The Next 150: Documentary Futurism

Hamilton Artists Inc. is pleased to partner with Cinema Politica for a special screening of The Next 150: Documentary Futurism.

Artist Biographies

Born in Montreal to Haitian parents, Mylène Augustin has always had a strong interest in oral storytelling, a traditional form of expression that is deeply rooted in all Caribbean and African cultures. Fluent in four languages, she also has a passion for linguistic studies. In 2001, Mylène graduated from Concordia University in Spanish Literature and Society and has completed a postgraduate degree in Marketing at McGill University in 2005. After working for several years as a French copywriter and Web content editor, she enrolled in a ten-month intensive program in interactive media at the Institut National de l’Image et du Son (INIS) in 2013.

Born in Saudi Arabia to Eritrean parents, Feven Ghebremariam immigrated to Montreal in 1988. Her interest in media and the arts led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies at the University of Windsor. She gained first-hand film experience in a documentary class where she co-directed Dry Your Eyes Rwanda, a film focusing on the resilience of Rwandan genocide survivors living in the small city of Windsor, Ontario. This memorable experience inspires Feven until this day to provide a platform for immigrant voices.

Brishkay Ahmed studied film at New York University, then furthered her education through the Iranian Young Cinema Society. She is an Afghan-Canadian filmmaker committed to sharing women's stories with global audiences. Brishkay is the writer and co-director of Afghanistan’s popular primetime drama series Between You and Me (Tolo TV, 2011/2013). Throughout her career, Brishkay's projects have been supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Film Commission, Bravo TV, CMF, CBC Radio, NFB, and BC Arts Council. Brishkay is currently developing her play, Burqa Boutique, with the Virago Play Series in Vancouver.

Andrew Chiu is a filmmaker who was shortlisted for the 2016 Sundance Asian Fellowship. He is alumni of the Talent Labs at the Reykjavik International Film Festival and Montreal International Documentary Festival. Nominated by Shots for Best Charity Campaign for his work for the Canadian Red Cross, his short film "Romantic Rouse" received the Audience Award for Best Short Comedy at the 25th Woods Hole Film Festival.

Jeremy Sandor is a visual artist and set designer and crafter based in Montréal, Quebec. Since graduating from Concordia University with a BFA, Jeremy has been working largely in set design and artistic direction for film, television and web-based motion picture. Along with Couleur du Moment, he is currently developing a painting series on click-bait and representation in online advertising. Couleur du Moment will be Jeremy’s first short film.

Mariam Zaidi is a South Asian documentary filmmaker based in Toronto who's work focuses on stories of migration, belonging, settlement, and transnational relationships. Zaidi's work has been funded and supported by the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Arts Council, and BravoFACT! Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent. Zaidi's most recent film, Over Time, was selected for the DGC & WIFT Best Film Award at the 21st Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival. Alongside her independent film work, Mariam holds the position of Associate Programmer for Canadian films at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

Taina Da Silva is a 23-year old filmmaker from the First Nation of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows). She is one of the founders of the Grassy Narrows Youth Organization which focuses on the environmental injustice, and systemic racism in the Treaty 3 area.

Becca Redden is a filmmaker/photographer, who works on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe and Haudenosaunee peoples, in Kitchener-Waterloo. She is a settler, queer white lady who specialized in youth-based empowerment workshops and media. She’s almost done two feature documentaries about average young people changing the world. Her short film ‘Crowned?” won the People's Choice award at the 2015 Rainbow Reels Queerand Trans Film Festival.

Thirza Jean Cuthand was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in Saskatoon. Since 1995 she has been making short experimental narrative videos and films about sexuality, madness, youth, love, and race, which have screened in festivals internationally, including the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, Mix Brasil Festival of Sexual Diversity in Sao Paolo, Hot Docs in Toronto, ImagineNATIVE in Toronto, Frameline in San Francisco, Outfest in Los Angeles, and Oberhausen International Short Film Festival in Germany where her short Helpless Maiden Makes an ‘I” Statement won honourable mention. Her work has also screened at galleries including the Mendel in Saskatoon, The National Gallery in Ottawa, and Urban Shaman in Winnipeg. She completed her BFA majoring in Film and Video at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and her Masters of Arts in Media Production at Ryerson University. She has also written three feature screenplays and sometimes does performance art. She is of Plains Cree and Scots descent, a member of Little Pine First Nation, and currently resides in Toronto.

Hamilton Artists Inc. would like to thank Cinema Politica for sharing this collection of short films with audiences in Hamilton and the surrounding area. For more information about Cinema Politica, please visit: www.cinemapolitica.org

The Inc.'s Outdoor Screening Series is made possible through project support by the  Canada Council for the Arts, Incite Foundation and Mohawk College