Being Black in Halifax facts for kids

Being Black in Halifax is a special Canadian TV show and film series. It started in 2020 on CBC Television and CBC Gem. This series helps new filmmakers create short movies. These movies show what life is like for Black people in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

What is Being Black in Halifax?

Helping New Filmmakers

The show works with a group called the Fabienne Colas's Being Black in Canada foundation. Each year, they choose several new filmmakers. These filmmakers get to make short documentary films. These films are all about the lives and experiences of Black Canadians in Halifax.

The films are first shown at the Halifax Black Film Festival. After the festival, they are broadcast as part of the CBC's Absolutely Canadian series. You can also watch them online on CBC Gem.

A Sister Series

Being Black in Halifax is like a sister show to Being Black in Toronto. That series also works with the CBC and Fabienne Colas's Toronto Black Film Festival. Both shows aim to share important stories from Black communities in different Canadian cities.

Films from the Series

Stories from 2020

In 2020, four films were part of the first series:

• "Black + Belonging" by Francesca Ekwuyasi
• "Normal" by Bradley Bright
• "The Journey of Self Love" by Latesha Auger
• "Youth Hiphop and Halifax" by Harmony Adesola

Films from 2021

Four more films were shown in 2021:

• "Farrin" by Lily Nottage
• "The Search for Healing" by Tyler Simmonds
• "A Passion Made New" by Dena Williams
• "North Preston: The Untold Story" by Kardeisha Provo

New Films in 2022

Four new films were planned to premiere at the Halifax Black Film Festival in 2022:

• "Scratching the Surface" by Guyleigh Johnson
• "Framework" by Deborah Castrilli
• "Washed Up" by Tyus MacSween
• "Finding a Way Out" by Jodell Stundon

Awards and Recognition

At the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022, Being Black in Halifax was recognized for its great work. The series was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary Program. This is a big award for TV shows that tell real-life stories.

Also, four of the filmmakers from the 2021 series won an award. Lily Nottage, Tyler Simmonds, Dena Williams, and Kardeisha Provo won for Best Direction in a Documentary Series. This means their work in guiding and shaping their films was considered excellent.