Cree director's new film Smudge the Blades to premiere at Toronto International Film Festival

Growing up, Cree actor and filmmaker Cody Lightning was the only Indigenous player on a local sports team called 'The Indians.'

Lightning's latest feature film, Smudge the Blades, premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival Sept. 12.

It's loosely based on his experience as a coach and deals with the complexities of being an Indigenous kid in sports, using humour and some deadly hockey skills from its actors.

Lightning, who is from Edmonton, said sport is a huge outlet for Treaty 6 youth which makes the film relatable.

"When I gave this material to all these actors and hockey players, the reason why they loved it so much is because it's reality. It's true," he said.

Known for his role as young Victor in Smoke Signals, Lightning wrote, directed and starred in Hey Viktor! in 2023.

His second feature film follows the Treaty 6 Blades, a struggling U-18 team of teen boys and one girl, led by a Zamboni driver-turned-coach, played by Lightning.

Lightning said the film was nearly a decade in the making and was envisioned as a comedy but the heavy concepts that arise with a team of underdogs from the rez, like racism, sexual assault, drugs and alcohol, changed the genre to a dramedy.

Lightning wants folks to see the truth along with "the brotherhood and sisterhood" bonds that make the team. He said he uses humour "as a coping mechanism and as a safety net" not only in his work but in his life.

"There's a lot of different battles and obstacles that we have that others don't," Lightning said, adding his people are stronger for them.

"I would be a very miserable, depressed person if I didn't have my sense of humour, plain and simple and I have to portray that and I have to showcase that in my work. Even if it's a dark