Catherine O’Hara: All of Us Shine

This short sensory film explores the internal process of Alexina Louie, whose unique sound has established her as one of Canada’s most performed and highly regarded composers.

A portrait of Lynda Hamilton, dedicated and tireless supporter of Canadian performing arts, directed by Claude Guilmain.

A moving portrait of actress Tantoo Cardinal, travelling through time and across the many roles she’s played, capturing her strength and her impact—and how she shattered the glass ceiling and survived.

Ryan Reynolds reflects on his childhood, family and career—punctuated by diversions into the charitable side of Twitter to appeal to his Canadian sense of self.

The soul of the Innu language is the land, water and forests of the fast-disappearing caribou. Through his music, Florent Vollant continues to make this language heard around the world.

This portrait of choreographer Zab Maboungou provides insight into the meticulous training and physical strength behind one of her pivotal works: Mozongi.

A tribute to an astonishing legacy and a rallying cry for a new generation, director Sara Elgamal’s Queen Bee brings the remarkable work of broadcaster, actor, and thinker Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell into focus. Cinematically shot and with striking use of archives, the film features a monologue from Deverell’s one woman play, Smoked Glass Ceiling, and offers an expansive vision for change.

Raised in the wings of the theatre, it is perhaps no surprise that Molly Johnson was destined to become one of Canada’s greatest voices. Directed by Molly’s brother—acclaimed actor and director Clark Johnson—Molly Movie is as much a tribute to Molly’s singer-songwriter career as it is a testament to the communities she supports and the philanthropic work that drives her.

k.d. lang shares her perspective on preferring silence and listening to making noise as one of the 2023 recipients of the GGPAA for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. A musician, 2SLGBTQI+ activist, daughter and icon, lang transcends categorization. Here, she delves into the essence and significance of musical expression, examining its emotional impact on both the performer and the audience.

For Linda Rabin, all is movement. That has been the guiding principle for this pioneer of modern dance in Quebec, who has been a dancer, teacher, choreographer, somatic educator and the cofounder with Candace Loubert of l’École de danse contemporaine de Montréal in 1981. In Linda’s view, dancers’ gestures are not merely technically well executed movements, but expressions of life itself. Spirituality, openness to the world and the fluidity of bodies are here conveyed with subtlety.

Michelle Smith is a Franco-Manitoban with a passion for arts and culture who puts her talents and people skills to work for Francophone arts organizations in her province, so that its language and community may endure and thrive.