We are visible | commffest global community film and arts festival

panel discussions

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At the Coop d'habitation St-Louis, everyone was able to find a home, security and a haven from the housing crisis. Filmed over two years in Gatineau, My Mom's Co-op introduces us to a place where 42 individuals and their families take on the challenge of collective management. The filmmaker’s aging mother and the other members of the co-op resist the pull of the individualism in their daily lives, creating a better way of living together.

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Black History Month- The 26th Anniversary

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The 26th anniversary of Black History Month Presented by Commffest Global Community Film Festival Producer Rosemary Sadlier Hosts Rosemary Sadlier and Julia Brown In Association ASALH (Association for the Study of African American life and History) “Healing the harms: Blackness and impacts on beauty identity and achievement” Concepts of Beauty and Identity Impacts on American and Canadian Achievement Featuring: Clip “Subjects Of Desire” Producer “Jennifer Holness” Clip from panel discussion “Mental Illness and Racism in Youth” Produced by Commffest) Performance by Sagelee Archer Film: GEORGE FLOYD: Say Their Names, producer Chris Owens York University Gospel Choir

A comedy special

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The COVID-19 pandemic cut the world off from experiencing live comedy, but laughter prevailed. We followed comedians and comedy club owners across the country and saw how the pandemic didn't stop comedy, it reinvented it.

The world shut itself down in 2020. As cities, states and entire countries reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants, bars and other small businesses were forced to shutter their doors. Among the industries cut off from the world was live entertainment – and for comedians, comedy producers and comedy venues specifically, that posed a challenge.

The Ranking File

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The Rankin File: Legacy of a Radical Teresa Alfeld director John Bolton Producer Canada 1.30m

A documentary investigation into the colorful and sometimes controversial life of Vancouver lawyer, city councilor and socialist icon Harry Rankin.

Talk on mental illness and racism in youth

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Talk on mental illness and racism in youth

An evening of open conversation sponsored by Commffest that looks to explore racism and how it impacts mental health.

Rosemary Sadlier (Moderator) Rosemary Sadlier, she/her, is an author, consultant and the unpaid past president, for 22 years, of the Ontario Black History Society, and, under her trailblazing leadership (building on the efforts of ancestors and elders), achieved numerous public commemorations related to the African Canadian community including February as Black History Month, and most recently, August 1st as Emancipation Day to affirm and honour our long-term and continuing contribution to Canada.

Jason Kandankery Moderator) Jason Kandankery, he/him, is a Principal with the Toronto District School Board who worked in Regent Park over the last 10 years and is now working in Scarborough. He is passionate about working in under-served communities and how we can work to ensure schools are sites of liberation and possibility for all students. Jason believes schools must work in partnership with the communities we serve by putting anti-oppression at the centre of our actions.

Simone Donaldson (Panel Presenter) Simone Donaldson is the founder,Clinical Social Worker, and principal consultant at Agapé Lens Consulting and Therapy. She has devoted almost 15 years to racialized communities and mental health. Simone provides individual psychotherapy for Black youth and adults, and consults with organizations to bridge the gap between equity and wellness concerns, with a specialization in Anti-Black racism. Simones’ purpose is to support all her clients to see sustainable change, while guiding them patiently and safely towards authenticity, so they may heal, thrive, and live out their purpose .

Dr. Ghadah Almahr (Panel Presenter) MD, Consulting Hypnotist, life and health coach, certified in applied positive psychology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and Ayurveda lifestyle. Founder of Heaven Smile Center in Toronto, a wellness center, focusing on integrative health, mind-body connection, and empowering the community to have optimum physical and mental health. She has offered several workshops in the field of wellness and life balance

The Ehlers-Danlos syndromes are a group of rare connective tissue disorders that can affect every part of the body. And EDS is an invisible illness, just like many other chronic conditions. People living with EDS may be severely disabled, but people around them can’t see their disability, which leads to a common misconception: How can you be sick and disabled if you look perfectly fine?