The 2019 Mosaic Festival of Arts and Culture kicked off on August 30th with our premiere film festival. Taking place at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, this film festival was a forum for filmmakers from Atlantic Canada and beyond to share their experiences, their journeys, and their cultural identities. Filmmakers Joe Chang, Marie Wright and Leona Krahn winning Best Short, Best Documentary and Best Feature Film, respectively. The winning filmmakers and films were selected by the programming committee led by Israel Ekanem. The selected films were screened on August 30th where the winning creators and films in the different categories were awarded and recognized.
The 2019 Mosaic Film Festival
2019 AWARD WINNERS AND OTHER SELECTED FILMS
Best Feature:
While We Can (Dir. Leona Krahn)
This film tells the story of two incredible individuals, both seniors from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who are dedicating their lives to rescuing refugees through Hospitality House Refugee Ministry. Shot over six months, the film captures their day to day work, challenges and compassion for the men, women and children they help save from myriad countries, mostly African. Tom Denton has played a role in the rescue of 40,000 refugees to Canada and is a world expert on the topic of private sponsorship. Canada is the only country in the world that allows private sponsorship of refugees; this film gives rare insight into how it all works.
Best Short:
The Music Box (Dir. Joe Chang)
The Great Chinese Cultural Revolution was a political campaign in China launched and led by Mao Zedong from 1966 to 1976. Nearly ten million people, including outstanding scientists, artists, intellectuals and ordinary people, died during these “Ten Years of Turmoil” or “Ten Years of Holocaust.” This animated short film is based on a real story and sets in China during the Cultural Revolution in 1967, It is about a young boy Liang Liang, whose family is suddenly taken to the countryside by Red Guards. He is able to grab the only thing he treasures which is a western-style music box and is careful not to expose it to the red guards since it was linked to western culture. The film mirrors tragedies that befall children and families who are forced to leave their homes, due to war, colonization and political campaigns – unfortunately a situation which is all too common today.
Best Documentary:
Transform (Dir. Marie Wright)
Transform is a short autobiographical documentary which explores individuals living with the repercussions of spinal injuries. Through their journey of grief and resiliency, we uncover how similar incidents can have different outcomes and that one injury can leave you stronger than ever before.
Other Selected Films:
The Party (Dir. Jinos Akhtarkhavari)
A 4-year-old boy (living in Canada) wishes to invite his aunts (who live in Iran) to his house for dinner. The aunts can not come due to the visa issue and the little boy struggles to understand it. They finally find a way to make him happy.
Fine (Dir. Oritsedere Ikomi)
A successful young woman realizes she might not be as happy and as fulfilled as she thinks.
Cut (Dir. Taylor Olson)
After a late night working Tommy explains how he found the body of his partner Kev in their home.
Fishnet and the Fish (Dir. Ali Nikfar Saeed Mayahy)
It’s about all little fishes in the world.
A View Of The Lake (Dir. Kyle McDonell)
Camille’s disintegrating relationship with her recently divorced father is further strained as she faces the hardest decision she’s ever had to make.