REEL Black: Our Film Stories
Young Black filmmakers learn what it takes to fulfill their filmmaking dreams through the insight of veteran filmmaker Claire Prieto-Fuller and other Black Canadian filmmakers.
In an exploration of Black Canadian filmmaking, emerging filmmakers Christian Anderson and Ajahnis Charley quickly discover the realities of the industry. Through insights from veteran filmmakers such as Claire Prieto-Fuller, the young filmmakers learn that sometimes if you aren’t given a seat at the table, you have to make your own.
“Reel Black: Our Stories” was created by Tristen Sutherland, Alexx Bryant, Ayan Tani, Émeraude Domingos Mbuku, Leilah Dhoré, and Enni Balo.
Directed By Ayan Tani, Émeraude Domingos Mbuku, And Tristen Sutherland
Written By Tristen Sutherland, Émeraude Domingos Mbuku, And Ayan Tani
Producers Alexx Bryant, Tristen Sutherland And Enni Balo
Executive Producers Ngardy Conteh George And Alison Duke
Director Of Photography Leilah Dhoré
Director Of Photography Mentor Mark Valino
Edited By Adam Phipps And Mark Valino
Contributors
Ayan Tani (Director)
Ayan Tani is passionate about storytelling in all its forms as a creative engine for transforming our world. She has a particular interest in film and the power inherent in directing an image and gaze. For her, connecting with and centering those on the margins is essential to building and maintaining communities of care, and as an emerging filmmaker, she has made a point to do just that. Her first film project, a short documentary titled "My Community is Here" on gentrification in one of the most diverse and affordable neighbourhoods in Ottawa, is one example of this ethic. Most recently, she completed OYA Media Group’s Emerging Filmmaker’s Programme where she served as co-director and co-writer of the short documentary “REEL BLACK: Our Film Stories”.
Émeraude Domingos-Mbuku (Director)
M. Émeraude Domingos-Mbuku is a documentary filmmaker whose research-based practice threads together her identity as a daughter of Congolese refugees and a first generation Canadian. She uses film as a medium to discuss womanhood in the North American visual and popular culture as well as feminism in the age of social media. She is a CineFam Feature Film Incubator fellow and an OYA Media Group Emerging Filmmakers fellow. Émeraude has also presented her work at festivals such as the Black Femme Supremacy Film Festival, FlickFair Film Festival, and DocNow Festival.
Tristen Sutherland (Director/Producer)
Tristen Sutherland is a writer/director/producer whose stories highlight BIPOC members of the LGBT+ community. Their debut short film “Owen'' follows the relationship change between a mother and her trans-son during his coming out and has gone to screen internationally. Sutherland is an alumni of the Black Women in Film Canada mentorship program, the BIPOC TV & FILM Kid’s TV Writing Bootcamp, Oya Media’s Mentorship Program, one of Reelworld Film Festival’s Emerging 20 for 2020 and was shortlisted for the BIPOC TV & Film’s Reel Work Initiative. They are in post-production for their upcoming web series “Bloom Room '' made in tandem with Oya Media and are developing their upcoming TV series “Halfway Boy '' with Snail Mail Media in the EAVE/NSI On Demand Access Program. Currently, they work as a director’s assistant to Cheryl Dunye (CEO) at Jingle Town Films.
Alexx Bryant (Producer)
Alexx Bryant is an emerging producer and a Development Coordinator at the children’s media company WildBrain. She is a graduate of Ryerson University’s Media Production program, one of the top international film programs according to The Hollywood Reporter. Her most recent film “I Want You to Live”, a short documentary about the stigmaization of suicide was the official selection of the Reelout Queer Film & Video Festival, Mental Filmness, Prague Youth Film Festival and the Little Wing Film Festival. Currently, she is producing a web series and documentary as part of the Oya Emerging Filmmakers program.
