IELS is a documentary which highlights the journeys of two non-binary drag artists: Drag Couenne, a Belgian queen, and Miroslav, a French king. Through their testimonies and a dreamlike staging, the film explores gender transition and the impact of drag on their identity, while questioning society's binary norms.
Four years ago, 28-year-old Bo Gyi Hasenaar ended up in the hospital with unbearable headaches. For nine days, he was in a coma, intubated, suspended between reality and a vivid dream world. On day five of his coma, the doctors delivered a hopeless message: "He probably won't survive." After nine days in the coma, nothing seemed the same. In a family where emotions were rarely expressed, the old filter suddenly fell away. For the first time in years, Bo Gyi told his parents he loved them. Bo Gyi demonstrated that vulnerability and seeking connection, especially among men, are not weaknesses but strengths.
“Discard Records [is] a cumulative work responding to my experience as the Artist in Residence at the NY Department of Sanitation. Coupling my experiential research in the agency and my revitalization of their TV studio, this film is a very personal response to a treasure trove of historical material about waste in our current era of the climate crisis. It is not only the preservation of a long lost archive but a contemporary activation that is to be shared as a public artwork in this moment of ecological awareness. Adapting the aesthetics and recycling the materials of the sanitation department, Discard Records is a remixed historical film that is intended to spark new conversations that explore the intimate but often ignored relationship between the public and their waste.” - sTo Len, Director
This short film tells the deeply personal and emotional journey of a father who made the life-altering decision to immigrate to Canada from Congo with his family. Narrated from his perspective, it dives into the challenges and obstacles he faced while fleeing his home country.
Upon discovering that her lifelong next-door neighbour of over twenty years, Taybah, has never explored what the 6ix has to offer, our director launches a two-day adventure with her to show her what she’s been missing.
Exiled after Haiti’s political struggles of the 90s, Mikerlande—a former activist and now entrepreneur—rekindles memories of resilience and commitment. Through griot, she shares a story of struggle, legacy, and strength, bridging past and present to preserve her heritage.
Nestled in Parkdale, Toronto, West Lodge Apartments stands as a testament to endurance and hardship. This film delves into the lives within these walls, from the battles of disrepair and crime to the inspiring solidarity in the face of adversity. Built in 1964, follows the journey of West Lodge's transformation from a symbol of struggle to a beacon of hope, as residents and new investments reshape their shared future.
Two long-time friends, Makahi and Yannick, reflect on their respective journeys as artists in different disciplines—visual arts and music production. The two delve into their experiences as young Black artists in Ottawa, sharing insights into their paths and creative growth.
Garnetta Cromwell, a blues and soul musician of african descent has a lifelongdream of becoming a professional blues singer. Even though she had temporary deafness atthe ripe age of 5 from lying on the floor and putting her ear to the speaker so she could listen toAretha Franklin’s voice, she didn't see it as an obstacle but instead as a revelation that singingis her calling. Garnetta wants the world to hear her voice. She wants to promote and inspire theyounger generation of blues artists regardless of their race or gender. But as we all know, theworld always has something different planned for us.
Determined to protect international students from escalating vulnerabilities in Canada—a country that once "embraced" them—an award-winning global leader, formerly an international student, teams up with community leaders and academics to speak out on the value of these students and uncover how the system isn’t broken but rather designed this way.
A sumptuous culinary presentation and pulse-pounding ride with Victor Aguilera, a Venezuelan chef who cycles through San Francisco delivering his arepas while weaving through memories of his immigrant experience.
An intimate portrait of fishing as a refuge and companion, where bonds and absences intertwine with the river. Norma Alonso reveals how, despite time, memory endures beyond the last hook.
Thousands of travellers have visited Shikoku Island to complete the 88 Temple Pilgrimage. For more than nine centuries, they have walked a route of approximately 1200 kilometres following in the footsteps of the Buddhist monk Kukai.
Two Ugandan women, Monic Karungi and Kayla Birungi, died in Dubai in 2022 after falling from high-rise buildings, bringing renewed and devastating attention to the exploitative "Dubai Porta Potty" trend. The BBC's Africa Eye investigated the cases, revealing that the rumors surrounding Karungi's death hid an even darker reality of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.