Film Categories: Immigration

  • Weaving with Spanish Threads: an Immigrant’s Tale

    In the early 20th century, tens of thousands of Spaniards were driven from their homeland by poverty. Several thousand went to Hawaii to work under contract in the pineapple and sugar cane plantations, and most of these settled permanently in California after their contract were up. Our documentary tells their story, a story reminiscent of that of many other immigrant groups from Europe. We focus on one specific immigrant, Francisco Pérez, 98 years old when we interviewed him. His interview is supplemented by interviews with descendants of other of the immigrants and by on-location footage from Spain, Gibraltar, Hawaii and…

  • A Conversation With Hana

    During the Lunar Year, Yong talks to his family living in Korea from Canada on Skype and partakes in the new year ceremony online. Later on, Yong has a serious conversation on topics ranging from marriage to religion with his 9-year-old sister Hana whose only wish is to see her brother someday.

  • The Friend from Tel Aviv

    Noam, a young Israeli transgender, is nervous and excited to meet his childhood friend Natan after many years. Louise, a free spirited mom, in whose house Noam has been staying for the last six months, decides to throw a party at her place when her kid leaves for the weekend. Noam invites Natan to the party but things get messy when Noam’s tender attempts to reconnect with his friend are jeopardized by Louise’ inappropriate behavior.

  • Mount Misery

    Emotionally drained after learning of the death of her long estranged sister, an elderly woman spends the day lost somewhere between her past and present and her conscious and subconscious mind. In this state, she ponders the inevitabilities of life, death and the hereafter. “Mount Misery” won Best Film prize at the Black International Cinema, Berlin film festival, 2017.

  • The Royal Women Association

    THE ROYAL WOMEN ASSOCIATION tells the story of a group of South Asian women in Calgary who have banded together to overcome the isolation and loneliness so common among older members of their community. The women break out of their shells and overcome their demons by sharing songs, poetry, food, and laughter at the group’s monthly meetings. As they plan an event that calls attention to domestic violence in the community, one member, Sarbjit, tries to come to terms with the trauma of her own past.

  • The World in Ten Blocks

    Welcome to Bloorcourt, one of Toronto’s most diverse neighbourhoods. Small business owners from all over the world have made this one of the most vibrant parts of Toronto. Meet some of these immigrant entrepreneurs and hear about their dreams, struggles, victories, and the unexpected ways in which they’ve changed. An intimate journey into the kitchens and behind the counters of small businesses where cultures and traditions are preserved, shared, and evolve.

  • Heartbreak

    “Heartbreak” is a tribute to black mothers. It was written and produced in response to the constant threat of brutality they and their children (particularly boys) live under. Through poetry and the voice of a 5-year-old boy it relates the very real physical and psychological toll that violence has on black bodies and black souls.

  • Ripples/Derive

    On a summer day, 9 year-old Aissa accompanies her mother Yasmina to one of the houses where she works as a cleaning lady. When Aissa is bullied by Sarah, the daughter of Yasmina’s employer, there are tragic consequences for the victim.

  • In Between/Entre Deux

    On a cold fall evening, Leila is left alone to tend the family convenience store. A series of strange clients keep her in a constant state of apprehension. Language and cultural barriers also contribute to the making of a nerve-racking evening.

  • Exilic Trilogy

    “Exilic Trilogy” consists of three arthouse docudrama films from Arsalan Baraheni, the exiled Iranian-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto. The films present a well known musician, a painter and a poet. The films are biographical, poetic and musical, colliding with social, political and philosophical manifestations. The first film is called “Light and Sound”, starring Soleyman Vaseghi, a well known Iranian musician who was forced to leave Iran after the 1979 revolution when music got banned by the regime. The film is about the light within the mind of the artist and the sound which he produces through his music in exile.…