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Director’s Notes

Last Dance in Baghdad

Last Dance in Baghdad

History goes in cycles, and we need to learn from our past and build bridges that open dialogue. I am an Arab, even if I’m a Jew. Those two are not incompatible. I want people to see Baghdad Twist as a universal story, about a woman, a family, a community

Luben and Elena: The Love of Art and the Art of Love

Luben and Elena: The Love of Art and the Art of Love

By the time I decided to make this documentary, I had known Luben and Elena for 20 years, and I’d witnessed their growth as artists and human beings.

Standing on the Line: For LGBTQ2+ Athletes Who Still Suffer in Silence

Standing on the Line: For LGBTQ2+ Athletes Who Still Suffer in Silence

Today, I’m thinking fondly of all the other LGBT athletes and their friends and loved ones who have suffered, and continue to suffer, in silence.

The Apollo of Gaza: The Discovery and Disappearance of a National Treasure

The Apollo of Gaza: The Discovery and Disappearance of a National Treasure

The Apollo of Gaza is partly a chronicle of these claims and local and international political rivalries. But it’s also a reflection on the passage of time and the cyclical nature of history.

John Ware Reclaimed: A Conversation With Cheryl Foggo And Miranda Martini

John Ware Reclaimed: A Conversation With Cheryl Foggo And Miranda Martini

Read this conversation between the filmmaker and musician and songwriter Miranda Martini, whose music is featured in the documentary (and who also happens to be Cheryl’s daughter).

Borealis: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Borealis: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Canadians can be proud of the fact that our boreal is arguably the most important forest in the world. Though it is heavily logged and dotted with mines, it is still less disturbed than any other forest, and home to countless wild animals.

As the Crow Flies: Five Years Later

As the Crow Flies: Five Years Later

"Twenty-one years ago, I received a scholarship through the Royal Canadian Air Cadets to earn my private pilot licence. Fifteen years later, I made a documentary called As the Crow Flies, which follows a group of inspiring young cadets going through the same program I did."

Far From Bashar: The New Life Of The Al-Mahamids

Far From Bashar: The New Life Of The Al-Mahamids

Far from Bashar won’t change the course of the war in Syria. It may, however, succeed in making some of us a little more open to those affected by it.

What Is Democracy?: A Question More Relevant Than Ever

What Is Democracy?: A Question More Relevant Than Ever

When I first started planning What Is Democracy? in earnest in 2014, I didn’t quite realize just how relevant the project would eventually be.

Tales of Ordinary Fatphobia: Raising Awareness To Expose And Deconstruct The Stigma

Tales of Ordinary Fatphobia: Raising Awareness To Expose And Deconstruct The Stigma

When I sent in my film proposal for the 10th Tremplin Competition in 2018, I had no idea that I’d be embarking on such an adventure.

An Archive of the Mind: Saving Afghanistan’s Film Legacy

An Archive of the Mind: Saving Afghanistan’s Film Legacy

I made The Forbidden Reel because I believe film preservation begins with viewers. It begins with anyone who has seen an Afghan film—or a clip from one—and wants to keep them alive for the next generation.

The Tournament: The Power of Community

The Tournament: The Power of Community

There were a few ideas about the filming of The Tournament that I thought were essential to show the aspects of para sport that I wanted the audience to see. First, we decided not to film the adults; the film is about the kids.