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.
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
Secret Calgary: Kicking Up A Fuss: The Charles Daniels Story
Directed by Cheryl Foggo. Telus Original (February 4, 2020)
Secret Alberta: The Former Life of Amber Valley
Directed by Neil Grahn. Telus Original (February 2017)
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.
Black Cop
Directed by Cory Bowles. Production Co.: Black Op Films. (Canada, September 11, 2017), 91 minutes.
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.
The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes
(Canada, 2015)
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
The Drop In
Directed by Naledi Jackson. Production Co: Foundry Films. (Canada: September 11, 2017), 13 minutes. English.
Dresden Story
Directed by Julian Biggs. Producers Julian Biggs, Gordon Burwash, Grant McLean (Canada, 1954), 29 minutes.
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
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.
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.
Making It
Directed by Sobaz Benjamin. National Film Board of Canada (Canada, 2006), 10 minutes
Les Manèges humains” (Fair Sex)
Directed by Martin Laroche. Production Co.: Productions Sisyphe (Canada: June 30, 2012). 98 minutes. French.
Mr. Jane and Finch
Directed by Ngardy Conteh George. Production Co: Oya Media Group (Canada Broadcasting Corporation, February 17, 2019). 44 minutes. English.
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.
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.
Scratch
Scratch
Directed by Sébastien Godron. Produced by Christine Falco. Production Co: Camera Oscura. (Canada, July 30, 2015), 94 minutes.
Secret Calgary: Kicking Up A Fuss
Directed by Cheryl Foggo. Telus Original (February 4, 2020)
Secret Alberta: The Former Life of Amber Valley
Directed by Neil Grahn. Telus Original (February 2017)
Shiloh Church: Saskatchewan's Only Black Settlement
Chris Attrell, 2017
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
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
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
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
Where I Belong
Directed by Arinze Eze. Producer Joe MacDonald (Canada, 2007), 45 minutes