Black history month is an opportunity for us to reflect on how important aspects of black people's lives are frequently underrepresented in textbooks, dialogues, and popular histories. So what better way to be involved, educate oneself, and be motivated than by watching films made by Black filmmakers, creators, and allies?
We've put together a list of resources and events to help you stay informed, inspired, challenged, and amused.
Sanfoka Film Festival: Films from the Diaspora
At the Museum of Anthropology (MOA), this mini film festival featured documentary films that explore African diasporas in the Americas. Engage with the hidden history of Canadian urban development projects and their effects on historic Black Canadian communities through these films, and celebrate Africa's rich cultural heritage that has endured for generations.
Documentaries screened:
Remember Africville by Shelagh Mackenzie (1991 | 35 min)
Hogan’s Alley by Cornelia Wyngaarden and Andrea Fatona (1994 | 32 min)
Secret Vancouver: Return to Hogan’s Alley by Melinda Friedman (2016 | 16 min)
They Are We by Emma Christopher (2014 | 1 h 17 min)
The MOA at UBC is also currently exhibiting SANKOFA: African Routes, Canadian Roots until March 27, 2022. "Centered on works by contemporary artists from Lagos, Nigeria, and Vancouver, in conversation with objects in MOA’s permanent collection, this exhibition shares stories, histories, and projects of African and Black affirmation. In particular, it draws connections to historical contributions and the growing vitality of Black Canadians in Vancouver" (MOA, 2022). For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website here: https://moa.ubc.ca/exhibition/sankofa/
Black History Month at the VIFF
Over the course of the month, the VIFF screened the following films:
Lingui, The Sacred Bonds by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (2021 | 87 min)
Music. Money. Madness Jimi Hendrix: Experience Live in Maui by John McDermott (2022 | 91 min)
Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliche by Paul Sng and Celeste Bell (2021| 99 min)
Spotlight on The Porter (VIFF Talks, Livestream on VIFF Connect)
The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks (1969 | 107 min)
The Sleeping Negro by Skinner Myers (2021 | 73 min)
Tribute to Sidney Poitier: A Raisin in the Sun (1961 | 128 min)
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America by Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler (2021 | 118 min)
Check out their website at https://viff.org/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=2022-black-history-month&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id= for more information on the films and screenings!
National Film Board of Canada (NFB) presents Black Communities in Canada: A Rich History
NFB has chosen a series of films that depict the multi-faceted lives of Canada's different Black populations. These films tell extraordinary stories of courage, fortitude, and endurance in the face of hardship that are rarely seen in standard history texts. Explore the selection of films by notable Black filmmakers, creators, and allies through the playlist at https://www.nfb.ca/playlist/nfb celebrates black history month/.
Films in the playlist:
Ice Breakers by Sandamini Rankaduwa (2019 | 15 min)
Invisible City by Hubert Davis (2009 | 1 h 15 min)
Hardwood by Hubert Davis (2004 | 29 min)
Remember Africville by Shelagh Mackenzie (1991 | 35 min)
Where Do White People Go When the Long Weekend Comes? The Wondrous Journey of Delroy Kincaid Powys Dewhurst (2008 | 7 min)
Harry Jerome: The Fastest Man on Earth by Ileana Pietrobruno (2010 | 10 min)
Ninth Floor by Mina Shum (2015 | 1 h 21 min) Unarmed Verses by Charles Officer (2016 | 1 h 25 min)
Joe by Jill Haras & Jill Haras (2002 | 8 min)
Zero Tolerance by Michka Saäl (2004 | 1 h 15 min)
Journey to Justice by Roger McTair (2000 | 47 min)
True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball (Feature) by Ryan Sidhoo & Ryan Sidhoo (2019 |1 h 29 min)
MacPherson by Martine Chartrand (2012 | 10 min)
The Colour of Beauty by Elizabeth St. Philip (2010 | 17 min)
Black Soul by Martine Chartrand (2000 | 9 min)
Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia by Sylvia Hamilton (1992 | 28 min) The Road Taken by Selwyn Jacob (1996 | 52 min)
Golden Gloves by Gilles Groulx (1961 | 27 min)
Speakers for the Dead by David Sutherland & Jennifer Holness (2000 | 49 min) Christopher Changes His Name by Cilia Sawadogo (2000 | 6 min)
Black History Month 2015 Virtual Classroom: The Power of Mentoring, Diversity and Dreaming Big Dan Thornhill (2015 |1 h 3 min)
Everybody's Children by Monika Delmos (2008 | 51 min)
Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community by Jennifer Hodge & Roger McTair (1983 | 57 min)
Where I Belong by Arinze Eze (2007 | 45 min)
Mighty Jerome (Short Version) by Charles Officer (2010 | 52 min)
Sisters in the Struggle by Dionne Brand & Ginny Stikeman (1991 | 49 min)
The Magic Lion by Charles Githinji (2004 | 6 min)
Black Mother Black Daughter by Sylvia Hamilton & Claire Prieto (1989 | 29 min)
Tales of Sand and Snow by Hyacinthe Combary (2004 | 48 min)
Crossroads by Don Haldane (1957 | 28 min)
Give Back to Black BC
Give Back to Black BC is an online initiative inspired by the passion for learning new things and sharing knowledge, publishes educational posts on their Instagram feed on Black history with the purpose of redistributing funds to Black people in BC. They provide Black-centered educational resources on a daily basis and offer readers to donate via e-transfer if they appreciated or learned from the content. They funded and redistributed $31,000 to Black people in BC with the help of an incredible online community.
We invite you to send an e-transfer to givebacktoblackbc@gmail.com if you enjoy their posts on https://www.instagram.com/givebacktoblackbc/. Fill out the form in their bio if you are Black and live in BC and would like to apply for this fund!
To conclude, we would like to acknowledge that this has been posted on February 28th, 2022. Black History Month is coming to a close. However, we encourage our readers and all other film enthusiasts to come back to this compilation of resources and make an active effort to keep learning about Black History in everyday life. UBC Film Society would like to echo the voices of many and say that Black history should be acknowledged, celebrated, and taught regardless of the month.