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?
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HauiDirectorDownsizing
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Howard J DavisWriterDownsizing
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Jenny BrizardKey Cast
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Howard J DavisComposerDownsizing
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Howard J DavisProducer
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Project Type:Short
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Genres:Drama
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Runtime:8 minutes 50 seconds
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Completion Date:February 14, 2017
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Production Budget:4,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:French
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Shooting Format:MOV
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Black & White and Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Vues D'Afrique VA PlateformeQuebec City, Quebec
Canada
April 15, 2019 -
Afro Prairie Black Film FestivalWinnipeg, Manitoba
Canada
February 24, 2019
Winnipeg -
InSHORTS Film FestivalLagos
Nigeria
African Premiere -
Greater Cleveland Urban Film FestivalCleveland, Ohio
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Caribbean Tales International Black Film FestivalToronto, ON
Canada -
Columbus Black International Film FestivalColumbus, Ohio
United States
August 24, 2018 -
Best Shorts CompetitionLA, California
United States
June 1, 2018
Award of Merit: Documentary Short -
National Black Film FestivalHouston, Texas
United States
May 4, 2018 -
Dalhousie Art Gallery "Black on Both Sides"Halifax, Nova Scotia
Canada
April 12, 2018 -
Charlotte Black Film FestivalCharlotte, NC
United States
April 6, 2018
North Carolina -
Denton Black Film FestivalDenton, Texas
January 27, 2018 -
Black International Film FestivalBirmingham, UK
United Kingdom
October 23, 2017
UK Premiere
Best Short Film (MVISAS) -
Twin Cities Black Film FestivalMinneapolis, Minnesota
United States
October 12, 2017 -
Baltimore Black International Film FestivalBaltimore
United States
October 8, 2017 -
Montreal Black Film FestivalMontreal, QC
Canada
October 1, 2017
Quebec -
Bay Street Film FestivalThunder Bay, ON
Canada -
Toronto Independent Film FestivalToronto, ON
Canada
September 9, 2017 -
WIFTA Short Film ShowcaseGeorgia, Atlanta
United States
July 24, 2017
Atlanta -
Censured in Canada Film FestivalToronto, ON
Canada
May 28, 2017
Toronto -
8th Annual "Women in the World" Women's History Month Film FestivalNewark, New Jersey
United States
March 30, 2017
New Jersey -
Houston Black Film FestivalHouston, Texas
United States
March 23, 2017
Texas -
Hollywood Black Film FestivalLos Angeles
United States
February 22, 2017
Los Angeles -
Cosmic Film FestivalOrlando, Florida
United States
February 19, 2017
World Premiere
Best Short Film Finalist
Distribution Information
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Moving Images Distribution
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
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?