• Own Voice

A World of Our Own

Director Morningstar Derosier (Anishinaabe)
Year 2018
Run Time 9min
Genre Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
In a twist on futuristic sci-fi, a young woman becomes infatuated with a woman who removes a ubiquitous computer implant that has replaced most forms of communication.

Director

Morningstar Derosier (Anishinaabe)

Writer

Morningstar Derosier (Anishinaabe)

Cast

Curtis Carriere, Rebekah Manella, Kaitlyn Stewart

Producer

Morningstar Derosier (Anishinaabe)

Genres

Drama, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Divinations

Directors Simon Mutabazi, Dan Boos
Year 2021
Run Time 8min
Genre Documentary
A young filmmaker contacts six clairvoyants, ultimately discovering a deep need to confront his family history. Blending fiction and documentary, Mutabazi and Boos find surprisingly touching results after speaking with several real psychics.

Directors

Simon Mutabazi, Dan Boos

Producer

Sharon Corder

Genre

Documentary

Interest

BIPOC Stories

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Al Ghorba

Director Alia Hijaab
Year 2019
Run Time 6min
Genre Animation, Drama
Through a conversation with her family back home, a Syrian immigrant in Canada expresses her loneliness, and faces her mounting fears about the future.

Director

Alia Hijaab

Writer

Alia Hijaab

Producer

Alia Hijaab

Genres

Animation, Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories, Social Justice & Politics

Original Languages

English, Other Language

  • Own Voice

Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes)

Director Amanda Strong (Michif)
Year 2018
Run Time 19min
Genre Animation, Drama
In this dream-like animation, a young Anishanaabe artist comes to a suburban neighbourhood to reclaim her ancestral tradition of sap harvesting.

Director

Amanda Strong (Michif)

Writers

Amanda Strong (Michif), Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv-Klahoose), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Producer

Amanda Strong (Michif)

Genres

Animation, Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Hole

Director G. Goletski
Year 2018
Run Time 6min
Genre Animation, Drama
The story of Mo, a young adult on the autism spectrum whose daily routine is disrupted when a mysterious hole begins to follow them around.

Director

G. Goletski

Writer

G. Goletski

Genres

Animation, Drama

Interest

BIPOC Stories

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Jordan Gordon’s Guide to Kuujjuaq

Director Jordan Gordon (Inuk)
Year 2018
Run Time 4min
Genre Comedy, Documentary
Jordan Gordon is thrilled to show you around his hometown, taking you through the highlights with a wonderful mix of humour and charm.

Director

Jordan Gordon (Inuk)

Writer

Jordan Gordon (Inuk)

Genres

Comedy, Documentary

Interests

Biography, BIPOC Stories, Environment, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Air Show

Director Maya Bastian
Year 2017
Run Time 8min
Genre Drama
Having recently started a new life in Toronto, a Tamil family comes face to face with their lingering trauma when they first encounter the thundering noise of the air show

Director

Maya Bastian

Writer

Maya Bastian

Producer

Maya Bastian

Genre

Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences

Original Language

English

Emma

Director Martin Edralin
Year 2016
Run Time 13min
Genre Drama
Fourteen-year-old Emma struggles with alopecia areata, a condition of rapid, unpredictable hair loss. A delicate film about the uneasy path towards self-acceptance and putting one’s own well-being above what others think.

Director

Martin Edralin

Writer

Martin Edralin

Cast

Hailey Kittle

Producers

Martin Edralin, Lauren Corber

Genre

Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Global Experiences

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Cry Rock

Director Banchi Hanuse (Nuxalk)
Year 2016
Run Time 29min
Genre Documentary
Fewer than 15 Nuxalk-language speakers and storytellers are left in Bella Coola, B.C. This thoughtful film explores what is lost from a culture when a language threatens to go extinct.

Director

Banchi Hanuse (Nuxalk)

Writer

Banchi Hanuse (Nuxalk)

Producer

Banchi Hanuse (Nuxalk)

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Languages

English, Other Language

  • Own Voice

De Face Ou De Profil (Face or Profile)

Director Sharon Fontaine (Innu)
Year 2014
Run Time 5min
Genre Documentary
Told from 16-year-old Sharon’s point of view, this charming short uses her wit and humour to reflect on society’s use of online avatars.

Director

Sharon Fontaine (Innu)

Writer

Sharon Fontaine (Innu)

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Global Experiences, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

French

Language Version

EN Subtitles

  • Own Voice

Hard Learning

Director Daniel Fortin
Year 2017
Run Time 7min
Genre Documentary
With no high school in her northern community of Wapekeka, 14-yearold Miranda must move 500 km away for Grade 9. This touching doc reveals the challenges faced by many northern Indigenous youth.

Director

Daniel Fortin

Writers

Paul Neary, Daniel Fortin

Producer

Daniel Fortin

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Hyphen: Gabriela’s Story

Director Gabriela Warrior Renaud
Year 2016
Run Time 5min
Genre Documentary

Renaud explores her hyphenated identity through a portrayal of the complexities of her multiracial family.

Director

Gabriela Warrior Renaud

Writer

Gabriela Warrior Renaud

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker

Original Languages

English, French

Language Version

EN Subtitles

  • Own Voice

Envers et contre tout (Against All Odds)

Director Kimberley Ann Surin
Year 2021
Run Time 10min
Genre Documentary
An incisive look at the way racism continues to act as a barrier to Black athletes from participating in youth hockey programs.

Director

Kimberley Ann Surin

Writer

Kimberley Ann Surin

Producer

Fabienne Colas

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, Sports

Original Language

French

Language Version

EN Subtitles

  • Own Voice

Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair

Director Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)
Year 2021
Run Time 29min
Genre Documentary

As the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Senator Murray Sinclair is a key figure in raising global awareness of the atrocities of Canada’s residential school system. Master documentarian Alanis Obomsawin blends Senator Sinclair’s thought-provoking acceptance speech from his WFM-Canada World Peace Award with powerful testimonies of survivors of the residential school system. With determination, wisdom and kindness, Senator Sinclair provides a clear and nuanced explanation of the residential school system and its profound ongoing impacts, and asserts that actual reconciliation requires accepting these difficult truths about Canada’s past and present. The film reminds us to honour the lives and legacies of those affected, lays out avenues for real change, and ultimately leaves us with a profound feeling of hope for a better future.

Director

Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)

Legendary Abenaki filmmaker Obomsawin has made over 50 documentaries on issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Canada, including Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, Trick or Treaty?, Is the Crown at War with Us?, Our People Will Be Healed and Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger. Her most recent film is the short documentary Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair. Next, she is set to appear in an episode of Marie Clements' Bones of Crows: The Series.

Writer

Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)

Cast

Murray Sinclair

Producer

Alanis Obomsawin (Abenaki)

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Biography, BIPOC Stories, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

I Am Gay

Director Ajahnis Charley
Year 2020
Run Time 10min
Genre Documentary

Having returned home as a result of the pandemic, a young Black comedian decides it’s time to come out to his family.

Director

Ajahnis Charley

Writer

Ajahnis Charley

Cast

Ajahnis Charley

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, LGBTQ2S+

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Good Girls Don’t

Director Ana de Lara
Year 2018
Run Time 15min
Genre Comedy, Drama, Family

A Filipino girl is constantly told by her parents that only boys play sports, and only a divine intervention will change their mind.
Content Note: Graphic Content & Religious Themes

Director

Ana de Lara

Writer

Ana de Lara

Cast

Lorne Cardinal (Cree), Jane McLean, Evryle Ebora

Producer

Michelle Morris

Genres

Comedy, Drama, Family

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

Giant Bear

Directors Daniel Gies, Neil Christopher
Year 2019
Run Time 12min
Genre Animation, Drama
A stunning animation of an Inuit legend in which a hunter battles his greatest foe, a giant bear. Content Note: Graphic animated violence.

Directors

Daniel Gies, Neil Christopher

Writers

Neil Christopher, Jose Angutinngurniq (Inuk)

Genres

Animation, Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker

Original Language

Inuktitut

Language Version

EN Dub

  • Own Voice

Future History

Directors Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe, Leni Lenape, Métis), Nyla Innuksuk (Inuk)
Year 2018
Run Time 546min
Genre Documentary
In this incredible APTN docuseries, artist and activist Sarain Fox teams up with archeologist Kris Nahrgang to travel across the country to discover various ways that Indigenous peoples are shaping the future. Through conversations with artists, activists, community leaders and more, the series covers a wide range of themes including Indigenous identity, culture, land rights and intergenerational trauma.

Beautifully shot and packed with powerful interviews, Future History celebrates and explores diverse Indigenous perspectives to create a deeper understanding of our shared history as well as a positive path forward. It is a journey that can’t be missed.

Each 21-minute episode can be viewed independently, or you can watch it as a complete series. Contact us for specific programming recommendations.

Directors

Jennifer Podemski (Anishinaabe, Leni Lenape, Métis)

Podemski is an award-winning film and television producer and actor. She produced and starred in Empire of Dirt, is the creator and producer of APTN’s The Other Side, and most recently produced and directed the series Unsettled.

Nyla Innuksuk (Inuk)

Innuksuk is a director, writer, producer, and VR creator. She co-created the Inuk character Snowguard with Marvel and has written several short films and documentaries. Her first feature was Slash/Back, released in 2022.

Writer

Tamara Podemski (Anishinaabe)

Cast

Kris Nahrgang (Anishinaabe/Ojibwe), Sarain Fox (Anishinaabe)

Genre

Documentary

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics

Original Language

English

  • Own Voice

I Live Here

Director Tyler Mckenzie Evans
Year 2022
Run Time 11min
Genre Drama
A forgotten key leads to a racially-fuelled confrontation between neighbours.

Director

Tyler Mckenzie Evans

Genre

Drama

Interests

BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination

Original Language

English

Benjamin, Benny, Ben

Director Paul Shkordoff
Year 2020
Run Time 7min
Genre Drama

As he travels to an important job interview, a young man becomes increasingly anxious about a seemingly straightforward question: Which name should he use?

Director

Paul Shkordoff

Writer

Paul Shkordoff

Cast

Natalie Gallard, Anwar Haj

Genre

Drama

Interest

BIPOC Stories

Original Language

English