Alicia K. Harris, who I had met at the Yorkton Film Festival in 2017, put my name in for consideration for REEL Canada's "Light(s) at the End of the Tunnel" 2021 project. REEL Canada normally hosts Canadian Film Day -- in-person screenings across Canada celebrating Canadian cinema -- but due to COVID-19 they decided to commission works for a virtual festival. I approached my friend Simran Dewan to collaborate, and created a pitch together for a short documentary focused on the then historically-unique curfew in Quebec. REEL Canada accepted our proposal, and Simran and I shot interviews and b-roll with the interview subjects, and cinematographer Harley Francis filled in to shoot the establishing neighbourhood b-roll for the film. I edited the short for the April, 2021 livestream where all of the selected projects were broadcast and interview subject Thanya Iyer provided music.
PRESS
National Canadian Film Day aims for light at the end of the tunnel
The Globe and Mail | April 15, 2021 | Kate Taylor
in 7:59pm, Mile-End, Mattias Graham interviews two Montreal night workers – the musician Thanya Iyer and the restaurant manager Johnny Similien, coincidentally or not, both BIPOC – about their newly empty evenings. They are both philosophical and grateful for time to slow down and connect with what’s important in life, while suggesting the Black Lives Matter movement benefited from people with time on their hands.
Regina filmmaker on National Canadian Film Day
CTV Regina | April 7, 2021 | Gina Martin
Regina-born filmmaker Mattias Graham talks about his short film to be featured in a National Canadian Film Day series debuting April 21st.
Filmmaker introductions for National Canadian Film Day --> https://fb.watch/bvn-3ebYUY/
Reel Canada, Netflix commission original shorts for National Canadian Film Day
PLAYBACK | March 24, 2021 | Kelly Townsend
Filmmakers were given nine weeks to create a one to six-minute film that gives a snapshot of life in Canada one year into the pandemic.
