Selwyn Jacob facts for kids

Selwyn Jacob is a Canadian filmmaker. He makes documentaries, which are real-life films. His movies often show the experiences of Black Canadians. He also tells stories from Canada's many different cultures. He has worked as an independent director. Since 1997, he has been a producer for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).

Selwyn Jacob's Early Life and Education

Selwyn Jacob was born in Trinidad, an island in the West Indies, in 1941. He first went to a college for teachers in Trinidad. In 1968, he moved to Canada. He studied at the University of Alberta in Edmonton to get a degree in education. In Edmonton, a film producer named Fil Fraser helped him learn about filmmaking. After finishing his first degree, Jacob earned a master's degree in film studies. He studied at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Selwyn Jacob: A Director's Journey

While teaching in Lac La Biche, Alberta, in the late 1970s, Jacob got an idea for his first film. He wanted to make a documentary about Black immigrants from Oklahoma. These immigrants had settled in Amber Valley, Alberta. After several years of research, his film We Remember Amber Valley was finished in 1984. Jacob said he was the only Afro-Canadian film director in Alberta at that time.

Notable Films Directed by Selwyn Jacob

Jacob directed several other films after his first one. These include The Saint from North Battleford (1989), which was about Rueben Mayes. He also directed Carol's Mirror (1991), an educational film about racism and equality. Al Tasmim was a film about Canada's oldest mosque. One of his most famous films is The Road Taken (1996). This documentary tells the story of Black railway porters. It won the Canada Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

Selwyn Jacob: A Producer's Role

Jacob continued to be interested in telling stories about Black Canadians. He became a producer at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). As a producer, he also helped make many films by Asian Canadian filmmakers. These films explored the cultures and histories of their communities in western Canada.

Films Produced by Selwyn Jacob

Some of the films Jacob produced for the NFB include:

• The Journey of Lesra Martin: This film is about Lesra Martin, a Canadian youth. He helped free Rubin "Hurricane" Carter from prison.
• Jeni LeGon: Living in a Great Big Way (1999): This film is about Jeni Le Gon. She lived in Vancouver and was one of the first Black women entertainers. She signed a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio.
• John McCrae's War: In Flanders Fields (1998): This film looks at Canadian army doctor John McCrae. He wrote the famous poem, "In Flanders Fields".
• Letters from Home (2001) by Colleen Leung.
• Obāchan's Garden (2001) by Linda Ohama.
• From Harling Point (2003) by Ling Chiu: This film is about the first Chinese cemetery in Canada.
• A Tribe of One (2003) by Eunhee Cha.
• Mighty Jerome (2010): This documentary is about African-Canadian track star Harry Jerome. It was directed by Charles Officer.

Ninth Floor: A Significant Project

In 2014, Jacob produced Ninth Floor. This film was directed by Mina Shum. It tells the story of a student protest against racism in Montreal in 1969. This event is known as the Sir George Williams Affair. The film was shot in Montreal on the 45th anniversary of the event. Jacob knew about this event when it happened. Many people involved were from Trinidad, including someone from his home village. Jacob always wanted to make a film about this important incident.