Prince George actress wins top awards at two film festivals - on the same day

Grace Dove, an Indigenous actress born and raised in Prince George, has two new awards for her mantle.

Dove was crowned best lead actress for her performance in Bones of Crows at the Red Nation International Film Festival and was there in person to receive the award. On the same day, she was also awarded the same honour at the American Indian Film Festival.

“I couldn’t be in two places at once, unfortunately, so I chose the sunshine,” Dove laughed about picking Los Angeles over San Francisco.

“It’s an incredible honour. It’s festivals like these that really make me feel appreciated and seen. We’ve been touring festivals  all year since the film was released and I got recognition when I won at the Leo Awards here in Vancouver and I’m up for the UBCP ACTRA award next weekend.”

Dove has been nominated in the Best Performance – Motion Picture category.

“It’s the Indigenous festivals that really mean a lot to me because it’s about building community and being recognized by my own people that makes me feel really at home and that I really belong and so having recognition from my peers and my community is extra special."

Dove said she hopes productions like Bones of Crows inspires non-Indigenous people to get curious and encourages them to be part of positive change.

“This gives me a lot of hope and it’s just the beginning,” Dove said.

Bones of Crows has also been made into a five-part series that can be seen on CBC Gem and APTN.

After a season as a regular on Alaska Daily, an ABC prime-time drama starring Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank, Dove has been offered a part in another TV series and says filiming for the pilot season will start up again in the new year after productions were stopped most of this year by strikes by the actors and writers.

“I feel like I am at the peak of my career so far so I hope I have a lot of exciting opportunities and I am excited about picking roles that build upon the career that I’ve had and combines all the skills I’ve been learning,” Dove said. “And in a weird way it feels like I’m just getting started.”