Hilary McDonald, Cinematoba - Episode 112

Today’s guest is the 5th and final episode highlighting filmmakers from the Cinematoba program, in partnership with the National Screen Institute.

Alice Teufack is the filmmaker behind the film Grand Frère about André Doumbé, a Cameroonian refugee and Franco-Manitoban.

Alice and I talk about André’s life and legacy, her decision to completely change careers from the world of finance to the world of filmmaking, and the experience creating her first documentary film for Cinematoba.

Today’s guest is Hilary McDonald, an archeologist and photographer by trade, and she’s the 4th filmmaker in our series of conversations with Cinematoba filmmakers, whose film We Haven’t Yet Said Thanks is available now, at www.wpgfdn.com/

Hilary and I talk about her film that she shot in her hometown of Flin Flon. We talk about the mining industry and how that culture permeated the town, the arts scene up there, and how her film combined the themes of generosity, change, industry, globalization, with respect and gratitude for the land.

Today’s guest is Jessica Landry, screenwriter, director, and filmmaker who wrote and directed the Cinematoba film Testament, which debuted at the Cinematoba Film Festival back in September.

Jessica and I talk about her powerful film Testament, her creative process, generosity, generational trauma, religion, guilt, mentorship, and so much more.

Today’s guest is Faustina Dalmacio, who is one of five filmmakers selected for the first ever Cinematoba Film Fest, a partnership between The Winnipeg Foundation and The National Screen Institute.

Faustina’s film is called After School, and it’s about two young sisters who have an after-school adventure, and how their community helps them when they lose their way.

We talk about her experience growing up in a Filipino immigrant family, her approach to Cinematoba as a first-time-filmmaker, and how she conveys the themes of family, generosity, and community in her film.

In this episode, filmmaker Carolyn Gray talks about her Cinematoba film, Escape!, which is based on a true story, exploring the unique bond between an unlikely duo, Dean, a cancer survivor and magician, and Phil, a child struggling with his own illness. Together, their bond creates real magic. 

We also talk about her process, her origins, why she chose Dean to make a short film about, and how his story profoundly affected her artistic career.

In this episode, we meet Ama, a remarkable 16-year-old pursuing a health-sciences degree. Originally from Ghana, Ama shares her journey to Canada, highlighting the challenges she faced growing up, and her desire to make a difference in healthcare. Ama's childhood experiences with frequent illnesses and hospital stays served as a driving force behind her aspiration to become a doctor, particularly one who could help children in need.

In this episode, we speak with Tarun, a young videographer and content creator, pursuing his passion for videography and photography. Tarun started experimenting with engineering projects and eventually found his interest in electronic and tech-related fields through his involvement in CanU. 

https://canucanada.org/storiesgala/

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of a young athlete, Guneet, who has demonstrated remarkable leadership and determination in her pursuit of success in lacrosse. The conversation begins with Guneet sharing her childhood experiences and how her love for sports, particularly lacrosse, was sparked at a young age. She discusses her initial struggles in the sport, her decision to try out for Team Manitoba, and the motivation she drew from the Canada Summer Games.

In this episode, we follow Abigail's inspiring journey from Nigeria to Canada at the age of 11. Abigail candidly shares her challenges and adjustments to a new country, school, and culture, highlighting how these experiences shaped her resilience and determination. She emphasizes the importance of saying "yes" to new opportunities, leading to her exploration of various afterschool programs and STEM-related activities.

To hear more stories like Abigael's, join us for the CanU Stories Gala: http://www.canucanada.org/StoriesGala

 Salena Starling's journey is an inspiring example of resilience, leadership, and the power of using one's story to drive positive change. She is determined to continue making a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth in foster care and to raise awareness about critical issues facing Indigenous communities in Canada.

To hear more stories like Salena’s, join us for the CanU Stories Gala: http://www.canucanada.org/StoriesGala