Erik O'Neill, Amy Smoke & Bangishimo Johnston | Canada | 2021
26 min
SPOTLIGHT EVENT

On Indigenous peoples’ day a large tepee was erected with the intentions of asserting an Indigenous presence. Over 100 days later, the tepee remained standing, with the space around it transformed into a camp of queer, Two Spirit, trans, and/or non-binary youth practicing their Indigenous cultural heritages and demanding Land Back.

Sheona McDonald | Canada | 2021
19 min | CC Available
Co-presented by Hot Docs

When a child reveals who they truly are on the inside, how does a parent set aside their own expectations to help them become their most authentic self?

Leigh Joseph & Trevor Dixon Bennett | Canada | 2020
23 min
Co-presented by Hot Docs
SPOTLIGHT EVENT

Styawat/Leigh Joseph is a Sḵwxw̱ú7mesh Nation ethnobotanist who grew up away from her traditional territory of Squamish, B.C. Joseph navigates walking between academic and cultural worlds, as she contemplates her relationship with plants and their role as teachers.

Elizabeth Miller-Derstine | USA | 2021
20 min

The Disdress Dolls push the limits of art, vulnerability, and radical acceptance, as they dive into the societal rules around how women celebrate their bodies and use them to show love and power.

Shenny De Los Angeles & Maria Marrone | USA | 2020
14 min | Partial Subtitles

By conjuring the magic of water and the power of her ancestors, a daughter uses spoken word poetry as an incantation to break the generational curse that has blocked the women in her family from locating where joy lives inside the body.

Oliver Sutro | USA | 2020
12 min

James Sampsel, a plein air painter and fly-fishing guide, comes to terms with his past and a bi-polar diagnosis that hangs over his future.

Jeffrey Garriock | Canada | 2020
31 min | CC Available

In the Galapagos Islands, a group of scientists works to understand the movements of the world's largest fish - the whale shark.

Beth Warrian | Canada | 2021
5 min | Partial Subtitles
Co-presented by Hillside Festival

Shari Kasman’s quirky public art phenomenon of the same name offers a springboard for larger issues of public space, community identity, and the Toronto housing crisis.

Courtney Montour | Canada | 2021
34 min | Partial Subtitles | CC Available
In partnership with Weengushk International Film Festival

The powerful story of Mary Two-Axe Earley who fought for more than two decades to challenge discrimination against First Nations women embedded in Canada’s Indian Act.

Jamie Miller | Canada | 2020
19 min | CC Available

B’ys means buddies in Newfoundland. MerB’ys however, means men in sparkly mermaid tails trying to do something good in their community.

Julia Morgan | Canada | 2020
15 min | CC Available

The story of multi-sport champion Nora Young, and a barrier-braking 1936 bike race, giving a nearly forgotten athletic hero her rightful place in history.

Kaitlyn Schwalje & Alex Wolf Lewis | USA | 2020
13 min | CC Available

A four-inch-long pet turtle has lived an isolated life in the family basement. With help from a team of experts and his caretaker, Uncle Larry, can Snowy be happy?

Anne Lewis | USA ∙ 2019
12 min | Partial Subtitles | CC Available

A family doc that takes three girls through Emma’s history. Together they uncover memories of struggle, pride, and the power of labour and liberation.