Roots

MAY 8

Led by Isorine Marc

Screening: "At Heart, Citizens of The Esplanade"

For this beautiful evening, diving into the roots of our community through the lens of local residents. "At Heart, Citizens of The Esplanade" was created in 2018, and involved in its creation process more than 150 Esplanadians of all ages (people who live, work, study and play in The Esplanade neighbourhood – downtown Toronto). Together, they embarked, with a team of artists, on a co-creative process to produce this moving participatory community-engaged docu-film. "At Heart, Citizens of The Esplanade" shines a light on our neighbourhood, the St Lawrence, and invites people to reflect on the values that drive community development and city planning. Join us for a screening followed by a discussion with Jamii's Alchemist, Isorine Marc.

Docu-film duration: 28min

Docu-film awards: Best Editing, short documentary film category - Five Continents International Film Festival (Venezuela) - 2019. Best Cinematography, short documentary film category - Five Continents International Film Festival (Venezuela) - 2019. Award of Merit - IndieFest Film Awards (USA)2019 OFFICIAL SELECTION. Alternative Film Festival (Canada)Docs Without Borders Film Festival (USA). Five Continents International Film Festival (Venezuela). IndieFEST Film Awards (USA). Diversity Feedback Film Festival (Canada). Canadian Diversity Film Festival (Canada).

Docu-film duration: 28min

Docu-film awards: Best Editing, short documentary film category - Five Continents International Film Festival (Venezuela) - 2019. Best Cinematography, short documentary film category - Five Continents International Film Festival (Venezuela) - 2019. Award of Merit - IndieFest Film Awards (USA)2019 OFFICIAL SELECTION. Alternative Film Festival (Canada)Docs Without Borders Film Festival (USA). Five Continents International Film Festival (Venezuela). IndieFEST Film Awards (USA). Diversity Feedback Film Festival (Canada). Canadian Diversity Film Festival (Canada).

MAY 15

Led by Michael Mortley

Dance performance: "No return"

On May 15th, we have a very special "Wednesday Watching" evening together! Stepping away from the traditional screening night, this Wednesday, we have a dance performance and discussion! Jamii is excited to present "No Return", a performance created and performed by dance artist Michael Mortley, incorporating elements of spoken word and poetry.

"No Return" is an interpretation of return: a return to self, a return to the place our body called home, and not just where the heart is. A place that holds no judgment for who you are and what you chose to be. No Return... no way back, just forward, through all adversity forward.

The piece was first premiered at Dusk Dances in 2022, and we are excited to bring it to the Jamii community! Come ready to sit back, watch, and enjoy an artist talk after the performance.

MAY 22

Led by Cailleah Scott-Grimes

Dance performance: "Between Us" (2020, 17 min, Japanese with English subtitles)

Join us this Wednesday to watch "Between Us", a 17-minute film written and directed by Cailleah Scott-Grimes in 2020. Screened in Japanese with English subtitles, the film is an intimate portrait of a queer-trans couple in rural Japan, who must grapple with their divergent notions of belonging. The story is inspired by Cailleah's experiences of living in the region where the film takes place. This piece is an invitation to engage with ways of being that cannot simply be placed on either side of a divide. Cailleah will lead an introduction and post-screening discussion.