Category: films

The trailer for the upcoming documentary short film, ‘Why We Dance’, has just been released and is available to view on the SCVN YouTube channel. Filmed and directed by Marc Ellison, it features conversations between Jerome Irankunda, a survivor of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and Michel Kichka, an artist who is currently creating a graphic novel about Jerome’s life and experiences during and after the genocide. The film shows the trust that develops between Michel and Jerome as they discuss Jerome’s experience fleeing his home town when he was only six. Now a community leader and educator, Jerome also speaks about the ordinary acts of resistance that he hopes define his life and will influence the life of his children.

For more information about Jerome and Michel’s collaboration, please visit our Rwanda Research Cluster page. Our SCVN YouTube channel also has more details about the trailer and upcoming film:

After thoughtful consideration, our Yezidi survivor Jilan (not her real name), decided to participate anonymously in the documentary film about her collaboration with the graphic artist, Birgit Weyhe. The filming took place on July 1 and 2 and Filmmaker Olaf Markmann and Research Consultant Leyla Ferman coordinated and outlined a filming schedule. The first day started with Birgit’s art studio in Hamburg to focus on the process and partnership between graphic novelist Birgit and the Yezidi survivor. The second day was filmed at our project partner, the Bergen-Belsen Memorial site, as it serves as a place of remembrance (see below).

Filming at the Bergen-Belsen Memorial on July 2, 2025. Photo credit: Kjell Anderson.

The challenge was to respect the anonymity of the Yezidi survivor while simultaneously achieving a sense of closeness to the subject and the broader community. The approach to filming included scenes filmed in closed and open spaces, reflecting this duality.

In addition to Olaf and Leyla, Research Cluster Co-Lead, Kjell Anderson joined for off-camera interviews with the survivor, to help us to better understand their experiences and potentially be included in the project archive. 

Filming at the Bergen-Belsen Memorial (top left) and at Birgit’s studio in Hamburg (top right & bottom) and team photo of Leyla Ferman, Birgit Weyhe and Kjell Anderson in July, 2025. Photo credit: Kjell Anderson and Elif Eker.

Learn more about the collaboration and Jilan’s story on the Iraq Research Cluster Page.

The Turtle Island Research Cluster has completed filming their short documentary film, ‘Kokum Dorothy’s Story’, directed by Andy Rutter. The film features conversations between residential school survivor Dorothy (Sekan) Visser (nee Whiskeyjack, Cree) and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan as they discuss their upcoming graphic novel, ‘We Can Still Sing and Dance: Kokum Dorothy’s Story.’ More information and photos from the filming can be found on UBC’s Pop Culture Cluster website here.

Natasha Donovan (Métis, left) showing Dorothy Visser (Cree, right) the final pages (May, 2025). Photo credit: Elizabeth Nijdam.