Celebrating the Black Creators Edition Premiere

We’re celebrating Black Excellence on Screen with the premiere of the very first Black Creators Edition, presented by STORYHIVE and the Black Screen Office.

Explore new projects filmed across British Columbia and Alberta and produced by emerging Black content creators. From dramas, comedies, documentaries and more, there is something for everyone. Tune in now on TELUS Optik TV channel 707 and STORYHIVE’s YouTube. 

Each emerging Black content creator was provided $20,000 in production funding, training and mentorship. With the generous support of Creative BC, the BC-based projects were also provided top-up funding. 

Projects from Alberta

Amelie's Second Chance | Produced by Leslie Bangamba | Red Deer, Alberta

Amélie, a Red Deer child, ingests a fatal object during the pandemic. Doctors race against time to try and save her life.

I Can’t Breathe | Produced by Love Nwigwe | Red Deer, Alberta 

This drama reveals the untold truth of racial discrimination in various aspects of life, schools, health care, court, playgrounds, workplace, religious organizations and many more. 

Journey For Justice | Produced by David Opoku-otoo | Edmonton, Alberta

We follow a Muslim Somali community and a Métis family trying to find justice for their loved ones who died unjustly.

Retraining the Brain | Produced by Sandro Augusto Santos Silva | Edmonton, Alberta

Three highly-educated immigrants are forced to retrain their skills after their education isn't recognized in Canada.

Scammed | Produced by Rochelle-Ann Thomas | Calgary, Alberta

A Jamaican student takes matters in her own hands when one scam call costs her her entire life savings.

Send Help | Produced by Faris Taha | Lethbridge, Alberta

Comedian Faris Hytiaa navigates living, dating and pandemic-ing in small town Alberta.

Sweeter Blue | Produced by Misha Maseka | Calgary, Alberta

Freshly moved into a new apartment, a woman gets the help of her ex to position her couch.

Projects from British Columbia

Amara | Produced by Amira Anderson | Vancouver, British Columbia

In this comedy, Amara realizes that she’s been living as the sassy Black friend. She sets off to discover her inner main character. 

Lights | Produced by Chukwumuobi Obasi | Courtenay, British Columbia

A teenager living in a group home craves to be noticed despite dealing with mental and emotional challenges.

Not For Us? | Produced by Ilhan Abdullahi | Vancouver, British Columbia

Three Somali sisters, against their parent’s wishes, embark on their first camping trip in the middle of nowhere. Unprepared and ill-equipped, they have no idea what awaits them deep in the forest.

The Journey of the African Storyteller | Produced by Tafadzwa Matamba | Duncan, British Columbia

The African storyteller narrates his extraordinary journey that begins in the middle of a raging liberation war in colonial Rhodesia.

Stay tuned in August 2023 for the premiere of the rest of the projects from the edition on TELUS Optik TV and YouTube.