2025 - 1 - Big Dreams Archives - REEL CANADA (2025)

  • 2025 - 1 - Big Dreams Archives - REEL CANADA (1)
  • Own Voice

DirectorsMichael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee

Year2024

Run Time98min

GenreDocumentary

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Jackie Shane, a jazz singer who rose to prominence in the 1960s as a Black transgender musician, had disappeared almost entirely from the public eye. Decades later, her work gets rediscovered and reassessed, giving her one last chance to be appreciated properly.

A moving portrait that shines a light on the career of a trailblazer who was ahead of her time, this incredible story won the Special Jury Prize for Best Canadian Feature at Hot Docs 2024.

“A compelling investigation of an elusive life, as well as a talent so striking you’ll be amazed it remained forgotten for so long.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety

Directors

Michael Mabbott

Writer/director Mabbott made his debut with 2005’s Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, winning Best Canadian First Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival. He followed with Citizen Duane and television shows like Baxter and The Yard. His short documentary Music Lessons premiered at Hot Docs 2015. Most recently he wrote episodes of Ten Days in the Valley.

Writers

Alison Duke, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, Michael Mabbott

Cast

Rob Bowman, James Baley, Bobby Dean Blackburn

Producers

Janet Bradey, Justine Pimlott, Michael Mabbott

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, LGBTQ2S+, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English

Language Version

FR Subtitles

Canadian Distributor

National Film Board (NFB)

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  • Own Voice

DirectorDamon Kwame Mason

Year2023

Run Time44min

GenreDocumentary

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When hockey legend Angela James led Canada to a gold medal in the first four Women’s World Championships in the 1990s, she inspired a generation of girls to join the sport, and later became the first Black woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Now, with stars like Sarah Nurse leading the game into new horizons, Black women continue to be a force to be reckoned with both on and off the ice.

A terrific showcase of the Black players and coaches that continue to make huge contributions to the sport, this documentary is an absolute must-watch for hockey fans.

Director

Damon Kwame Mason

Cast

Cassie Campbell-Pascal, Angela James, Sarah Nurse

Producer

Tom Cohen

Genre

Documentary

Interests

Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports, Strong Female Leads

Original Language

English

Canadian Distributor

TVA Films

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    DirectorMatthew Rankin

    Year2024

    Run Time89min

    GenreComedy, Drama

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    Set in an alternate universe where Canada’s official languages are French and Persian, this charming and surreal fable follows a triptych of seemingly unrelated stories of people navigating through a bleak Winnipeg winter. Behind layers of eclectic bizarreness lives a poignant message about the depth and importance of human connection and understanding. It’s also just genuinely hilarious.

    A pitch-perfect follow up to his acclaimed debut feature The Twentieth Century, this similarly absurdist comedy won the Director’s Fortnight Audience Award at Cannes, and is Canada’s 2024 selection for Academy Award consideration.

    Director

    Matthew Rankin

    Matthew Rankin is an experimental film director of 30 short films, which have been screened at festivals around the world, including Berlinale, Sundance, Cannes and many others. His feature debut, the irreverent and surreal comedy, The Twentieth Century, received critical acclaim and three Canadian Screen Awards.

    Writers

    Matthew Rankin, Pirouz Nemati

    Cast

    Saba Vahedyousefi, Pirouz Nemati, Matthew Rankin, Rojina Esmaeili

    Genres

    Comedy, Drama

    Interest

    Cult & Offbeat Cinema

    Original Language

    Other Language

    Language Version

    EN Subtitles

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      DirectorSophie Deraspe

      Year2024

      Run Time113min

      GenreDrama

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      Tired of city life, a Québecois man leaves everything behind to pursue his dream of becoming a shepherd in rural France, where he must work illegally at a craft he knows almost nothing about. While the work proves more difficult than he’d imagined, everything changes when he wins over the like-minded Élise with his dreams of a pastoral life together. The two commit to a summer-long journey together in the mountains – with 800 sheep, and all the challenges that come with them.

      Featuring breathtaking cinematography and a deeply human story, this beautiful romantic drama won the award for Best Canadian Feature at TIFF 2024.

      Director

      Sophie Deraspe

      Deraspe has made several feature and documentary films, including Rechercher Victor Pellerin, Les loups and Les signes vitaux, which won 15 awards and played over 30 film festivals worldwide. Her documentary work includes A Gay Girl in Damascus: The Amina Profile, and the series La Vie nous arrive. Most recently, she directed the series Bête noire, and the series Motel Paradis.

      Writer

      Sophie Deraspe

      Cast

      Michel Benizri, David Ayala, Félix-Antoine Duval, Solène Rigot

      Producers

      Luc Déry, Élaine Hébert, Kim McCraw

      Genre

      Drama

      Interests

      Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences

      Original Language

      French

      Language Version

      EN Subtitles

      Canadian Distributor

      Maison 4:3

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      • Own Voice

      DirectorCody Lightning (Cree)

      Year2023

      Run Time102min

      GenreComedy

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      Twenty-five years after starring in the hit 90s film Smoke Signals, Cody Lightning directs and stars in this uproarious mockumentary about a fictionalized version of himself attempting to make a sequel. When a mysterious fan offers a full budget for the film, Cody jumps at the chance, promising the full participation of the original cast. The only thing standing in his way is the small fact that the entire original cast hates him.

      A refreshing and occasionally raunchy comedy, this charming underdog story is a great movie about how to make a terrible one.

      Director

      Cody Lightning (Cree)

      Writer

      Cody Lightning (Cree)

      Cast

      Cody Lightning (Cree)

      Producers

      Blake McWilliam, Sara Corry, Samuel Miller, Kyle Thomas

      Genre

      Comedy

      Interests

      Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Cult & Offbeat Cinema, Indigenous Filmmaker

      Original Language

      English

      Canadian Distributor

      Levelfilm

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      • Own Voice

      DirectorHubert Davis

      Year2016

      Run Time77min

      GenreDocumentary

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      Growing up playing basketball in Nigeria, Raptors president (and NBA champion) Masai Ujiri knows first-hand how few resources and opportunities were available to young African players. This inspiring documentary follows his programme Giants of Africa, which aims to educate and empower youth in communities across the continent. Given the tools to pursue their passion for basketball, not only do they gain a belief in themselves, they gain the confidence to “Dream Big”.

      Featuring touching personal stories and breathtaking cinematography, this is a film that truly highlights the power of sport, and is an absolute must-watch for basketball fans.

      Director

      Hubert Davis

      Davis’s first film, Hardwood, was nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Documentary. He received the Don Haig award at the Hot Docs festival for Invisible City, and has directed numerous award winning commercials, as well as the short film Aruba and the 2016 feature doc Giants of Africa. His 2017 short, Rivolta, won a Cannes Film Lion. his most recent feature doc Black Ice, premiered at TIFF 2022. Next, he is working on the series The Count.

      Writer

      Hubert Davis

      Cast

      Masai Ujiri

      Producer

      Josiah Rothenberg

      Genre

      Documentary

      Interests

      Black Filmmaker, Sports

      Original Language

      English

      Canadian Distributor

      Elevation Pictures

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        DirectorsBruce Nyznik, Lawrence Schiller

        Year1974

        Run Time84min

        GenreDocumentary

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        While many explorers have climbed the legendary peak of Mount Everest, Yûichirô Miura had a different dream. This Japanese skier and daredevil became the first person to ever ski on the treacherous slopes of the highest mountain in the world, descending nearly 4200 feet. While becoming famous in Japan for his achievement, it wasn’t until Canadian filmmaker F.R. Crawley released this documentary that he received widespread international attention.

        Showing all of the dangers and thrilling moments of his journey up and down the mountain, this tense and engaging film won the Oscar for Best Documentary and became a formative work in the sports documentary genre.

        Directors

        Bruce Nyznik, Lawrence Schiller

        Writers

        Yûichirô Miura, Judith Crawley

        Cast

        Yûichirô Miura, Douglas Rain, Shintaro Ishihara

        Producer

        F.R. Crawley

        Genre

        Documentary

        Interests

        Classics, Global Experiences, Sports

        Original Language

        English

        Canadian Distributor

        Specialty Films

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        DirectorMatt Johnson

        Year2023

        Run Time120min

        GenreComedy, Drama

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        From its humble origins in Waterloo, ON, in 1996, nobody expected the massive global success that the world’s first smartphone would become. Nobody, that is, except Jim Balsillie (Howerton). Taking a chance on then-struggling startup Research in Motion (RIM), he joins BlackBerry creators Mike Lazaridis (Baruchel) and Douglas Fregin (Johnson) as co-CEO. Together, they form a massive multinational tech giant, but the power and wealth soon begin to eat away at their relationship, putting everything they built into jeopardy.

        Based loosely on the true story of the extraordinary development and spectacular demise of the BlackBerry, this high-stakes comedy featuring an all-star cast is a bona fide crowd pleaser and critical darling.

        "An instant Canadian classic" – Barry Hertz, The Globe and Mail

        Director

        Matt Johnson

        Matt Johnson is an innovative and internationally recognized writer, actor, and director. He is the co-creator, writer, and star of the cult web series Nirvanna the Band the Show, which he adapted for television in 2016. His first two features, The Dirties and Operation Avalanche, received widespread recognition, and were featured at the Slamdance and Sundance film festivals respectively. His third feature, BlackBerry, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2023 to critical acclaim, and earned a record 17 Canadian Screen Award nominations.

        Writers

        Matt Johnson, Matthew Miller

        Cast

        Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Kelly Van der Burg

        Producers

        Fraser Ash, Matthew Miller, Niv Fichman, Kevin Krikst

        Genres

        Comedy, Drama

        Interests

        Biography, History

        Original Language

        English

        Canadian Distributor

        Elevation Pictures

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        DirectorJonathan Keijser

        Year2021

        Run Time96min

        GenreComedy, Drama

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        Tareq (Abou Ammar), a Syrian refugee in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, is torn between his dream to become a doctor and his family’s chocolate-making legacy. When his family joins him in Canada, his father’s new chocolate business becomes an unexpected success, leading to new, unforeseen challenges. Tareq must make a choice between being there to support the family that needs him or pursuing the life in Canada that he always envisioned for himself.

        Inspired by the true story of the formation of the artisanal chocolate company of the same name, Peace By Chocolate is an inspiring and quintessentially Canadian story.

        Peace By Chocolate is a bona fide crowd pleaser, and a true story to boot.” - Chris Knight, The National Post

        Director

        Jonathan Keijser

        Writers

        Jonathan Keijser, Abdul Malik

        Cast

        Hatem Ali, Ayham Abou Ammar, Yara Sabri

        Producers

        Catherine Léger, Jonathan Keijser, Martin Paul-Hus

        Genres

        Comedy, Drama

        Interests

        BIPOC Stories, ESL, Family Relationships, Global Experiences, Newcomer Stories

        Original Languages

        English, Other Language

        Canadian Distributor

        Vortex Media

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        DirectorCharles Binamé

        Year2005

        Run Time124min

        GenreDrama

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        The Rocket traces the meteoric rise of hockey legend Maurice Richard (Dupuis), from his humble beginnings as a Montreal machinist during the Depression to star of the Canadiens and the greatest scorer in hockey.

        But this is much more than a sports movie. Director Binamé frames the story in a cultural context: It isn’t until Richard, a man of few words, begins to speak his mind about the inequalities and prejudice directed toward French Canadians that he finds his voice.

        Many feel that the riots caused by Richard’s suspension in 1955 were the spark that fuelled the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. This hockey blockbuster is chock-full of heart and history.

        The Rocket was nominated for 13 Genie Awards and won nine.

        Director

        Charles Binamé

        Binamé’s Eldorado screened at the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes in 1995. He also directs for hit TV shows such as Reign, Flashpoint, Rookie Blue and Republic of Doyle. His latest film, Elephant Song, won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

        Writer

        Ken Scott

        Cast

        Roy Dupuis, Julie Le Breton, Stephen McHattie, Patrice Robitaille

        Producers

        Daniel Louis, Denise Robert

        Genre

        Drama

        Interests

        Biography, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports

        Original Languages

        English, French

        Language Versions

        EN Subtitles, FR CC, FR Subtitles

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        DirectorDaniel Roby

        Year2013

        Run Time123min

        GenreDrama

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        In the late 19th century, after years of delighting crowds with astounding feats of strength, Louis Cyr was considered the strongest man in the world. Based on his true story, this charming biopic recounts the many successes, heartbreaks and obstacles — both inside and out of the athletic arena — that Louis (Bertrand) faced on his climb from obscurity to international fame. Louis’ best friend recounts the story to the strongman’s estranged daughter — from Louis’ poverty-stricken childhood through the ups and downs of his circus career — and shares with us the fascinating life of this Quebec hero.

        The top-grossing film of the year in Quebec, Louis Cyr won two Canadian Screen Awards and nine Jutra Awards, including Best Film.

        Director

        Daniel Roby

        Roby’s feature film debut, La peau blanche, premiered at TIFF and went on to win the Canadian Screen Award for Best First Feature. He followed that with Funkytown, Louis Cyr(which swept the awards season) and Dans la brume. His most recent films are A Breath Away and Most Wanted.

        Writer

        Sylvain Guy

        Cast

        Antoine Bertrand, Guillaume Cyr, Rose-Maïté Erkoreka

        Producers

        Caroline Héroux, Christian Larouche

        Genre

        Drama

        Interests

        Biography, History, Sports

        Original Language

        French

        Language Versions

        EN Subtitles, FR CC

        Canadian Distributor

        eOne

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        • Own Voice

        DirectorCharles Officer

        Year2010

        Run Time84min

        GenreDocumentary

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        In 1959, at just 19 years of age, African-Canadian Harry Jerome was Canada’s most promising track and field star, on his way to the Olympics. By 1962, after a terrible leg injury, everyone feared his career was over. But Jerome was determined not to quit, starting what his coach called “the greatest comeback in track and field history.” A truly inspiring Canadian hero, Jerome kept running through years of personal, racial and political challenges, with a strength of character as impressive as his athletic ability. A deeply insightful documentary that tells the runner’s story from his early days through his sudden, tragic death, Mighty Jerome will electrify all those who appreciate stories of courage and passion.

        Director

        Charles Officer

        Actor, writer and filmmaker Officer’s first feature, Nurse.Fighter.Boy, was nominated for 10 Genies, winning one. Officer also directed the docs Mighty Jerome, The Skin We're In, Unarmed Verses, and Invisible Essence: The Little Prince, as well as the feature Akilla's Escape, which won five CSAs. He has recently directed episodes of Coroner, and executive produced and co-directed The Porter. He’s also the executive producer of the upcoming docs The Art of Dance and Emmanuel.

        Writer

        Charles Officer

        Cast

        Nykeem Provo

        Producers

        Tracey Friesen, Selwyn Jacob

        Genre

        Documentary

        Interests

        Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports

        Original Language

        English

        Language Versions

        EN CC, FR Subtitles

        Canadian Distributor

        National Film Board (NFB)

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        2025 - 1 - Big Dreams Archives - REEL CANADA (2025)

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