'True North' Shows How the Black Liberation Movement Surged in 1960s Montreal; Watch Trailer for TIFF Documentary
When we think of significant cities associated with the Civil Rights struggle and Black liberation movement in North America, Atlanta, Montgomery, AL, New York, and Oakland spring to mind. But we should not overlook Montreal.
In the 1960s, the metropolis in the province of Québec became a focal point for the movement, thanks to two major events: the Congress of Black Writers at McGill University and the student takeover at Sir George Williams University (now Concordia University). That little-known story is presented in the documentary True North, directed by noted filmmaker Michèle Stephenson, and will have its global premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The trailer above provides the first look at the flick.
“Through never-before-seen archival footage and intimate first-person testimonies, the film revisits a charged era of resistance, where Black students and activists challenged institutional racism that sparked reverberations across the globe,” notes a synopsis. “Taking a hemispheric view of Black resistance, True North connects threads from the Caribbean, Canada, and the US, tracing the shared legacies of colonialism and state oppression.
"The voices of elders, who lived through this period and whose contributions have largely gone unrecognized, are at the core of the film." The film's narrative is anchored by the experiences of these individuals, which provide a unique and poignant perspective on the era. True North becomes a call to action for new generations and an act of remembrance through their perspective.
Stephenson was born in Haiti and is of Panamanian and Haitian descent. She spent a significant portion of her formative years in Montreal. Currently residing in Brooklyn, she and her husband, Joe Brewster, directed Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project. The film was awarded the 2023 Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary at Sundance and a Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking. In the same year, Stephenson and Brewster directed Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games for ESPN Films. Both Black Girls Play and Going to Mars were nominated for Academy Awards.
True North will hold its world premiere at TIFF on Saturday, September 6 at 12:15 pm at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto. The Scotiabank Theatre Toronto will host its second public screening on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 p.m.
At 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 6, the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto will host the world premiere of True North at TIFF. The Scotiabank Theatre Toronto will present its second public screening at 10:00 p.m. on Monday, September 8.
Powers continues, "True North is a poignant tribute to the courageous young individuals who were willing to advocate for their rights and make a significant contribution to the narrative of Black liberation. The film alternates between intimate interviews with those who experienced the protests and startling archival footage, which includes powerful statements from activist and future Dominica Prime Minister Rosie Douglas."
