Films about the Black Experience in Canada

This section includes a selection of film resources on the historical and contemporary Black experience across Canada. You will find that most of the films are open access. We will update this site as new materials become available.

Curated by Malinda S. Smith, PhD, Vice Provost, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of Calgary.


Black Experience Across Alberta

John Ware Reclaimed

John Ware Reclaimed

Directed by Cheryl Foggo. National Film Board of Canada. (Canada, 2020), 71 minutes. 

Learn more

 

Twenty Days in Brooks

Directed by Dana Inkster. (Canada, 2007), 42 minutes. 

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

We Are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experiences of Discrimination on the Canadian Prairies 

Produced and directed by Dr. Jenna Bailey, in collaboration with Dr. David Este and Deborah Dobbins. Bailey and Soda Films, 67 minutes

Watch on Vimeo

 

Secret Calgary: Kicking Up A Fuss: The Charles Daniels Story

Directed by Cheryl Foggo. Telus Original (February 4, 2020)

Watch on YouTube

 

Secret Alberta: The Former Life of Amber Valley

Directed by Neil Grahn. Telus Original (February 2017) 

Watch on YouTube

From the film - a still of civil rights protesters

Secret Calgary: Kicking Up A Fuss: The Charles Daniels Story


Black Experience Across Canada

Across the Line 

Directed by Director X. Produced by Freddie Films, Circle Blue Media, DHX Media. (Canada, September 19, 2015). 97 minutes. 

Learn more

 

Black Cop

Directed by Cory Bowles. Production Co.: Black Op Films. (Canada, September 11, 2017), 91 minutes.

Watch on CBC

Across the Line - Film poster

Black Mother, Black Daughter

Directed by Sylvia Hamilton and Claire Prieto. Producer Shelagh Mackenzie. National Film Board of Canada (Canada, 1989), 29 minutes

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Black Soul

Directed by Martine Chartrand. Production Co.: National Film Board of Canada. (Canada, June 6, 2002). English/French.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

Black Soul movie poster
Black Mother, Black Daughter

The Book of Negroes

The Book of Negroes

(Canada, 2015)

Watch on CBC Gem

 

The Colour of Beauty 

Directed by Elizabeth St. Philip (Canada, 2010), 17 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Cross Roads 

Directed by Don Haldane. Producer Julian Biggs (Canada: 1957), 28 minutes

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

The Drop In

Directed by Naledi Jackson. Production Co: Foundry Films. (Canada: September 11, 2017), 13 minutes. English.

Watch on Vimeo

 

Dresden Story

Directed by Julian Biggs. Producers Julian Biggs, Gordon Burwash, Grant McLean (Canada, 1954), 29 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

The Drop In

Encounter at Kwacha House – Halifax

By Rex Tasker. National Film Board of Canada. (Canada, 1967), 17 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Everybody’s Children

Directed by Monika Delmos, National Film Board of Canada (Canada: 2008), 51 minutes 

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

From Sherbrooke to Brooks - Inside a Migration Corridor 

Directed by Roger Parent (Canada, 2016), 67 minutes

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community

Directed by Jennifer Hodge & Roger McTair. National Film Board of Canada (Canada: 1983), 57 minutes

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

John Ware Reclaimed 

Directed by Cheryl Foggo. National Film Board of Canada. (Canada, 2020), 71 minutes.

Learn more 

From Sherbrooke to Brooks - Inside a Migration Corridor

From Sherbrooke to Brooks - Inside a Migration Corridor

Long Road to Justice - The Viola Desmond Story

Long Road to Justice - The Viola Desmond Story

Canada, 2017. 45 minutes.

Watch on YouTube

 

Making It

Directed by Sobaz Benjamin. National Film Board of Canada (Canada, 2006), 10 minutes

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

Les Manèges humains” (Fair Sex)

Directed by Martin Laroche. Production Co.: Productions Sisyphe (Canada: June 30, 2012). 98 minutes. French.

Watch on Vimeo

 

Mr. Jane and Finch

Directed by Ngardy Conteh George. Production Co: Oya Media Group (Canada Broadcasting Corporation, February 17, 2019). 44 minutes. English.

Watch on CBC Gem

Mr. Jane and Finch

Ninth Floor

Ninth Floor

Directed by Mina Shum. Production Co. Produced by Selwyn Jacob. Production Co: National Film Board of Canada (Canada, September 10, 2015), 82 minutes. English.

Watch on YouTube

 

Older Stronger Wiser 

Directed by Claire Prieto. National Film Board of Canada. (Canada, 1989), 28 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

The Right Candidate for Rosedale

Directed by Bonnie Sherr Klein & Anne Henderson. (Canada: 1979), 32 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

The Road Taken 

Directed by Selwyn Jacob. Coproduced by Selwyn Jacobs and National Film Board of Canada (Canada: 1996), 52 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

Scratch

Scratch

Scratch

Directed by Sébastien Godron. Produced by Christine Falco. Production Co: Camera Oscura. (Canada, July 30, 2015), 94 minutes.

Available on Vimeo

 

Secret Calgary: Kicking Up A Fuss

Directed by Cheryl Foggo. Telus Original (February 4, 2020) 

Watch on YouTube

 

Secret Alberta: The Former Life of Amber Valley

Directed by Neil Grahn. Telus Original (February 2017) 

Watch on YouTube

 

 

Shiloh Church: Saskatchewan's Only Black Settlement

Chris Attrell, 2017

Watch on YouTube

Sisters in the Struggle

Directed by Dionne Brand & Ginny Stikeman. National Film Board. (Canada, 1991), 49 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia

Directed by Sylvia Hamilton. Produced by Mike Mahoney. National Film Board of Canada (Canada: 1992), 28 minutes. English.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Speakers for the Dead

Directed by Jennifer Holness and by David Sutherland, National Film Board of Canada.(Canada, 2000), 49 minutes 

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

speakers for the dead
Star

Star

directed by Emilie Mannering. Produced by Fanny Drew, Sarah Mannering, Genevivève Dulude-De Celles. Production Co: Colonelle Films. (Canada, 2015), 19 minutes. French. English subtitle 

Watch on Vimeo

 

Tales of Sand and Snow

Directed by Hyacinthe Combary. National Film Board of Canada. (Canada, 2004), 48 minutes.

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Too Colourful for the League

Directed by Daniel Cross and Mila Aung-Thwin. Produced by Evan Beloff, Ari Cohen and Max Wallace. (Canada: CBC Documentary, February 6, 2001). 52 minutes

Watch on YouTube

True North

True North: Inside the Rise of Toronto Basketball

Directed by Ryan Sidhoo & Ryan Sidhoo. Producer Shirley Vercruysse. (Canada, 2019), 90 minutes 

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

Twenty Days in Brooks

Directed Dana Inkster (Canada, 2007), 42 minutes.  

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site

 

We Are the Roots: Black Settlers and their Experiences of Discrimination on the Canadian Prairies

Produced and directed by Dr. Jenna Bailey, in collaboration with Dr. David Este and Deborah Dobbins. Bailey and Soda Films, 67 minutes 

Watch on Vimeo

 

Where I Belong

Directed by Arinze Eze. Producer Joe MacDonald (Canada, 2007), 45 minutes

Watch on the National Film Board of Canada site