C'est Moi

Set in modern day Montréal "C'est Moi" explores the collision of the past as it meets the present in the forgotten story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a figure of Black Canadian History and her efforts to fight against slavery in 18th Century New France.

How much of our past is erased in the restoration of history?

  • Haui
    Director
    Downsizing
  • Howard J Davis
    Writer
    Downsizing
  • Jenny Brizard
    Key Cast
  • Howard J Davis
    Composer
    Downsizing
  • Howard J Davis
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 14, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    MOV
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Vues D'Afrique VA Plateforme
    Quebec City, Quebec
    Canada
    April 15, 2019
  • Afro Prairie Black Film Festival
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    Canada
    February 24, 2019
    Winnipeg
  • InSHORTS Film Festival
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    African Premiere
  • Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival
    Cleveland, Ohio
  • Caribbean Tales International Black Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Canada
  • Columbus Black International Film Festival
    Columbus, Ohio
    United States
    August 24, 2018
  • Best Shorts Competition
    LA, California
    United States
    June 1, 2018
    Award of Merit: Documentary Short
  • National Black Film Festival
    Houston, Texas
    United States
    May 4, 2018
  • Dalhousie Art Gallery "Black on Both Sides"
    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Canada
    April 12, 2018
  • Charlotte Black Film Festival
    Charlotte, NC
    United States
    April 6, 2018
    North Carolina
  • Denton Black Film Festival
    Denton, Texas
    January 27, 2018
  • Black International Film Festival
    Birmingham, UK
    United Kingdom
    October 23, 2017
    UK Premiere
    Best Short Film (MVISAS)
  • Twin Cities Black Film Festival
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    United States
    October 12, 2017
  • Baltimore Black International Film Festival
    Baltimore
    United States
    October 8, 2017
  • Montreal Black Film Festival
    Montreal, QC
    Canada
    October 1, 2017
    Quebec
  • Bay Street Film Festival
    Thunder Bay, ON
    Canada
  • Toronto Independent Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Canada
    September 9, 2017
  • WIFTA Short Film Showcase
    Georgia, Atlanta
    United States
    July 24, 2017
    Atlanta
  • Censured in Canada Film Festival
    Toronto, ON
    Canada
    May 28, 2017
    Toronto
  • 8th Annual "Women in the World" Women's History Month Film Festival
    Newark, New Jersey
    United States
    March 30, 2017
    New Jersey
  • Houston Black Film Festival
    Houston, Texas
    United States
    March 23, 2017
    Texas
  • Hollywood Black Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    February 22, 2017
    Los Angeles
  • Cosmic Film Festival
    Orlando, Florida
    United States
    February 19, 2017
    World Premiere
    Best Short Film Finalist
Distribution Information
  • Moving Images Distribution
Director Biography - Haui

Haui aka Howard J. Davis is a multi-disciplinary artist of diverse heritage whose work spans direction, design, performance and visual arts.

He has worked at Stratford Festival as an assistant director in the Michael Langham Director's Workshop, Shaw Festival as an actor/designer; National Arts Centre as an assistant director; Tarragon Theatre, Black Theatre Workshop, GCTC and Neptune Theatre as a video designer; and performed with Neptune Theatre, Native Earth, Cahoots Theatre, Paper Canoe Projects and Factory Theatre.

His film work has included his award-winning internationally screened short film "C’est Moi" (www.cestmoifilm.com) about the history of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, assistant producing Marie Clements as well as the stills photographer and EPK artist on her feature film "Red Snow" released in 2019 with a theatrical release in 2020 and broadcasting on CBC and APTN this fall and an untitled project with Canadian indigenous legend Tantoo Cardinal.

He is currently developing a documentary about his mixed heritage entitled "Mixed↑" and a new devised collective about Canadian singer Portia White supported by the Ontario Arts Council, National Ballet of Canada's Residency Programme and Caravan Farm Theatre National Playwright's Retreat.

His photography has been published in Harpers Bazaar UK, Amina Magazine (Paris) and was commissioned and featured in the design for Canadian Opera Company's 2018 world premiere of Rufus Wainwright's and Daniel McIvor's "Hadrian".

For more information check out haui.ca

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

On Friday, June 21, 1734 Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a black slave in New France (nowadays Montréal), was tried, tortured and sentenced to death for burning down the city. Her story has been forgotten in history. Did she set the fire? Or was she the scapegoat? a Joan of Arc in her own right, Marie-Josèphe Angélique was an emblem of resilience against slavery in Canada and her story has exposed the underbelly of Canada’s dark secrets.

The subject of this film came from an exploration of my heritage. As a mixed race man and the "love child" of a huge discourse in racial history, my curiosity started in studies of pre-colonial African history at Ryerson University. Reading about the African Diaspora led me to Canada's involvement in the story of slavery. As a Canadian, it is interesting to note how Canada's involvement with slavery appears to have disappeared from our collective consciousness.

I believe it is important to have these discussions given our current climate on racial issues not only at home but throughout the world. I also think it is important to be accountable for our actions and recognize all injustices of our history as opposed to marginalizing and erasing it from our collective identity. how can we ever venture forward to being more tolerant and accepting of one another unless we learn from history?