Cohort
NYASSA MUNYONGE
Nyassa Munyonge is a Montreal-based screenwriter of Congolese origin. After making a number of short films in her native New Brunswick, her short documentary Fille de son père (Daughter of her Father) is appearing in this year’s Canadian Black Film Festival.
ZOOMBA! is a fictional comedy-drama webseries. When Nyota joins the Latin/hip hop Zumba class at an all-girls gym in Côte-des-Neiges, her crush on the instructor and the ensuing chaos challenge her friendship with roommate Lau.
DAVID CRUZ
Known for his unwavering commitment to authenticity, director David Cruz explores timeless narratives across styles and genres to craft powerful stories that offer insights into contemporary human experience. By carving out space for different, often ignored perspectives and voices, his work highlights the profound impact of multiple stories on society.
In REVERIE, a fictional webseries, Amanda is dying, but something in her past is coming back to haunt her final days. Her daughter Silvia and a young nurse named Claire team up to help her confront her traumatic memories and find closure. As they put together the hallucinatory flashes from Amanda’s past, the three women discover that they share a common history of loss, prejudice and abuse, but also one of connection, perseverance and hope. Reverie is poised to open necessary conversations about caregiving, mental health and terminal illness. Through its unique blend of realism and AI-generated dreamscapes, thought-provoking dialogues and compelling characters, the series offers a visually stunning and emotionally resonant exploration of these themes. It draws inspiration from real stories, which add authenticity and depth to the storyline, and reflect the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected moments of beauty that caregivers and their patients experience every day.
JONATHAN CORTÉS
Jonathan Cortés is a screenwriter, director and producer born in Medellín. He studied advertising before pursuing audiovisual studies in Montreal and completing a Master’s degree in filmmaking in Barcelona. His work explores human complexity, and his projects have won awards at several international festivals.
In L’ENFANT-JÉSUS, a fiction feature, nine-year-old Pedrito struggles with bullying at school and the difficulty of adapting to his new life in Montreal. He dreams of returning to Colombia and plans to leave on Christmas Eve, with the help of the Infant Jesus. However, a surprising revelation that same night leads him to discover that “L’enfant-Jésus” is actually his father, and forces him to confront the painful but necessary truth about his mother and family.
KARAN SINGH
Karan Archana is an independent filmmaker born in India and settled in Quebec in 2010. He has directed several short films: Faceless, Morceaux d’une Vie, Mum Singh and his recent project Pass the Salt was a finalist in SODEC’s Cours Écrire ton Court in 2020. His works highlight the stories of under-represented peoples, and as a queer person of South Asian descent, he brings South Asian-Quebecois stories to the public. “Zoya-Iman-Ayaz” is his first feature-length fiction project.
In ZOYA-IMAN-AYAZ, a feature-length fiction film, Zoya and Ayaz immigrate to Quebec from India to start a new life. The story of this sister and brother takes us through the trials and tribulations of immigration, family, tradition, personal identity and the difficult choices we all have to make in a rapidly changing world.
AYESHA SHEIKH
Ayesha Sheikh is a passionate filmmaker whose journey began as an assistant director in 2011. Thanks to a grant from Netflix and training at INIS in filmmaking, she sensitively explores themes of identity and socio-cultural phenomena. She is an active contributor to a contemporary cinema that embraces genre films, while stimulating reflection and dialogue.
LES GRIFFES DE LA BÊTE, a short film positioned as a horror comedy, tells the story of Clara, a young woman obsessed with beauty standards and desperate for a sugar daddy. Her sharp nails seduce Gino on a passionate date, but quickly become a deadly weapon. In a society obsessed with perfection, “Claws of the Beast” reveals the extreme dangers of attraction and the glorification of the superficial.
DAVID ANDERSON
David Anderson is a producer, filmmaker, and graphic designer based in Montreal, Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Film Animation. His rich portfolio bridges traditional art, prints, and large-scale paintings with the dynamic world of digital design and animation. As a multidisciplinary artist, David’s work is fueled by wanderlust, with filmmaking serving as his primary medium of expression. Through his films, he merges classical art forms, aiming to inspire and delve into the realm of radical Black imagination.
BLACK MEN HEALING, a feature documentary, explores the multifaceted journey of black masculinity, confronting societal stereotypes and systemic barriers to mental health. Through personal accounts and societal analysis, it reveals the challenges of seeking support in a world rife with prejudice and expectations. This documentary advocates for inclusive healing practices and societal transformation to empower black men and foster community resilience. Through intimate narratives and societal reflections, it examines the complexities of seeking help amidst structural biases and cultural expectations.
SHARBEL SHOWAIRY
The thread that unravels reality seems almost impalpable. In a state of disorientation, I strive to circumscribe this reality, to grasp it in all its complexity and to live it through the stories I weave. My aim is to find my own place within this vast canvas, to give shape to the emotions and cries that resonate in my heart, and in those around me. My most recent short film, “Gros Lot”, was selected not only for the Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, but also for the Trieste Festival in Italy and the Festival de Cinéma de la Ville de Québec.
FAKE LOVE, a short fiction film, is a fantasy drama, set in a surreal dating show where faces are obscured by doodles. Andrew is desperate for love and reality, but discovers that to erase the illusions, he must sacrifice his very existence.
TRACY PAULOTTE
Tracy Paulotte has been combining passion and expertise in project management and television production for 7 years. With certifications in human resources and production, she got her start in the industry on the sets of Léonard Média, QOLAB, Les Enfants and Metafilms, before moving on to work as a content producer on various projects. Motivated by a desire to share knowledge and accessibility, Tracy also gives introductory production workshops and is program manager and outreach for the Dynasty Foundation. Her ultimate goal: to enrich Quebec’s cultural landscape, one project at a time.
DETENUS, a short fiction film, tells the story of a young girl whose life is turned upside down when her brother is arrested, plunging her family into chaos. Between seeking justice for her brother and her own aspirations, she must navigate intense emotions and heartbreaking decisions. The film explores themes of family, loyalty and hope in the face of injustice, offering a poignant and moving portrait of human resilience.
MORE INFORMATION
For any questions or additional information, please contact prisme@mainfilm.qc.ca