Alison Duke

Filmmography:

Garbage! The Revolution Starts At Home (2008) - More than 2,000,000 people from over 1000 different communities have screened the film worldwide, including Australia, South Africa, Europe, and all over North America. Over 3000 people joined the revolution in the Garbage! community we created with filmmaker Andrew Nisker. Presently being shown on The Documentary Channel (CBC), Radio Canada and TVO in Canada and the Sundance Channel in the USA. More than 200 schools, universities and colleges have bought the film throughout the English speaking world. Garbage! has screened at the following film festivals: Hot Docs International Film Festival, United Nations Association Film Festival, CINEMAMBIENTE Italian Enviro Fest - Special Mention Award, DOCSDF Intl Doc Film Festival of Mexico, Mexico Pepena Film Festival, China's, Guangzhou GZ Doc Film Festival, EcoKnights Eco Film Fest in Malaysia, Gimli Film Festival, New Kingston Film Festival, SCP Film Festival - Winner of Best Documentary Award, Milan Vedere la Scienza Film Festival, Green Film Festival in Seoul Korea, Festival International du Film d'Environnement Paris, URBAN-TV 2009, VII Intl Television Festival on Urban Life and Ecology in Madrid, Spain, Green Planet Blues Film Festival in Romania, SiciliAmbiente - Prize winner!

The Woman I Have Become (2008) - This 60 min. documentary tells the stories of eight black women with incredible strength and character who are living with HiV/AIDS in Toronto Canada. The film offers insight into how many African and Caribbean women live with and experience HIV, the circumstances that challenge them and their coping strategies. The film was funded in part by the Trillium Foundation, Women's Health In Women's Hands (WHIWH), ACCHO, Blackcap and Voices of Positive Women. The film premiered on International Aids Day in 2008 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto and the 2008 Worlds Aids Conference in Mexico City. The Woman I Have Become is free and now available in six different languages: French, Amharic, Arabic, Somali, Swahili and English. A discussion guide is also available for public and private screenings through WHIWH. CBC Radio International interviews Goldelox producer/director Alison Duke for World AIDs Day 2011 on The Link and features the women in the documentary, The Woman I Have Become. Check out the interview at: http://africa.rcinet.ca/2011/12/09/african-canadian-women-living-with-hivaids-share-their-lives-on-camera

Transitions and Traditions (2007) - Everyday the news is filled with immigration stories, in particular the many challenges faced by people before immigrating to Canada. Transition and Traditions is a 32 minute documentary commissioned by the Women's Intercultural Network  (W.I.N.) with support from the Status of Women Canada which puts these challenges into historical perspectives, through the personal stories of seven senior women who immigrated to Canada at different critical points in Canadian history after WWII. Each woman overcame adversity to become super activists. Inspriational, touching and highly educational this film resonates with all audience especially high school and university students. Transitions and Traditions premiered at Toronto's Metro Hall on International Persons Day 2007 and is presently being shown in schools. A discussion guide for high schools and universities is also available.

Hear the Story (2006) - Ten young people between the ages of 16 and 25, from a number of diverse neighbourhoods came together in the summer of 2005 to learn the skills of film-making under my direction and to explore the causes of crime and violence and their own search for solutions. have created a film eloquently describing their struggle with unemployment, discrimination and violence and how they are taking control of their own futures. Hear the Story was produced by the Youth Documentary Training Project, an initiative of Mayor Miller of the City of Toronto's Community Safety Plan. The film is a frank look at the lives of three of the project participants. Ingrid is a young Hispanic woman who cannot find a job despite her college education. Steven is a young African-Canadian who overcame a history of abuse to reach a new level of self-understanding and an ability to help others. John is a Vietnamese-Canadian who continues to struggle against racism both within his family and his community as he faces choices about his future. World premiere was in the City of Toronto members chambers. Screened at several local festivals including the Reelworld Film Festival. With great mentoring opportunities offered through Goldelox productions several of the youth who participated in this program are still working in film today.

A Deathly Silence (2003) - A 47 minute "tour de force" according to the Toronto Star, capturing the dramatic fall out over what happened the last moments of Segun Farquharson's life. He had just finished eating a meal at home when he got a call on his cell phone. Segun and a friend went to meet two men in a car. An argument ensued and Segun's battered body was found with a bullet in the back. He left behind a clue. He recorded his death on his cell phone and that's all the police know. Segun's mother Julia has gone to the media in the hopes of bringing his killers to justice. Segun's story is the lens through which the documentary investigates a troubling statistic: 30 per cent of Toronto's homicide victims are young African Canadian males. A Dealthy Silence, produced by Elliot Halpern and Natalie Rodrigues aired on CBC Witness and Newsworld. It also screened at Glen Gould Studio at the CBC Film festival. 

Sex TV: The Series (2001-2003) - As a segment producer for Chum Television's Gemini Nominated syndicated documentary series, Sex TV: The Series, we produced a weekly 1/2 hour show and delivered anywhere between 30-34 episodes per year.  I will never forget this show. It was one of the best working experiences I have had to date creatively and socially. A few of my piece went on to screen at film festivals. Some of my more popular segments are: Booty Nation, The Playa's Ball: from Pimpstick to Pulpit and Josephine Baker.            

Raisin' Kane: A Rapumentary (2000) - Produced by the National Film Board of Canada, this was my first film ever. The film follows Citizen Kane, my brother's rap group trying to make it in the Canadian music industry. I basically tried to tell the story of urban music and highlight the challenges that some of these artist face in Canada. The film won several awards (including Best Documentary at Urbanworld and Best Canadian Documentary at The Reel World Film Festival) and later had a cross country university tour during black history month that was sponsored by Universal Music Canada. The film is available at NFB. Too bad I don't own it. Although at the time it was released there was a bootleg version floating around the city. This film has played in over 50 film festivals.