Check out regional producers' latest picks of free locally produced indie docs on CBC Gem
Each month Absolutely Canadian regional producers from across the country make their picks of documentaries for you to watch. They release their April picks in time for National Film Day on April 16.
Absolutely Canadian is a national series showcasing documentaries that tell unique stories from communities across Canada.
All programs are produced locally and highlight the works of independent filmmakers in each region.
Here are five picks for this month, all from Season 24 of Absolutely Canadian. Go to CBC Gem and click on the Season 24 to see the complete season. They're free to watch!
The Camino
A Montrealer walks the physically and spiritually challenging Camino de Santiago trail in Spain for 40 days, a fraction of his decade-long quest to find his place in the world.
Directed by: Jordan Coppola
Be Taylor
A young queer woman from Windsor, Ontario aims to overcome her mental health struggles and regain her confidence by embarking on a journey of self-love, self-discovery, and stand-up comedy. Directed by: Gemma Eva
Voices of Freedom
Winnipeg composer Tetyana Haraschuk channels Ukrainian refugees' stories in the powerful new documentary, Voices of Freedom. On a quest to understand the war in her homeland, the Ukraine-born musician connects with refugees and transforms their misery into melody. Read More.
Directed by: Sam Karney
Space for a Scene
Space for a Scene highlights the connections in the Halifax music scene, regardless of genre. It features performances from Road to the Junos 2024. Read More.
Directed by: Jeff Miller
Block Dog
A glimpse into the lives of eight dogs brought together in BC's wilderness as the steadfast companions and fierce protectors of a young crew of intrepid tree planters.
Directed by: Everett Bumstead
Watch Free on CBC Gem Click on Season 24 to see the complete season.
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Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Toronto Star
Why penguins are the perfect gay icons and banana slugs deserve their close-up: what this wildlife researcher learned making a doc about queer animals
It all started with birds. Armed with binoculars and a notebook, wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell was always outside as a kid, watching and listening. 'That curiosity never really went away,' he says. 'Being out in nature, trying to understand what animals are doing and why, has always been one of my favourite things.' After working mostly in wildlife conservation, research and education, he recently moved into wildlife filmmaking. His newest project — done in collaboration with co-writer Erinn Drage, director Rio Mitchell, producer Carolyn Whittaker and cinematographer Ryan Wilkes, plus composer Kimmortal — is more fabulous than most. 'Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story' (now available via 'The Nature of Things' on CBC Gem) features Bradwell's quest to find and understand the queerer members of the animal kingdom, and delve into why this fierce phenomenon has gone underexplored for so long. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW What inspired this documentary? My interest in queer behaviour in animals started when I saw two male orcas exhibiting same-sex behaviour while I was working in the field. As a queer person, that moment really struck me. It was surprising, moving, and it opened up a lot of questions for me. That experience sparked a journey, one that led me to learn more about queerness in the natural world. It became really important to me to share these stories, because they show that queerness exists across species and that it's always been part of the natural world. How did seeing the gay orcas make you feel? There was physical interaction, bonding, even what looked like courtship. At first, I was fascinated from a scientific perspective. But as a queer person, I also felt something much deeper. It was powerful and unexpectedly emotional. It challenged the idea I had grown up with that queerness is unnatural or only something that exists in humans. Seeing that behaviour play out so clearly in the wild really stayed with me. What were some of the most fascinating findings you uncovered about gay animals? In species like bighorn sheep — pictured in Radium, B.C. — and raccoons, same-sex behaviour is a key part of how individuals bond, says Connel Bradwell. CBC Just how widespread same-sex behaviour is across the animal kingdom. It is not limited to a few species; it has been documented in over 1,500, from insects to mammals to birds. And it is not just about sex. There are long-term pair bonds, courtship rituals, co-parenting and deep emotional connections between same-sex partners. I was especially struck by the stories of animals forming lifelong same-sex partnerships, like some species of albatross, where two females will stay together for decades and raise chicks. Another surprising finding was how queerness shows up in social structures. In species like bighorn sheep and raccoons, same-sex behaviour is a key part of how individuals bond, form hierarchies and maintain group cohesion. What really stood out overall was that queerness in nature is not rare. It is not an exception or an anomaly. It is a natural and consistent part of life on Earth. Learning that was not only fascinating but also deeply affirming. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Any other intriguing facts that the documentary gets into that you're excited to become more common knowledge? One of the things I'm most excited for people to understand is that learning about queer behaviour in animals is not just a fun fact or side note. It is actually essential to species conservation. When we ignore or dismiss same-sex behaviour or other forms of queerness in the animal world, we miss out on a full understanding of how these species live, reproduce and survive. If research assumes that all animal pair bonds are heterosexual, or that reproduction is the only behaviour worth studying, we end up with an incomplete picture. That can limit conservation efforts, especially in breeding programs, population monitoring and habitat planning. Understanding the full range of social and sexual behaviours, including same-sex parenting or bonding, gives us a much more accurate and effective foundation for protecting species. Did you have any funny moments making this film that were especially zany? One of my favourite things about our documentary is that it's joyful and fun. There are a lot of funny moments, but one that really stands out involves banana slugs. We filmed with a world-renowned gastropod expert who walked us through their bizarre mating rituals, everything from eating each other's slime to slow, twisting contortions. But it's not just the behaviour that's interesting. The slugs themselves challenge a lot of our assumptions about binary sex and gender in nature. What made it hilarious was the setting. We were all crammed into this tiny tent in the middle of the B.C. rainforest, soaked and muddy, whispering and barely moving, just waiting to see if the slugs were into each other. It was surreal. And what's even better is that we filmed them in a way that has never really been done before, with mood lighting and real drama. We gave them the full love-story treatment. That's something I love about this film. It celebrates queerness and science, but it also doesn't take itself too seriously. Nature is weird and beautiful and sometimes very funny. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW As a queer person, what was the most meaningful moment of making this film for you? Wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell says making the documentary 'Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story' reminded him that queerness has always been part of the natural world. CBC A big moment for me was meeting and learning from some incredible queer scientists. These are people who have been doing important research for years, often in spaces where queerness hasn't always been welcomed or acknowledged. Hearing their stories and seeing the way their identities shape and enrich their scientific work was really inspiring. Why has news and knowledge of gay animals been suppressed for so long? Scientists have actually been documenting same-sex behaviour and diverse gender expressions in animals for many years, including species like penguins. Despite this, much of that knowledge has been overlooked or even suppressed because research has traditionally been filtered through a heteronormative perspective. In some cases, reports of same-sex behaviour were hidden or censored. Historically, it was considered taboo or even illegal to discuss homosexuality in animals, and those attitudes sometimes continue today. There are stories of scientific work being challenged, and books on the subject being removed from libraries or facing institutional resistance. This silencing has shaped how we understand the natural world. It has reinforced the mistaken belief that heterosexual relationships and fixed gender roles are the default in nature. Our documentary aims to change that by sharing these overlooked stories, showing that diversity in sexual and social behaviour is normal, widespread and has always been part of the natural world. Which gay animal in the film is the most powerful diva of all, in your opinion? Why should this creature be a queer icon for the rest of us? ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW If I had to pick the ultimate gay diva in the film, it would definitely be the penguins. Early studies called their same-sex behaviour depraved and hooligan-like, which was pretty harsh. But once you see them in action, you can't deny they have a wild side! Penguins are bold, fearless and full of personality. They break all the old stereotypes with their cheeky antics and strong bonds. They're not just cute, they also remind us that queer behaviour in animals is totally natural, vibrant and sometimes downright rebellious. That mix of charm and mischief makes penguins the perfect gay icons. They show us that being yourself means embracing all parts of who you are, even the wild and unexpected bits!
Montreal Gazette
05-06-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Brownstein: Montreal producer takes deep dive in documentary Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster
By The documentary begins intriguingly enough: 'Where do you want to go in the ocean? What is the most known site in the ocean? It's clearly the Titanic.' The speaker is well-heeled, maverick American inventor Stockton Rush, whose mission it was to take paying passengers 3,800 metres into the Atlantic Ocean in his mini-sub to scope the ruins of the Titanic luxury liner that sank on its maiden voyage in April 1912 after striking an iceberg 600 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland. More than 1,500 passengers died in that disaster. Five died, including Rush, when his submersible the Titan imploded on its way down to the Titanic wreck on June 18, 2023. The documentary Implosion: The Titanic Sub Disaster takes a deep and disturbing plunge into the apparent arrogance of Titan mastermind Rush, the co-founder and CEO of the OceanGate undersea exploration company. The doc, co-produced by Montreal GalaFilm boss Arnie Gelbart and directed and co-scripted by acclaimed British director Pamela Gordon, begins streaming Friday on CBC Gem. It will also be broadcast on CBC Television June 20. The production team has done a thorough job in bringing this tragedy into fuller focus, aided and abetted by insightful interviews, rare footage of the Titan's final voyage and other failed dives plus access to the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation. Experts interviewed had misgivings about the Titan's structure, particularly its carbon-fibre hull, even if Rush had pulled off some dives prior to its final descent. There were other ominous warning signs, like seeping water damage and cracking engine sounds. Mutters one skeptic: 'Everyone stepping on board the Titan was risking their life.' The feeling was that Rush was 'hell-bent' on taking the Titan to dangerous new lows under the ocean, someone seeking to 'democratize deep-sea exploration.' Rush was an engineer who initially dreamed of becoming an astronaut. But when it became apparent he was never going to make it to 'Jupiter or Mars,' he turned his sights in the opposite direction. He concluded that would require a 'special sub.' Rush had the money, vision and drive to do so. He was a patrician whose roots went way back, with two of his ancestors having signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence. History, as is often the case, repeats itself here. How's this for cruel irony? Rush's wife's great-great-grandparents, owners of the fabled Macy's department-store chain, perished on the Titanic. They were rumoured to have been the richest passengers aboard. Christine Dawood is understandably livid. Among the five who died aboard the imploded Titan were her billionaire British-Pakistani husband, Shahzada, 48, and son Suleman, 19. She blames 'ego and arrogance' for their deaths. Gelbart has long been consumed by the Titanic and Titan. He brings to the documentary a wealth of factoids about both as well as Rush's participation. 'Rush had done some 88 dives prior to his last, but not all successful ones,' Gelbart says in a phone interview. 'It went down successfully only six times.' Gelbart had been involved since 2017 when Rush had come up with a working model of the Titan, which he had initially tested in the Bahamas. Then ensued a lot of correspondence with Rush, who was to move to his company's home in Everett, Wash. before heading to his last base in St. John's. 'He was looking for publicity, and I first wanted to make an Imax film, The Return to Titanic. What he was building for us was a remote camera that would go inside the hold of the Titanic, full of cars and furniture and other stuff that no one had seen since 1912.' Gelbart's project was initially to be a four-part series, retelling the Titanic story but using Rush's submersible to examine what was left of it, including its interior. 'We were looking for a Hollywood celebrity for the project,' Gelbart says. 'I would have liked to go down there myself, but because it was something like $250,000 a seat, it was not feasible. Instead, we included that price in our budget for a celebrity, someone to tell the Titanic story by being next to it.' Amid all the experimenting, failed testing and rebuilding of the original Titan, Gelbart stayed in touch with Rush. 'He was a great salesman and really believed in the Titan. As an engineer, he could talk the talk. We trusted him. We didn't think he was creating something that was fatally flawed. He explained the technology, but what do I know about carbon fibre? 'He moved his operation to St. John's for a number of reasons, one of which was so he wouldn't need to certify it in Canada. But on the downside was the weather there. And with water freezing, then thawing on the Titan lining outside, this could have created damage. In the final report of the U.S. Coast Guard, we heard this could have been one of the mitigating factors in the disaster.' That official report has yet to be released. Why? 'When (U.S. president Donald) Trump took over this year, he fired the head of the U.S. Coast Guard. So they're not allowed to release it until they get a new head.' Gelbart was shocked like most everyone else upon learning of the implosion. 'But 24 hours later, we had the commission from the BBC, Discovery U.S.A. and the CBC to make this documentary. It was such a whirlwind turnaround for a story that much of the world had been watching and waiting for news about what happened to the Titan and its occupants, until the fate was learned.' Gelbart's GalaFilm has more than 120 film and TV credits and has won dozens of awards, including multiple Gémeaux/Geminis and one Prime Time Emmy Award for the Cirque du Soleil series Fire Within. 'But this was the first time in my life I was involved with anything as well-known as this one.'
Winnipeg Free Press
01-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Universal Language' leads film contenders heading into Canadian Screen Awards
An absurdist Winnipeg-set fever dream and a millennial identity dramedy are among the leading contenders heading into tonight's Canadian Screen Awards. Matthew Rankin's 'Universal Language' picked up five awards in the film categories at a ceremony over the weekend and will compete for several more tonight, capping off a multi-day celebration of Canadian film, television and digital storytelling. It's vying for the best film trophy against 'The Apprentice,' 'Darkest Miriam,' 'Gamma Rays,' 'Village Keeper' and 'Who Do I Belong To.' Jasmeet Raina's Crave dramedy series 'Late Bloomer' won four awards at a gala for scripted television on Saturday, and is in contention tonight for best comedy series. It's up against CTV's 'Children Ruin Everything,' CBC's 'One More Time' and Crave's 'Don't Even' and 'Office Movers.' Edmonton-born comedian Lisa Gilroy says there's no better time to spotlight homegrown talent as she hosts tonight's Canadian Screen Awards, airing live from Toronto on CBC and CBC Gem. 'I know how hard it is to get TV shows and movies made (in Canada), and I'm so excited to celebrate the stuff that has been made,' she said in an interview earlier this month. 'It is so good and so funny. And we deserve to party.' 'Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent,' which led all nominees overall with 20, is up for several trophies tonight. It won two awards on Saturday for best writing in a drama series and best sound in fiction. It will square off for best drama series against CBC's 'Allegiance' and 'Bones of Crows,' Hollywood Suite's 'Potluck Ladies' and CTV's 'Sight Unseen.' 'Law & Order Toronto' actors Kathleen Munroe and Aden Young compete for best lead performer in a drama series against Grace Dove of Crave's 'Bones of Crows,' Mayko Nguyen of Citytv's 'Hudson & Rex' and CBC stars Supinder Wraich of 'Allegiance,' Hélène Joy of 'Murdoch Mysteries, Michelle Morgan of 'Heartland' and Vinessa Antoine of 'Plan B.' 'Universal Language' stars Rojina Esmaeili and Pirouz Nemati are nominated for best performance in a leading comedy film role. They're up against Maïla Valentir of 'Ababooned,' Paul Spence of 'Deaner '89,' Taylor Olson of 'Look at Me,' Emily Lê from 'Paying for It,' Cate Blanchett of 'Rumours' and Kaniehtiio Horn of 'Seeds.' Up for best performance in a leading drama film role are Sebastian Stan of 'The Apprentice,' Oshim Ottawa of 'Atikamekw Suns,' Britt Lower of 'Darkest Miriam,' Carrie-Anne Moss of ':Die Alone,' Chaïmaa Zineddine Elidrissi of 'Gamma Rays,' Sean Dalton of 'Skeet,' Christine Beaulieu of 'The Thawing of Ice,' and Olunike Adeliyi of 'Village Keeper.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. In a last-minute programming shift on Thursday, the Canadian Screen Awards announced it would broadcast live on television — reversing earlier plans for a streaming-only show. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television CEO Tammy Frick previously said going online-only allowed the show to be more 'flexible.' Some top nominees had expressed disappointment in March, telling The Canadian Press that a televised broadcast is key to spotlighting Canadian talent. The Academy said the decision to return to CBC TV came down to NHL scheduling — with no playoff game on Sunday, the two-hour show could air live. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
