Mississauga-based actor Dana Solomon has emerged as one of the brightest stars of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, wowing audiences with not one but two premieres. Her feature film debut, Blood Lines, electrified opening night at the Scotiabank Theatre, with a crowd eager to see a story exploring the lives of queer Métis women — a narrative rarely seen on screen.
For Solomon, who is Manitoba-born and Anishinaabe, the moment was the culmination of over a year of preparation. She landed the leading role of Beatrice after an audition and callback with director Gail Maurice, and filming began last year in North Bay. “I was jumping up and down and screaming when I got the call,” she recalls. “It was a big undertaking, and I worked really hard to prepare for it.”
Blood Lines is a powerful romance-turned-family drama that weaves themes of addiction, adoption, healing, and Indigenous tradition while incorporating the endangered Michif language. Solomon, who learned parts of the language for the role with help from Maurice and the film’s “Granny Gang” of fluent speakers, says the process was challenging but deeply rewarding.
The emotional demands of playing Beatrice were heavy, particularly as the film deals with the painful reality of children taken from Indigenous families by social services. “If it didn’t happen to you, you know someone it happened to,” Solomon says, explaining that she drew on the collective experiences of her community to bring authenticity to the role.
As if leading a feature weren’t enough, Solomon also made her directorial debut at TIFF with Niimi, a short film about an Anishinaabe ballerina rediscovering her passion for dance after a traumatic event. Created on a small budget with the help of a youth leadership grant, the film reflects Solomon’s belief in dance as a form of healing and storytelling. “Movement can be medicine,” she says.
Audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers praising Blood Lines for its emotional resonance, humour, and portrayal of Indigenous resilience. “A lot of people are proud that this story is being told,” Solomon says. “It still shows joy and humour, which captures our communities.”
Looking ahead, Solomon is eager to keep building on her momentum. She hopes to expand Niimi into a feature-length project and continue creating work that amplifies Indigenous voices. “I see myself creating stories that increase representation,” she says. “I love acting and hope to keep being part of projects that spark conversation.”