Community News

DIVERSE CINEMA: TBFF Celebrates Five Years of Diverse Film Screenings

Published

8 years ago

March 7, 2017

BY ALYSSA MAHADEO

Cinematography, the art and creation of making motion pictures began in the late 1800’s. The concept of creating moving pictures to visually represent any story, has allowed for an outlet by which directors and filmmakers across the world can engage audiences by capturing real life instances, encouraging viewers to see the world in new ways by experiencing unique perspectives, gaining knowledge and insight into new material that reflect the realities of the human condition.

For the 5th year in a row the Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) rolled out its red carpet to welcome filmmakers and film critics from around the world to celebrate the very best in cinematic work dealing with the varied experiences of black people from diverse communities. Since their inception, they have been dedicated to sharing the unique voices of cinema. Their mandate is to bring audiences a fresh new perspective of the world and connect them with an illustration of major cultural, social and socio-economic issues faced by the Black communities across the world. Every film presented at this year’s festival offered something that spoke to the diversity of the city. These independent masterpieces were only here for the week, making them extraordinary examples of the very best as these films are the most deserving of the privilege of being viewed by the masses. The stories, timelines, inspirations and process behind putting together some of these films depicts many issues that people have yet to address, or haven’t yet been educated on. They bring up concerns that some might have not ever known about if they hadn’t seen a film or discussed its beginnings aloud.

Founded by the Fabienne Coles Foundation, TBFF has made it their mission to provide an opportunity for filmmakers to bring authentic stories to the center stage that reflects the realities of black experiences. Along with its sister festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (now in its thirteenth year), TBFF showcases new voices in cinema and encourages audiences to see the world in new ways. In connecting black films with viewers of all ethnic origins, they recognize the differences that make the communities they serve unique while celebrating the shared values that bring people together.

On February 15th at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto, TBFF kicked off the festival in collaboration with Global News and TD Bank, as part of their Black History Month celebration events that honor the legacy of Black Canadians throughout the country.

As guests arrived for the night’s opening festivities they were invited to walk the TBFF red carpet networks and speak with other film fanatics, as well as mix and mingle with an elite crowd of filmgoers who shared in their interest of brilliant and inspiring filmmaking. Each year the films presented at the festival take audiences to places that are politically incorrect, they ask and prompt temporary questions and they make them feel feelings that they don’t normally feel empowering visions to continue influencing positive conversation.

To commence the night the woman whose passion and energy brings the film festival to Toronto every year, Haitian actress, director, and producer Fabienne Colas took to the stage to share with the massive audience her initial vision for the TBFF, and the importance of screening the films that are chosen each year.

“A little over thirteen years ago I came from Haiti as an actress to America thinking that I was going to conquer America, that I would be acting and basically for me, the sky was the limit.” Colas shared.

“I brought with me a VHS copy of one film that I had completed and had just won an award for; something that could be compared to the Haitian Titanic. As a popular actress in my country, I promised them that I would come to Canada and this film would be playing everywhere, however when I arrived, no festival would screen the film, it wasn’t accepted by anyone. I felt powerless and humiliated as though I didn’t deserve my voice to be heard, that I didn’t even deserve a platform to make that possible.” she explained her story, shedding light on the difficulty of making your voice heard when no one would hear it.

“In my frustration, I decided that Montreal could accommodate another film festival, they needed it. I recreated the Fabienne Colas Foundation dedicated to promoting education in the arts and started the Montreal Haitian Film Festival, which then expanded to the Montreal International Black Film Festival and has since accommodated films produced and directed by many big names from the Black communities across the globe.” For years Colas has worked tirelessly and passionately to support and promote independent cinema around the globe, keeping her roots intact she wants to offer a platform where people from her community feel their voices can be heard, and their powerful films can be viewed by the masses.

“At our festivals, we don’t care about the director’s skin color, we only care about the content being displayed on the screen.” Colas explains as an encounter with Caucasian director Sandra Whiteley five years ago is what sparked the idea of bringing her film festival to Toronto. “She listed out all of the reasons why our film festival was needed in Toronto, and although I was skeptical at first that conversation is what started this movement in Toronto because that woman gave me the push I needed to bring this project here.” Fabienne is a charismatic leader with an unwavering persistence and perseverance who makes things happen. Once she gets started, nothing can stop her, and she is very thankful to her staff working behind the scenes who are as equally dedicated to her cause a true reflection of the diversity of the festival.

For their opening night the TBFF was proud to introduce special guest speaker notable Hollywood actor Isaiah Washington, best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, and currently starring as Chancellor Thelonious Jaha on the CW’s hit series, The 100. In addition to his acting, he is a NAACP Image and SAG award-winner, producer and activist who is successfully carving a definitive niche for himself as a formidable talent.

“Diversity, as defined by Webster, is the condition of having or being composed of different elements; variety especially the inclusion of different types of people and people of different races cultures in groups.” Washington shared. “My thirty-year career has been for you and I thank you, and I love you as an Afro-American. I stand here before you as a black man, but I am just a man and I am proud to be the ambassador for this year’s festival.”

The main event for the night was the Canadian Premier of a film helmed by Emmy-award winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson, called ‘TELL THEM WE ARE RISING: THE STORY OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.’ it was an unapologetic re-telling of the history of black education in the United States showcasing the brutality of ignorance, how slave owners prevented their slaves from becoming educated, and how knowledge became an opportunity for blacks in America to overcome the oppression of slave owners. The film follows the history of slaves, and their pursuit of education in America, taking matters into their own hands to escape the bonds of slavery. If you were educated you could not be enslaved; slave owners felt that because the slaves were their ‘property’ they were permitted to treat them however they pleased, with the exception of teaching them the basic fundamentals of how to read and write. The film follows the early days of black education in the south, filled with quotes by some of the most famous most educated names of the time. The film takes you on a journey of knowledge and empowerment, many unaware of the issues that had been faced during those times, or even the creation of all black colleges and universities to provide a safe haven or ‘paradise as many considered it for those who craved a proper education. They were tired of remaining as subordinates to their owners, and the laws against educating people of color had them erecting contraband schools where they could ‘catch lessons’. The timeline of events takes us through the rise of the black community in America up until present day where black youths heading into college and university enroll in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It was an eye-opening film followed by a skype call in Q&A by two of the producers on the film. Many expressed gratitude for providing the knowledge and research done for the film and praised the thought of inspiring even more young people who are the engine of change and possibility for the future. The PBS-backed documentary is an official selection of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Over the next few days patrons from all over the city visited the festival to enjoy 2017’s selection of visual excellence with special events that included panels at the TBFF Black Market to meet the filmmakers and making web series, a master class with Sudz Sutherland & Jennifer Holness and a tribute to Louis Gossett presented with the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award. Actor, Louis Gossett, Jr. is one of stage, film and television’s most recognized and lauded talents. With over three hundred titles to his credit, Gossett has earned some of the industry’s highest honors; including Emmy’s, Golden Globes, NAACP Image Awards, and an Academy Award for his portrayal of Sgt. Emil Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman, and now adds author, director, and humanitarian to his accomplishments.

The 2017 edition of TBFF included six International Premieres, eleven Canadian Premieres and one World Premiere. One of Canada’s premier festivals for black film showcases they screened forty films from twenty countries in its fifth edition, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Denmark, Tanzania, Germany, Namibia, Hungary, Grenada, Rwanda, Canada, U.S.A. and more.

The films presented at TBFF are a brilliant display and a testament to the creative talent, of the community as a whole with the stories we have to offer. Most importantly the TBFF allows filmmakers to flex their creativity and tell stories in engaging Hollywood inspired screenplays to promote cultural diversity and educate people so they cannot remain ignorant of the social issues many face around the world today. The TBFF will continue to keep the conversation going, always in hopes of inspiring more change.

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Community News

Record entries for JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

TOCaribNews

Winner of the 2023 staging of the JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition ,Joel Miller, (third from left), shares a moment with representatives of the Jamaica Cultural |Development Commission (JCDC), organizers of the event. From left are Shaun Drysdale – Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist, Andrew Brodber – Director, Arts Development and Training and Executive Director, Lenford Salmon.

BY RUSHANE FERRON

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has received an unprecedented number of submissions for this year’s FiWi Short Film Competition. Launched earlier this year, the competition drew an impressive 47 entries. Currently, 17 shortlisted films are available for public viewing on the JCDC’s YouTube channel, with winners set to be announced on October 24^th.

Executive Director of the JCDC, Mr. Lenford Salmon, expressed pride in the competition’s growing success, stating, “This record number of entries reflects how Jamaicans are embracing the programmes offered by the JCDC. While the Commission is well known for preserving and showcasing our culture, we also recognize the importance of using technology to engage, particularly with our youth. The FiWi Short Film Competition is a perfect example of how we can bring our culture to life in the digital age. The fact that it’s four years old and already experiencing this level of growth is a promising sign for the future.”

Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist at the JCDC, Mr. Shaun Drysdale, attributes this year’s spike in entries to the increasing interest in filmmaking, fueled by the proliferation of social media platforms that support storytelling through visuals.

“We are living in a digital age. Filmmaking is now in the hands of the average person on the street via his, or her cell phone. Add to that the inherent creativity of Jamaicans and you are left with a potent combination, which when given the correct environment, can reap tangible rewards. That is what we are experiencing at this time,” Mr. Drysdale said.

The JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition seeks to promote Jamaican culture through the production of films ranging from 3-5 minutes in duration. The films must be based on set criteria, and primarily centred around a Jamaican proverb.

This year’s proverbs are: “Sweet mout fly follow coffin go a hole”; “Puss nuh hab han, but him tek him foot wipe him face”; “Keep clear a ole house, les dem fall dung pon you”; “Rockstone a riber bottom nuh feel sun hot”; and “Finger tink, yuh cyan cut eh trow ‘wey”.

In addition to the proverbs, participants were also given two special themes around which to build the treatment of their films, based on concepts provided by two sponsors. These are: “SEAS IN FOCUS: Uniting for marine managed areas”- National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) and “Need a passport quick, Get it with just a click”- Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Mr. Drysdale further noted that this year’s shortlisted films represent a variety of the possible genres with eleven dramatic works, two animation films, one comedy, one documentary and two science fiction films. Three of the participants are from the youth category, which is for filmmakers between 12-18 years old and the remaining 14 from adult category.

In addition to viewing the short films online, the public will have an opportunity to view at a special screening to be held on National Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 21^st, 2024, as a feature of JCDC National Heritage Fest and Family Fun Day being held on the south lawn at Devon House in St Andrew.

The FiWi Short Film Competition was started by the JCDC in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition is the brainchild of the JCDC’s Drama and Theatre Arts Unit and encourages Jamaican amateur filmmakers to examine selected Jamaican proverbs and based on their interpretation create the treatment for a short film.

Community News

York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

Paul Junor

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which administers the Grade 3, 6 and 9 assessments across Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), recently released the 2024 results. For many schools across the province, EQAO results are a snapshot of how students are doing compared to their peers in other schools at the same grade level.

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has maintained a high level of consistency with respect to the outstanding performance of its students on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). In a media release on Wednesday, October 9^th, 2024, details were revealed about the positive achievements and exemplary accomplishments of its students.

EQAO results were released on September 26^th, 2024. The focus was, “Mathematics Achievement Remains an Area of Focus but Sees Gradual Growth Over Time with Some School Boards Showing Significant Increases; Literacy Achievement Remains High but Shows Some Decline.” The data was based on the 2023-2024 school year during which over 570,000 students wrote the EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels on the English and French-language school systems.

For students who wrote the Grade 3 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

71% met the provincial standard in reading compared to 73% in 2022-2023, and 73% in 2021-2022.
64% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 65% in 2022-2023 and 65% in 2021-2022.
61% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 60% in 2022-2023 and 59% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 6 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

82% met the provincial standard in reading, compared to 84% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.
80% met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 84% in 2022-2023, and 84% in 2021-2022.
50% met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 50% in 2022-2023 and 47 % in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 9 Assessment in Mathematics:

54% met the provincial standard, compared to 54% in 2022-2023 and 52% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):

85% of first-time eligible students were successful, compared to 85% in 2022-23 and 82% in 2021-2022.
52% of previously eligible students were successful in 2023-2024, compared to 63% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.

John De Faveri, Interim Director of Education of the YCDSB writes, “We are always looking for ways to provide a better school experience, but today is a time to celebrate our students and staff for their excellent academic achievement. I want to particularly highlight the incredible work that is being done in mathematics, which we see in these results. Mathematical literacy is such an important life skill and we are happy to share a love of numbers with our students.”

Results from the Grade 3, 6 and 9 EQAO Mathematics results show improvement in Mathematics compared to 2023. In addition, with respect to reading and writing results for Grade 6 there has been a consistent steady upward rise in the performance of students as 89% and 90% of students met or exceeded provincial standards when compared to the province’s average of 82% and 89%.

Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees for YCDSB states, “EQAO results are just one of the ways we see how York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement. As a Catholic learning community, we want to see every child succeed and EQAO results help us measure our progress toward that noble goal.”

Overall, the percentage of students who participated from YCDSB in Grade 3 and 6 EQAO were 97% and 98%, respectively. For Grade 9 Math assessment there were 93% of eligible students and 97% in the OSSLT.

Any parents or guardians interested in learning about the 2024 EQAO and OSSLT results and individual school results for their children can check the EQAO’s website: https://www.eqao.com/results/.

Community News

York Catholic District School Board plans open house for future high school students

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2024

Paul Junor

Credits: Pch.Vector

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is: planning, preparation, and organization that parents, guardians and caregivers must make in York Region as they prepare their children for high school. For those who chose to send them to a high school at the Catholic board, there are open houses planned to make this process easier to navigate.

In a press release on Thursday, October 10^th, 2024, details were revealed about these open houses. It notes, “The open houses will highlight key aspects of each school, including administration, programs, graduation requirements, uniforms, school structure, student opportunities and more. In addition, information about the registration process, including registration dates, deadlines and documents needed to enroll, will be discussed.

The media release mentioned the seven regional programs, and ten Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs. They include:

Advanced Placement

Programs with an extended and enriched curriculum allow students to earn credits or advanced standing at most universities.

English as a Second Language

(ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD)

English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development programs assist English language learners from diverse linguistic and education backgrounds in attaining English language proficiency.

French Immersion (FI)

Students who completed the Elementary French Immersion programs, or equivalent can continue with the immersion program to earn a French immersion certificate upon graduation.

High Performer Athlete (HPA)

An academic-based program for student-athletes participating in competitive-level athletics. Students benefit from a flexible timetable to help balance their academic and athletic commitments and earn high school credits for the work they put into their training.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

A rigorous and intellectually challenging pre-university course of study that allows students to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation, recognized in Canada and abroad.

Regional Arts (RAP)/Integrated Regional Arts Program(iRAP)

Students specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music, or vocal music- while obtaining their high school diploma. In the iRAP, students experience their learning through an integrated model where the curriculum is explored in relation to the interconnectedness of the individual, the community, and the world.

STREAM Program

Students explore real-world challenges and use the design thinking process to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills, guided by the traditional Catholic social teachings. This academic program uses an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and problem-based learning.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Students can obtain a diploma with a specialist in either: Arts and Culture; Aviation and Aerospace; Business; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Information and Communication Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services, Manufacturing; or Non-Profit. Every YCDSB school offers a SHSM program.

Parents or guardians who live in York Region and are interested in any programs can check: Website: www.ycdsb.ca