Kaayla Whachell

The Chef & The Daruma

Visionary chef Hidekazu Tojo grapples with his life's struggle to make himself and his culinary creations palatable to a Western audience. He embarks on a journey of identity intertwined with the mythical presence of Daruma, a legendary monk from Japanese folklore - shaping a narrative that transcends borders, realities, and flavours.

Delta Dawn

This documentary follows Dawn Murphy, or “Princess Delta Dawn”, who rose to fame in the 1980s and early 1990s and became the first Indigenous woman wrestler and the first Canadian woman wrestler to compete in Japan.

The Sorrow

A retired army general and his live-in nurse find they are not alone in a house filled with dark secrets.

I'm Just Here for the Riot

On June 15, 2011, the Canucks’ Game 7 Stanley Cup Finals loss to the Boston Bruins sparked a massive riot in downtown Vancouver. Police cars were overturned and burned, windows were shattered, stores were looted, and waves of young people were caught up in the mayhem. From directors Asia Youngman and Kathleen Jayme, “I’m Just Here For The Riot” chronicles the aftermath of the event captured on hundreds of cell phone cameras, with the rioters outed, shamed, and their lives altered forever. From the mob mentality in the streets to similar vengeance in the online hunting of those responsible, it was a dark moment in the city’s history – one that raised deeper questions about fandom, violence, and the shocking power of an angry crowd.

Unarchived

In community archives across British Columbia, local knowledge keepers are hand-fashioning a more inclusive history. Through a collage of personal interviews, archival footage and deeply rooted memories, the past, present and future come together, fighting for a space where everyone is seen and everyone belongs. History is what we all make of it.

Portraits from a Fire

An Indigenous teenage boy fights through distorting realities as a family secret unravels.

Laura

A young half-Indigenous woman consults with her lawyer about how to present her case. The experience leaves her questioning her identity and her place in society.

The Tailor

A gender non-conforming person struggling to assert their identity unexpectedly finds courage in an aging master tailor.

Another Word for Learning

How do you reconcile the expectations of the education system, personal aspirations and the student’s culture and heritage? These fundamental questions are central to Aisha’s inspiring story. The extraverted, creative Kwakwaka’wakw girl doesn’t hesitate to question the institutional capacity to consider her ambitions. With the support of her mother, Gunargie, who was sent to residential school, Aisha wants to leave public school, which is poorly adapted to her temperament and cultural preoccupations. Revealing a sharp observational sense and driven by an energetic protagonist, Another Word for Learning asks probing questions about the foundations of education in Canada, while painting a touching portrait of an inspiring mother-daughter relationship.

Our Home

A Latin American family in Canada is celebrating the birthday of their youngest child, until they get rudely interrupted by two immigration officers.

Morning Show Mysteries: Mortal Mishaps

Billie Blessings has gone from beloved chef, restaurant owner, and morning show segment host to the prime suspect in a murder case when one of the executives at the network dies from poisoning.

From Straight A's to XXX

When a change of circumstances leaves Miriam unable to pay her college tuition, she makes a surprising decision: to start performing in adult films, using the pseudonym Belle Knox. Miriam lies to her family and her friends at school, keeping her double life a secret. But soon rumours spread and Miriam becomes the subject of vicious online attacks and unwanted attention. Miriam fights back: she talks to the media, saying her new line of work empowers her as a feminist. But her confident stand has unintended consequences. Miriam is shunned by her conservative family and her colleagues in the adult film world. One impulsive decision has quickly spiralled out of control - and Miriam's problems are just beginning.