Young, gifted and black! In an act of self-empowerment, a group of young Black people, mainly first and second generation immigrants from the Caribbean, have occupied the public space of the Toronto underground to perform their agitprop concept of edutainment – poets, rappers, singers and musicians. This vital, experimental documentary perceives rhythm, text and dance as forms of creative work that collectively reflect and comment about their identities. Diverse voices come together in a cultural dialogue that includes both traditional and contemporary elements of Black music. The structure and script of the film is based on the edutainment concept created by hip hop artist KRS-One. Also involved are members of the group R.I.S.E. (Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere), who organize a weekly poetry slam in suburban community institutions in Toronto.
by Bárbara Wagner, Benjamin de Burca
with Chantal Rose, Michie Mee, Dynesti Williams, Duke Redbird, Nathan Baya, Randell Adjei
Brazil / USA / Canada 2018 English 20’ Colour Documentary form

With

  • Chantal Rose
  • Michie Mee
  • Dynesti Williams
  • Duke Redbird
  • Nathan Baya
  • Randell Adjei

Crew

Director Bárbara Wagner, Benjamin de Burca
Screenplay Bárbara Wagner, Benjamin de Burca, Emelie Chhangur
Cinematography Pedro Sotero
Editing Benjamin de Burca, Bárbara Wagner
Music Nate Smith
Sound Design Nicolau Domingues
Sound Matt Beckett
Producers Emelie Chhangur, Bárbara Wagner, Benjamin de Burca

Produced by

Ponte filmes

Wexner Center for the Arts

https://wexarts.org/ https://wexarts.org/

AGYU – Art Gallery of York University

http://agyu.art/ http://agyu.art/

Bárbara Wagner

The artist was born in Brasília, Brazil in 1980 and graduated from the Dutch Art Institute in Arnhem, the Netherlands in 2012. Her photographic work focuses on how ordinary people present their bodies to a supposedly interested public. It has been exhibited around the world, is held in international collections and has been published in monographs. Since 2011, she has been collaborating with Benjamin de Burca. Their work has been selected for various festivals and exhibitions including Videobrasil, the Locarno Film Festival, the Berlinale and the 2019 Venice Biennale.

Filmography (short films, co-director: B. de Burca)

2013 Cinema Casino 2014 Desenho Canteiro (Plan Plat) 2015 Faz que vai (Set to go) 2017 Estás vendo coisas (You are seeing things) · Bye Bye Deutschland! Eine Lebensmelodie (Bye Bye Germany! A Life Melody) · Terremoto Santo (Holy Tremor) 2018 Rise 2019 Swinguerra 2021 One Hundered Steps

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2021

Benjamin de Burca

Born in Munich, Germany in 1975, the artist and filmmaker grew up in Ireland. He studied fine art at the Glasgow School of Art and at the University of Ulster in Belfast and worked as an artist in outreach projects with young people involved in gangs in Glasgow and Belfast. Between 2006 and 2008, he was co-director of the Catalyst Arts Centre. His artistic practice extends from painting, collage and photography to film, video and installation. Since 2011, he has collaborated with Bárbara Wagner. Their work has frequently been presented internationally, including a number of times in Berlinale Shorts, most recently in 2019 with Rise.

Filmography (short films, co-director: B. Wagner)

2013 Cinema Casino 2014 Desenho Canteiro (Plan Plat) 2015 Faz que vai (Set to go) 2017 Estás vendo coisas (You are seeing things) · Bye Bye Deutschland! Eine Lebensmelodie (Bye Bye Germany! A Life Melody) · Terremoto Santo (Holy Tremor) 2018 Rise 2019 Swinguerra 2021 One Hundred Steps

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2021