Experiencing Interruptions?

Walking in these shoes

A tribute to the late beloved friend, peer, activist and mentor Derek Yee in Toronto, Ontario who died alone at home waiting for a bed at Casey House, the HIV specialty Hospital of Canada. It is also a call to action to the world's only HIV specialty hospital to provide BIPOCs coordinated care 365/24/7

  • Samuel López
    Director
    Our Faces, Our Stories, The Sugarcane, Johnny Turn to God, Samuel&Samantha
  • Christian Hui
    Director
    The Nest, first time filmmaker
  • Samuel López
    Writer
    Samuel & Samantha, Our Faces our stories, The sugarcane, Johnny vaya con Dios
  • Samuel Lopez
    Producer
    Johnny vaya con Dios
  • Samuel Lopez
    Key Cast
    "Samuel Lopez"
  • Christian
    Key Cast
    "Christian Hui"
  • Shaz
    Key Cast
    "Shaz"
  • Amutha
    Key Cast
    "Elise"
  • Mathuvan
    Key Cast
    "Mathu"
  • Paulina
    Key Cast
    "Paulina"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Caminar en estos zapatos
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 21 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 2, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - York University
  • Sivar en cortos
    SAN Salvador
    El Salvador
    November 22, 2022
    Latin America
    Best film
  • Samuel Lopez
    Montreal
    Canada
    July 28, 2022
    Québec
    Official Selection
  • Samuel Lopez
    Montréal
    Canada
    August 1, 2022
    International AIDS Conference
  • Samuel Lopez
    New York
    United States
    June 16, 2022
    United States
  • Samuel Lopez
    San Salvador
    El Salvador
    December 7, 2022
    Central America
    Official Selection, Best Film
Distribution Information
  • Vtape
    Distributor
    Country: Canada
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Samuel López, Christian Hui

Samuel López made his directorial début in 1993 with his documentary "Samuel & Samantha," an autobiographical documentary about his life as a Latino drag queen activist. In 1996, while at the University of Toronto, Samuel wrote the screenplay 'L'Histoire d'Henry." López directed and produced "Our Faces, Our Stories" in 2008. He has directed several short documentary videos for the Canadian Aids Treatment Information Exchange. "The Sugarcane" premièred in December 2013 at the Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano in Havana, Cuba and was the recipient of the Best Local Emerging Filmmaker Award in the Latin Film Media and Arts Festival ALUCINE 2014. Since then Samuel has created the feature "Johnny Turn to God" and co-directed "Walking In These Shoes."

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Director Statement

I co-directed Walking In These Shoes, after a friend, Christian, told me about the commissioned research grants from Viral Interventions. We were mourning the death of Derek Yee, our dear friend, activist and mentor. The main purpose was to hear from others what they thought about his last days of life. We found out that Derek died at home waiting for a bed at the only HIV specialty hospital in the world, located in Toronto, Ontario. In my personal experience, I felt overwhelmed by the story and yet I felt inspired by the words of those we interviewed. There is disappointment, shock, surprise and even anger being expressed by Derek's friends and service providers. Creating this short film at York University, helped me deal with the pain I experienced after Derek's death.