Event Synopsis:

Join us for Layered Lives: Gender Identities in Focus, a powerful screening of short films that brings to life the complex intersections of gender with other key aspects of identity, such as culture, race, disability, and indigeneity. These films provide an opportunity to move beyond theoretical discussions and to connect with the lived experiences of individuals navigating these overlapping identities.

In a series of new, original shorts that range in style (including dramatic narrative, animated, documentary and experimental shorts), local Canadian filmmakers consider personal stories that highlight the nuances often overlooked in professional and academic spaces. How do these identities impact how people navigate our economy, community and society at large? The screening will be followed by a dynamic conversation with the filmmakers, where we'll explore the questions and themes raised by their work. This event is not just a showcase of artistic expression but a call to deepen our understanding of how gender intersects with other forms of identity in ways that shape lives, opportunities, and challenges.

After the screening, we invite you to join us for a reception celebrating these films and the 100th public event hosted by the Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE).

Featured films include:

• Generations of Home by Chelsea Nyomi
• Leveled by Sara Rangooni
• Meteor by Atefeh Khademolreza
• Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher by Heather Campbell
• Superhero Inc. by Elizabeth Whitmere and Christine Bélanger

Speakers:

• Christine Bélanger, Co-Director, Superhero Inc.
• Heather Campbell, Director, Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher
• Chelsea Nyomi, Director, Generations of Home
• Sara Rangooni, Director, Leveled

Moderator:

Dr. Sonia Kang, Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, UofT; Academic Director, Institute for Gender and the Economy (GATE), Rotman School of Management

About the speakers:

Christine Bélanger is a touretter, autistic, disabled producer and award-winning writer whose recent works include Dream It To Be It as an AP-writer for TVOkids and writing for #Couleurs Du Nord on TFO. Christine conceived and presented the inaugural Creating Inclusive and Accessible Productions workshop at LIFT (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers Toronto) in July and is currently developing two series featuring autistic characters and a documentary about neurodivergence in the workplace.

Heather Campbell is originally from Rigolet, Nunatsiavut and holds a B.F.A from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Over the course of her career, Campbell has undertaken a number of different roles in the Indigenous arts and culture sector. She is currently the Strategic Initiatives Director of the Inuit Art Foundation.

A well-known Inuk artist, Campbell’s creative practice explores the relationship between the human and natural world through a broad selection of different mediums, including drawing, painting, photography and printmaking. Her work has been featured in collections at the Canadian Museum of History, the City of Ottawa, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Chelsea Nyomi is a visual storyteller and multidisciplinary artist who strives to build communities through shared experiences, creating through film/video, photography, and writing. Her work is situated in themes of belonging, self-exploration, and reflection. She refers to herself as a wonderer and a wanderer, stemming from her curious nature and adventurous personality. As a filmmaker, she creates both documentary and fiction projects. Her produced projects as a writer-director have been documentaries, and she has a slate of fiction short films, feature films, and series in development. Her documentary work centers on culture, identity, the arts, and belonging; she tends to focus on historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. With her fiction work, she loves creating new worlds and blending genres, and has written screenplays in the styles of comedy, science fiction, psychological thriller, and romantic drama. She is a versatile creator focused on writing, directing, and editing.

Sara Rangooni, founder of Dalphinium Media, is a director and writer dedicated to changing the narrative for equity-deserving communities through powerful storytelling. Born and raised in Toronto, Sara has a decade of experience in digital media where she has honed her skills in marketing and creative visuals. She is a dedicated writer whose award-winning screenplay Leveled, has catapulted her to new heights. She believes in the power of changing perspectives through four-dimensional story-telling. Leveled is her directorial debut and she continues to push boundaries with stories that centre on Muslim themes, particularly for women. Recently, she was selected at the Reelworld Screen Institute as one of 20 emerging filmmakers to develop her feature script, Leveled Up. She is in development of bringing the film to life on screen as a director. She's also the host of Stripped Sideways, a podcast dedicated to empowering women who are changing the narrative.