Features
ALL OF OUR FILMS ARE CREATED BY CANADIAN FILMMAKERS AND STORYTELLERS WHO ARE BLACK, INDIGENOUS, ASIAN, SOUTH ASIAN, AND PEOPLE OF COLOUR.
With Love and a Major Organ
92 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
In a world where everyone's heart is an object and there's a strong societal pressure to dampen emotion, lonely Virtual Insurance broker Anabel (Anna Maguire) always follows her heart. At odds with this overly pragmatic society, and after a series of devastating emotional blows, she rips her heart from her chest and gives it to a man she's fallen for, the strangely unfeeling George (Hamza Haq). Unburdened by her unique yet cumbersome heart, Anabel finds life easier. George, on the other hand, begins to feel everything, to the shock of his overbearing mother, Mona (Veena Sood). Anabel soon realizes she needs to get her heart back if she's going to survive.
Strangers in a Room
84 MINUTES | ENGLISH, KOREAN | CANADA
Jae Kim, a second-generation Korean actor, encounters a demonic vision on the day of a big commercial audition. After a microaggression during the audition, Jae is plunged into a state of shock and depression.
Union Street
80 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
Spanning across three generations, Union Street chronicles the ongoing effects of racism, displacement and the cultural erasure of African Canadians, while examining the systemic mechanisms that destroyed Vancouver’s historic Black community in the 60s. Train porters, speakeasies, juke joints and a thriving community all existed in the Black neighborhood; and so did musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. The reverberations of this thriving community are still felt, and in the face of adversity a new generation of Black Vancouverites work to rebuild, facilitate Black joy and redefine what it means to be African-Canadian.
Respire (Breathe)
84 MINUTES | ENGLISH, KOREAN | CANADA
Spanning across three generations, Union Street chronicles the ongoing effects of racism, displacement and the cultural erasure of African Canadians, while examining the systemic mechanisms that destroyed Vancouver’s historic Black community in the 60s. Train porters, speakeasies, juke joints and a thriving community all existed in the Black neighborhood; and so did musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. The reverberations of this thriving community are still felt, and in the face of adversity a new generation of Black Vancouverites work to rebuild, facilitate Black joy and redefine what it means to be African-Canadian.
One Act About Toilet Paper
73 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
Who placed the toilet paper the "wrong way" in the washroom? For the young married couple, Sue and Michael, this is a problem they face. Their suspicion quickly turns to their close friends, Beck and Robby, who they decide to invite over to confront.
Lay Down Your Heart
70 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
An intimate look into the mind of Niall McNeil, an artist and performer with Down syndrome, and his unique chosen family. In Lay Down Your Heart, Niall introduces us to his many “family members,” his multiple “children,” his renowned “ex-wife” and director of the film Marie Clements, and other bonds forged through open-hearted creativity.
Height Markers
74 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
Height Markers follows Neva and her son Aaron, on Aaron’s last two days before leaving home, as Aaron seeks closure after a bad break up, and Neva contemplates a life without her son at home. They are both haunted by memories of Aaron’s late father, Ted. The film is an examination of the ever-present role of mem ory in shaping our perceptions of love and loss and tries to capture a sense of being unable to fully understand those you love the most.
A Storm Blows Over
74 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
A young woman's reality is put into question after the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend. She finds herself on a mysterious journey, seeking the answers she so yearns for.
À toi Jeddi
61 MINUTES | ENGLISH, FRENCH, ARABIC | CANADA
From a Quebecer mother and a Libyan and Tunisian father, Sara was raised among the Quebecois culture while her father was learning to integrate. She’s missing pieces to fully appropriate and understand her identity. From the cold of Quebec to the Tunisian desert, with the support of her grand father's memoirs, Sara will experience an immersion in language as well as on a personal level within her family. À toi Jeddi is the story of Sara discovering her roots, friendships, growth, family and love...
Coaching While Black
43 MINUTES | ENGLISH | CANADA
"Coaching While Black" follows the remarkable journey of Donald Tex Phillips, a former collegiate hooper turned coach, as he takes over the struggling NAIT Ooks men's basketball program. Facing racial prejudice, media scrutiny, and challenges from within, Tex leads his team to multiple ACAC championships. However, despite his success, he battles discrimination and battles that threaten his legacy, becoming an inspiring tale of resilience, real change, and basketball brilliance in Canada.
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