Recreating Memory |

The Cinematography of Capturing Canadian Identity

Presented by

Description

What often makes Canadian coming of age stories unique is the added element of multiculturalism. Our panel, presented by Panavision, examines how this group of talented cinematographers have used their technical skills and stylistic choices to collaborate on creating an evocative picture of the hyphenated Canadian identity. Listen in as they discuss their approaches to capturing underrepresented moments, immersing and captivating audiences, reexamining these experiences, both unique and universal, through a different lens.

Date
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Time
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM (EDT)
Session Language
English language session

Christopher Lew

Cinematographer

Christopher Lew is a Canadian born cinematographer. The son of a montessori teacher and an electrical engineer; his work is focused on character driven narratives within long & short form mediums, using the art form to explore emotion, curiosity and the human condition.

Guy Godfree

Cinematographer

Guy Godfree is an award-winning cinematographer whose recent work includes the two spirit indigenous indie feature Wildhood (TIFF 2021) directed by Bretten Hannam; Clement Virgo’s Brother (TIFF 2022); Director Nyla Innuksuk's debut feature Slash/Back (SXSW 2022) filmed entirely in the Hamlet of Pangnirtung on Baffin Island. Other notable credits include the multiple Canadian Screen Award winning film Maudie (Telluride, TIFF and Berlinale 2016) for which Guy was awarded Best Feature Cinematography at the Canadian Society of Cinematographers Awards. His most recent episodic work is the upcoming Crave original Little Bird and the Netflix limited series Maid.

Jordan Oram

Director Of Photography

Driven by a deep sense of purpose, Jordan Oram has dedicated himself to creating experiences that not only entertain but also enlighten and empower. He believes that curiosity has the power to change the world, to challenge our perceptions and inspire us to dream bigger, love more deeply, and live more fully. Through his lens, Oram invites us to embark on a journey of self-discovery and exploration, to connect with our own inner truths and to embrace our unique perspectives and experiences. His work is a testament to the human spirit, to our capacity for creativity, resilience, and transformation.

Kaayla Whachell

Cinematographer

Kaayla Whachell is a cinematographer from Vancouver, Canada and an associate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. Her first feature film, Portraits from a Fire, directed by Trevor Mack, went on to win her Best Cinematography at the 2022 Leo Awards. Whether it be a narrative film or commercial, Kaayla believes that the cinematography must accurately showcase the individuals depicted on screen. As a woman of mixed descent (Ryukyuan, Red River Metis, Czech), Kaayla continues to ally BIPOC filmmakers by showcasing their stories. She strives to produce a diverse film set for all people to thrive and create within.

Moderated by:

Carol Nguyen

Director

Carol Nguyen is a Vietnamese Canadian filmmaker based in Montreal. Her films often explore the subjects of cultural identity, silence and memory. Her newest film Nanitic (2022) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was selected for Berlinale Generation Kplus 2023. Her previous film No Crying at the Dinner Table (2019) also screened at TIFF alongside IDFA, where she was additionally invited as the opening night speaker. In 2020, No Crying at the Dinner Table received the Jury Prize for Short Documentary at South by Southwest. Recently, her project The Visitors was selected for the IDFA Project Space 2022, a development lab for first/second-time directors. Today, Carol is writing and directing several projects, including two feature films as well as an animated short.

Panavision