award-winning production company Eyesteel Film. Frank led the post-production team until his departure in 2022, helping steer the editorial vision and keeping the story grounded in movement truth.

Even before the film was complete, Yintah was gaining international attention. A clip edited by Frank during post-production won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, a clear sign of the film’s power and the sharp editorial direction that was already taking shape.

As a filmmaker, Frank’s connection to the Wet’suwet’en struggle runs deep. He was the first filmmaker to document the Wet’suwet’en fight, beginning with a 2011 trip to the territory that led to the short film Oil Gateway, released through his underground media project subMedia. Over the next decade, he produced more than a dozen short films about the resistance, including two viral hits for AJ+ that helped push the struggle into the international spotlight.

A Film Made With the Movement, For the Movement

From the beginning, Yintah wasn’t just a film project—it was part of the fight. The filmmaking philosophy behind it was rooted in solidarity and anti-colonial resistance: creating media not as an after-the-fact artifact, but as a living tool for struggle.

The team didn’t wait years to share the story. Through short films and rapid-turnaround content, they helped push the Wet’suwet’en struggle into public consciousness, counter corporate media narratives, and build real-world momentum. The camera was used as both witness and weapon, not just to document history—but to help shape it.

This approach reflects a deeper commitment to decolonial storytelling on Turtle Island—where film is used to strengthen movements, amplify voices from the frontlines, and connect Indigenous resistance across borders.

Pitching the Vision

In the early days, when Frank was producing on the project, he relentlessly pitched Yintah to broadcasters and distributors around the world—including National Geographic, Field of Vision, Al Jazeera, and others. After months of outreach, the CBC came on board with a broadcast deal, which provided a solid boost to the project and helped open up additional funding opportunities.

Awards & Recognition

Yintah has been recognized internationally for its political clarity, editorial strength, and stunning visuals. Here’s a snapshot of its awards and nominations:

• Best Feature-Length Documentary – Canadian Screen Awards

• Best Cinematography in a Feature-Length Documentary – Canadian Screen Awards

• Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Feature – Hot Docs 2024

• Audience Award – Hot Docs 2024

• Best International Documentary Feature – Red Nation Film Festival

• Impact Grand Prix – FIPADOCS (France)

• Human Rights Human Wrongs Award – Human International Doc FF

• Special Jury Mention – Elevate Award – DOXA Documentary Film Festival

• Special Jury Mention – Colin Low Award (Best Canadian Director) – DOXA

• Finalist – Social Justice Award – Lane Doc Fest

• Nominee – Cinema for Peace Dove International Green Film Award

• Nominee – Best Original Music in a Feature Length Documentary – Canadian Screen Awards

• Nominee – Best Sound Design in a Feature Length Documentary – Canadian Screen Awards

• Nominee – Best Documentary – Toronto Film Critics Association

• Winner – Best Editing (Documentary) – Canadian Cinema Editors Awards

  
  

Yintah is more than a documentary—it’s a call to action, a record of resistance, and a piece of the movement itself. Franklin López and Amplifier Films were there from the beginning, shaping the story that’s now resonating around the world.