Mzee Film Project
January 2024-December 2029
Multiple Locations
Untitled film
Film Overview
The film project will integrate a narrative approach to explore oral traditions, cultural memories, and the wisdom of elders residing in Ontario. The project seeks to explore topics that are untold. Some of the identified topics are relationships, family, the arts, life values and principles, mental health and wellness, substance use and addictions, change and transitions, work life, and anti-Black racism.
The film project has three key initiatives:
- Understand the stories and experiences of elders who immigrated to Canada during the past 60 years.
- Explore how race, identity and culture transformed over time.
- Explain how anti-racism and anti-Black racism shaped the experiences of elders.
After a call for proposals, youth leaders will interview up to 50 elders to learn more about their experiences and identify their suitability for the project. In the first year, ten elders from a variety of countries will be selected for one to two-hour in-person video interviews. Youth leaders will interview and lead conversations with elders under the guidance and support of the project team.
Upon completion of the interviews, the project team will analyze, assess and categorize content for a two-to three-hour publication. The film will premiere in February 2025 to a group of participants including the film directors, interviewees and key stakeholders.
Project Strategic Plans:
Year Two [2025-2026]:
Goals:
Kujipenda Gala honoring Black excellence, recruitment for new elders, and preview of the screening for Year Three.
Year Three [2026-2027]:
Goals:
Continue filming additional stories. Enter parts of the film into local competitions. Begin writing the novel version of the book.
Year Four [2027-2028]:
Goals:
Kujipenda Gala honoring Black excellence, recruitment for new elders, and preview of the screening for Year Five. Launching of the Mzee to Elder book.
Year Five [2028-2029]:
Goals:
Final year of the Mzee to Elder film project. The series is launched on You Tube and marketed. A new project is unveiled centering on cultural arts, dance, or literature.
Join the Film
We are seeking adults and elders, 45 years of age or older, who are open to sharing their experiences in their home country, their communities, their culture, and their experiences with us. Participants commit to a day of in-person or virtual filming [i.e., typically 2-3 hours], and pre-screening interviews. They will receive a $250 honorarium for their participation and will have the opportunity to meet with youth and share their knowledge with them.
Some key questions:
Tell us about your home country? How long did you live in your home country? What is your earliest memory from your childhood?
We have often heard that it takes a village to raise a child, what do you remember about your childhood? Who raised you? Who were you closest to growing up? Why?
What was growing up for you like? What stories or experiences do you remember in your past?
Tell us about your journey to Canada? When did you move to Canada? How did you find a home and job in Canada?
How has moving to Canada changed/impacted your identity?
Eligibility:
The pre-screening process consists of advertisements, pre-interviews and inquiries. For eligibility purposes, participants are encouraged to:
Identify as Black, having African-ancestry or racialized people, i.e., Indo-Caribbean, South Asian, elders or individuals who are 65 and up, no criminal background of sex-related or child offences that would impede upon the ability to be interviewed by youth.
Don’t miss this chance to become part of our collective stories.
Youth interviewers, Mentors, and Producers
This project is led and supported by youth, ages 12 years and up and strengthened by our mentors who are skilled in project management, film production, and editing. Youth are essential to the planning, writing, execution, interviewing, and editing process of the project. We have youth employees and volunteers who are driving the initiative. If you are interested in mentoring our youth producers, please contact us for further information.
Enriching culture through education
Before starting the film project, our team met with our youth advisory team to learn more about their perspectives, biases, and learned experiences with elders. Our youth team produced a summary: Mzee Youth Advisory Focus Group.
Download the Document:
