H.E.N.R.I. Debut's at The Toronto Black Film Festival

Guyanese-born Canadian film maker, Ryan Singh makes its’ world premiere at the Toronto Black Film Festival, February 10-21, 2021.  H.E.N.R.I. is a science fiction film from the award-winning film maker, and member of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color).

Singh made H.E.N.R.I. a family affair by including his six-year-old twins Ava (Tall Boyz, Handmaid’s Tale) and Sebastian (Suits, Handmaid’s Tale, Silent) who helped write the film while they appeared with their father.  The filmmaker says “empowering my children to have a voice was a blessing.”

H.E.N.R.I. comes on the heels of Singh’s 2020 award-winning documentary “Memento,” a South African Art-venture.  Like for many of his fellow filmmakers, 2021 brings a heightened awareness of our changing times and the urgency of empower the voices of all persons of color to take ownership of their stories.

Singh takes the responsibility of this journey seriously.  100% of the cast was BIPOC and more than 80% of the crew was BIPOC or women including DGC director Katarzyna Kochany and producer / actor Andrea Grant (Get Rich or Die Tryin’, The Listener).  The entire VFX crew is BIPOC, including VFX artists Adrian Bobb, Colin Walcott, Cait Salmon, as well as Akash Singh and his team at Akash Productions.

The idea for H.E.N.R.I. was formed from Singh’s observation of his children’s reactions and relationship with Google Home and Alexa.  The short film follows 7-year-old Simon after the tragic loss of his father.  A grieving Simon looks for answers from his artificial intelligence communicator while his mother and sister try to adjust to their new reality.

Singh’s upcoming projects include feature films and a slate of television projects, including a children’s program developed through the BIPOC KIDS TV WRITING BOOTCAMP.

Follow Ryan on Instagram @twinpapa321

Toronto Black Film Festival Wants You!

The 2^nd annual Toronto Black Film Festival has launched, and some of the best directors will showcase their works of art in Toronto from February 11^th to 16^th, 2014. 

Fabienne Colas (left)

Founded by Fabienne Colas and Emile Castonguay, the aim of TBFF is to give unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of looking at the world.  This years’ line up of film does just that.  Blue Caprice, directed by Alexandre Moors is the story of an abandoned boy who is lured in to the shadow of a dangerous father figure.  This movie was inspired by the ‘DC sniper attacks.’   

The Suspect, directed by Stuart Connelly is a riveting 98 minute film that examines a close-knit all white southern town that suffers its first ever armed bank robbery.  The thief is masked but surveillance video seems to indicate the criminal is an African American … do we know for sure that it’s an African American behind the crime? 

For the second year, Global Toronto is the media sponsor for this years’ fest which has held to increase the fests visibility.  Sister festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival is now in its 10^th year, and is too lending great support to its infant sibling Toronto.   

In addition to the 33 films (narrative, documentary, short), this years festival is dedicated to the memory of World figure and South African leader, Nelson Mandela.  The festival also notes additional milestones such as Black History Month, 210 years of Independence for Haiti, 20 years since the Rwandan genocide, and 5 years since President Barack Obama became the first black President of the United States. 

Special guests include Stedman Graham who will give a lecture on the 9 step plan for success (February 13^th, 2014 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox – 350 King Street West), and Lorraine Klaasen who is a world renowned vocalist and will perform a celebrate South Africa concert on February 15^th at the Al Green Theatre (750 Spadina Avenue). 

A one of a kind round table discussion will be held with Robert Hillary King (member of Angola 3), who was falsely imprisoned for 32 years, 29 of which was spent in solitary confinement.  Mr.
King will speak on his imprisonment, as well as that of 2 others. 

The tribute to Mandela takes place on February 16^th, 2014 at the Carlton Cinema (20 Carlton Street) and includes Banished, King of Hearts, Mandela, a Royal Revolutionary and Release Mandela.  The evening will also include a discussion with the women behind Mandela including his daughters. 

Expertly curated, the festival is planned so that lovers of film can see all films; there is enough time to move from venue to venue and not miss a beat! 

For more information about the 2^nd annual Toronto Black Film Festival visit www.TorontoBlackFilm.com or connect on Twitter >>> @TOBlackFilmFest