Watch Absolutely Canadian independent documentaries from Quebec

Absolutely Canadian, the series of independent documentaries, returns to CBC TV and CBC Gem, beginning July 2.

CBC TV showcases documentaries on Saturdays at 8 p.m. All films are also available to watch on demand (see links below).
 

Women Beyond Bollywood

Montreal-based Filmmaker Rahila Bootwala left India as a young woman, wanting to work in film but feeling disconnected from an industry dominated by men and beholden to their fantasies. In Women Beyond Bollywood, Rahila goes back to confront her past and to meet with the women who are reshaping the industry and challenging its stereotypes.

Watch Women Beyond Bollywood here.

The Relay: Beyond the Name

Filmmaker and former athlete Kimberly Surin embarks on a personal journey with her sister Katherine to understand the gains and losses of growing up under the ambitious wing of their Olympic champion dad, Bruny Surin.

Watch The Relay: Beyond the Name here.

Calliari

Montreal singer/songwriter Marco Calliari has weathered ups and downs as he's forged a unique 30-year career in music. The Quebec-born artist shares how he navigates audience acceptance, and tests his market through releasing work in English, French and Italian. Fellow performers Kathia Rock, Paul Cargnello and Mamselle Ruiz work through the Quebec industry's impact on local artists who are labeled "other" or "world beat" because they sing in a language other than French.

Watch Calliari here.

Being Black In Montreal

This is a series of 6 short films Created through the Fabienne Colas Foundation's Being Black in Canada Incubator Program. Film descriptions below:

Objects in the Mirror -  Chris Henny-Nyanguila

Objects in the Mirror is a reflective documentary about social and mental health issues that arise in youth-sports. In this short doc, Chris Henny-Nyanguila plays pickup basketball with some of his old friends, years after leaving the pro game for health reasons. Chris shares laughs with his former teammates and competitors while being transparent about the hard realities of life after basketball.

Rántí - Àdùkẹ́ Babalọlá 

Rántí ("Remember") is an exploration of the void that follows a move away from the home one has always known. Àdùkẹ́ Babalọlá explores her recent move to Montreal in light of her family's history of migration from Nigeria to Canada. She resonates with that experience by themes of loneliness and longing, and the communication technology that tethers one to the people and places they love. Through this, she discovers what it means to follow in their footsteps, while treading a path of her own.

The Coloured Women's Club - Hamda Elmi

The Coloured Women's Club is a story about Canada's oldest Black women's organization created for and by Black women. In this short historical documentary, we are taken back to 1902 when the club was first created in Montreal. With the help of current president Shirley Gyles, we discuss the many ways this group has impacted the community throughout the years with their charitable work.

It's The Small Things - Yzaih Phénix-Alphonse

It's The Small Things is about Dorothy, a young journalism student, and how she faces the microaggressions that come with being a black woman in that educational environment.

My Culture, My Home - Mikael Romulus

For most migrants, finding a new sense of home and comfort in the country where they've moved is the most important thing. Haitians have flown away from their country to escape its crumbling political environment in the hopes to find a new home, free of the issues that they've faced back in Haiti. They may have grown there, but their children will have spent most of their lives growing up in Montreal. While this is where the cultural gap often begins between the children and the parents, the true cultural clash that comes with this different environment comes at a later age when the children become adults and have their own responsibilities. My Culture, My home intends to bring light on the cultural clashes and the conflicts that it may cause. This documentary shows the correlation between the home and the culture. 

Blackademia - Roy Kingsley

The documentary follows Sheri, a recent graduate and her experiences during her high school career. The story will examine the importance of diversity in private schools and the challenges that come with being a minority in these institutions.

Watch Being Black in Montreal here.

Waves of Change: Reimagining Quebec

A reflection of life and inclusion in contemporary Quebec through community discussions between recent immigrants, long-time Anglophone citizens, Quebecois Francophones and second-generation Allophones. Hosted by Guy Rodgers.

Watch Waves of Change: Reimagining Quebec here.

Meet, Pray, Love: Return of the Love Rabbi

In this charming documentary, a Montreal Rabbi sets up an online dating service during lockdown, only to have his instincts put to the test as singles emerge from isolation and begin dating in person.

Watch Meet, Pray, Love: Return of the Love Rabbi here.

Absolutely Canadian is a national one-hour series showcasing documentaries and performance programs that tell unique stories from communities across Canada. All programs are produced locally and highlight the works of independent filmmakers in each region.

CBC works closely with independent filmmakers throughout the region to produce this series.

You can see all previous seasons of the Absolutely Canadian series here.