Toronto is indisputably a hotbed for culture and creativity. There are so many film festivals, concerts, fundraisers and art shows that it’s often hard to keep up; but that’s definitely not a complaint. This past week, Regent Park’s 8th Annual Regent Park Film Festival: Reel Images Real Communities took place. One of the awesome short films that screened was Shadeism by Nayani Thiyagarajah.

Shadeism: Light skin is better than dark skin, which is the basis of shadeism. This documentary short introduces that form of discrimination, common in communities of colour. Through five young women and one little girl, the film looks at both the roots and effects of the issue, ultimately exploring how we can move forward together.

Bio: Nayani Thiyagarajah

Nayani Thiyagarajah is a storyteller. She is interested in utilizing film, photography and theatre as media for documenting the stories of her community, especially its women. Shadeism is a collective creation among five recent graduates of the Ryerson School of Journalism: Brian Han, Leanne McAdams, Derek Rider, Vanessa Rodrigues, and Nayani Thiyagarajah.

Via: www.1loveto.com