In partnership with the OYA Emerging Filmmakes program and the Fabienne Colas Foundation, six directors/writers were given the opportunity to helm an original short documentary about being Black In Toronto. They participated in directing, writing and editing workshops led by Alison Duke, Ngardy Conteh George and Sonia Godding Togobo who continued to provide mentorship throughout the filmmaking process. Each creator was paired with a pro cinematographer, sound recordist and editor. The completed films were screened at several festivals including the Montreal Black Film Fest, Halifax Black Film Fest and Toronto Black Film Fest. They were produced by Fabienne Colas Foundation in collaboration with OYA Media Group and the Toronto BlackFilm Festival. The films are now being licensed by the CBC, providing the directors with first television broadcast in addition to film festival credits.
DIRECTED BY YASMIN EVERING-KERR, OMOLOLA AJAO, SHARINE TAYLOR, VALERIE AMPONSAH, ADRIAN WALLACE & YVANO WICKAM-EDWARDS
PRODUCED BY FABIENNE COLAS, EMILE CASTONGUAY, NGARDY CONTEH GEORGE, ALISON DUKE & FONNA SEIDU
Contributors
The Onyx Butterfly is a Poetic and Expository Documentary that seamlessly incorporates actuality with poetic elements of dance performance. The film is an exploration of the life of a black male ballet dancer.
DIRECTED BY YASMIN EVERING-KERR
The film follows Jordan as he grapples with the societal pressures of being a black male in a traditionally white feminine landscape while also struggling against the cultural gender expectations placed upon black men. The film aims to explore the psychological impact of stereotypes on a black male who is determined to redefine black masculinity.
Through vulnerability, healing and forgiveness, we see a Ghanaian family process the effects of alcoholism on their family, each person in their way.
DIRECTED BY VALERIE AMPONSAH
Originally a film about the filmmaker's parents immigration journey from Ghana to Canada and how that impacted their life, the film takes a life of it's own and becomes a story of forgiveness and healing of Joseph's substance abuse with his wife Margaret and daughter, Valerie.
Black Sun follows two women anguished by acts of gun violence as they use their experiences to take a personal stand and help their affected communities..
DIRECTED BY ADRIAN WALLACE
Black Sun tells the story of two women anguished by acts of gun violence, who use their experiences to take a personal stand, and help their affected communities. Sherri Bonnelli, a white woman who raised and lost her black son, looks to advocate for anti-gun violence through her community activism, and Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, a black filmmaker, aims to shed emotional intelligence through the creation of her first feature "Summer of the Gun", based on one of Toronto's deadliest summers.
YYZ reflects on the movements and migration of a Nigerian family to Toronto. In the year of 2007, migrating from the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, and the first day they had in the city of Toronto.
DIRECTED BY OMOLOLA AJAO
KEY CAST CHYANNE GARRAWAY
The film YYZ is an intimate portrayal and discussion between that of a Nigerian-Canadian family and their last-born child. For Omolola and her family, their first night in Toronto was spent in Pearson airport - that night full of anticipation, expectation, and fear. Specifically looking back at her family's journey, as well as their present and future, this film focuses on the feelings of rootlessness and loss of identity that often accompany immigration.
Out of many, one neighbourhood.
DIRECTED BY SHARINE TAYLOR
Little Jamaica, a neighbourhood in Toronto’s west end, was a once-thriving hub for Black and Caribbean business owners until the ills of gentrification reared its ugly head. Vernal Small, the owner of the 47-year old business Jamall Caribbean Custom Tailor, is now tasked with confronting how the construction of the incoming light rail is shifting the dynamic of his community, changing their future and slowly erasing their presence in the process. Tallawah Abroad aims to discover how Small, residents and other business owners have been affected and are or have prepared themselves for the adjustments on the horizon.
This episode briefly analyzes how social media has disillusioned Canada’s black youth and offers a solution.
DIRECTED BY YVANO ANTONIO
Canada's Black youth have a responsibility to lead the next generation but they're being disillusioned by social media. They’ve made progress but there’s still plenty of work to be done. It’s up to them to hold themselves accountable and use social media to their advantage.
Photos courtesy of Yvano Wickham-Edwards, Sonya Mwambu, Fonna-Tasha Seidu & Kristen Lambie