History Hunters

06/11/2025

📣 Big News! 🎬
And another one...
Unapologetically Jackie is now an OFFICIAL SELECTION at the Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival!

We’re honoured to be part of a collection of 'true indie' films from emerging global artists featuring fresh talent and festival veterans covering all genres. Lift-Off Global Network connects filmmakers to international audiences and we're thrilled that Jackie’s story is now in that mix.

This means so much to our team, cast, crew and everyone who helped bring this short to life. The screenings take place via Vimeo OnDemand and continue exclusively on the Lift-Off Network Hub where finalists are eligible for Season Award nominations.

Let’s keep the momentum going: thank you for your continued support!

🍿 If you haven't seen Unapologetically Jackie yet, the time is now! Screen it online until June 29.
Buy your ticket here: https://loom.ly/Vp_0qhs

04/23/2025

We are over the moon and just have to share this with you! ✨

What started as a bold idea by Ruth Tait and Rebecca Singh to highlight undercelebrated women in Canadian history became Lifting as We Climb, a project that pushed our creativity to new heights.

Now, we’re celebrating...
🎥 Unapologetically Jackie & Wanda Justice Warrior: official selections in Canada and the US at the CineFAM Film Festival, Canadian Film Festival & Black Alphabet Film Festival.

📖 Sister Sailor: The Remarkable Journey of Bessie Hall, Unapologetically Jackie: The Life and Times of Jackie Shane: available online as eBooks at https://beacons.ai/historyhuntersprojects

To our cast, crew, friends, fans and collaborators: you are the reason these stories come to life. And to our community of supporters, old and new, we are so grateful!

Special thanks to Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada and Balancing Act Canada for believing in this project and helping us share these powerful histories through generous funding.

The journey isn’t over, stay tuned for what’s next! 🚀

04/16/2025

On this 🎥, we proudly celebrate Unapologetically Jackie and Wanda Justice Warrior, two short films that shine a light on women who made powerful contributions to 🇨🇦 Canadian history.

Fellow creators, let’s keep amplifying underrepresented voices, both in front of and behind the camera, through the films we make and the stories we choose to tell!

Film posters:
Billy Massicotte Longpré as Jackie Shane
Rita Deverell as Wanda Robson

🎬 Share your favorite Canadian actor, director or writer below 👇

04/01/2025

🎬 Meet Rebecca Singh, the executive producer of Wanda Justice Warrior. By the way, did you attend the screening? If you did, tell us whether you recognized her voice towards the end of the film, asking a very important question...

She is an actor and writer and her film and TV acting credits include The Handmaid's Tale, In the Dark, Flashpoint and the short animated film Just Another Day, which she also co-directed, co-wrote and co-produced.

Unapologetically Jackie, a short film she also executive produced as part of the Lifting as We Climb series, premiered last fall at the CineFAM Film Festival as an official selection. Stay tuned for the next films in the series: Anne Greenup: In Her Footsteps, Sur les traces d'Anne Greenup. All these films, including Wanda Justice Warrior, highlight the stories of under-celebrated women who have made a significant impact on Canadian history! 💫

🎭 Catch Rebecca on stage this weekend as she performs in Women At Plays Toilet Paper for the Apocalypse !

📷: Craig Chambers

03/28/2025

🎥 We made it to Canadian Film Fest and what a time we had!

Between panels, screenings and reconnecting with cast and crew, this festival was nothing short of exhilarating. But the real highlight? Wanda Robson's family present to witness it all!

We’re beyond grateful to have been an official selection at this festival, standing among so many other talented 🇨🇦 filmmakers 🎬

Huge shoutout to our incredible team and everyone at the festival!

03/26/2025

🎬 Meet Freya Ravensbergen, producer of Canadian Film Fest official selection Wanda Justice Warrior! She also makes a special cameo on screen.

🎮 You may have even heard her voice in video games, commercials or as one of the official telephone prompt voices for Bell Canada. Lucky Mobile Canada customers, recognize that voice?

Her credits include Laura in the award-winning feature length dark comedy A Brand New You as well as Lydia, a s*x worker in F**ing My Way Back Home*, a feature film she also produced, earning her a Best Actress award in Marbella, Spain.

Beyond acting and producing, Freya is a dedicated social activist with a passion for Canadian projects that spark real conversations. Committed to bold meaningful storytelling, she is proof that homegrown 🇨🇦 talent is pushing the industry forward, expanding Canada's cinematic landscape and reaching wider audiences.

Catch her in Zik, now streaming on TFO, find her on another red carpet or bringing her next indie project to life…

03/25/2025

🎥 For Wanda Justice Warrior, we collaborated with an incredible group of additional performers making waves in the film/tv industry.

Join us tomorrow at the Canadian Film Fest world premiere, and you might just spot some familiar faces on the big screen!
Grab your ticket now: https://www.canfilmfest.ca/2025-shorts-2
Until then, take a peek behind the scenes with exclusive shots from on-set photographer Craig Chambers.

These rising stars are working on exciting projects and we can’t wait to find out what they create next:
• Victoria Brooks
• Jake Gosden
• Tanner Kupchuk
• Katie Lunman
• Paige Madsen
• Janis Mayers
• Muin Simon
• Katie Ready Walters

Shout out to producer Freya Ravensbergen for being a performer, we see you!

03/19/2025

🎬 Ryan Hollyman stars as Professor Reynolds in Wanda Justice Warrior. Beyond the screen, he’s also a writer.

His film & TV credits include X-Men: Apocalypse, Suits, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent and fan-favorite Canadian series Murdoch Mysteries and Heartland, both streaming on CBC Gem.

🎭 On stage, he’s performed in Helen Lawrence (Canadian Stage/Münchner Kammerspiele/Edinburgh Fringe), The Soul of Motown (Stage West Calgary), and Dreamgirls (Lower Ossington Theatre).

Catch his work at the Canadian Film Fest World Premiere of Wanda Justice Warrior at the Scotiabank Theatre, Wednesday, March 26, 11:00 AM.
Secure your 🎟️ tickets now! Visit: https://www.canfilmfest.ca/2025-shorts-2

03/19/2025

I am so thrilled to have this film premiering at long last! Please join us at our screening at the Canadian Film Fest!

Hey film lovers, we have an announcement...

Wanda Justice Warrior directed by Josiane blanc, has been officially selected for the Canadian Film Fest and will have its world premiere this month!

This marks the second short film from the Lifting as We Climb series, created by Rebecca Singh and Ruth Tait, to hit the festival circuit.

🎬 Join us for the screening!
When: Wednesday, March 26, 11:00 AM
Where: Scotiabank Theatre, 259 Richmond Street West

We’re so grateful for the incredible cast, crew, and creative team behind this project.

🎟️ To get your tickets (they go on sale March 10) visit: https://www.canfilmfest.ca/2025-shorts-2

For more details on the festival, visit: www.canfilmfest.ca

03/18/2025

🎬 Rita Deverell brings Wanda Robson to life in Wanda Justice Warrior! She is a Canadian television broadcaster, producer, playwright, host, performer, journalist, scholar and social activist. She co-founded the Canadian television channel VisionTV and served as news director for the APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) 2002–2005.

🏆 Honored as a Member of the Order of Canada (2005), she has received numerous awards, including the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (2022) for her impact in broadcasting and film.

She is currently completing five-year term tenure a Board of Directors of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Wanna see her in action? Don’t miss the Canadian Film Fest World Premiere of Wanda Justice Warrior!
When: Wednesday, March 26, at 11:00 AM
Where: Scotiabank Theatre
Grab your 🎟️ tickets now at https://loom.ly/KwMJ0vg

03/12/2025

📽️ Ricardo Diaz is the director of photography behind Wanda Justice Warrior. He has worked on award-winning projects like Orah Movie, Murdoch Mysteries, Brown Girl Begins and Stealing Vows.

Catch Season 2 of Bollywed, now streaming on CBC Gem to see more of his work!

Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes insights.

03/12/2025

🎬 Josiane Blanc is the director and writer of Wanda Justice Warrior. As a director, writer, and producer, her film and TV credits include award-winning projects like Faux Départ, Johanne, tout simplement (Simply Johanne) and Words Left Unspoken, which began streaming in Canada on CBC Gem last month.

You can also catch her latest work on Season 2 of the award-winning series Ainsi va Manu / Hogtown and Hotel Beyrouth, both streaming on TFO.