Mac grad and filmmaker turns the camera around in new doc

The craft of documentary filmmaking is about being able to tell compelling stories about real people. The director needs to ensure that the person on the other end of the lens is comfortable to speak freely and honesty. But when you turn the camera around and tell your own story – things can be unexpectedly weird at first.

“As film makers, my husband and I often share other people’s stories, and in our experience, know that it is a gift whenever someone shares their story with us,” says Emily DeVries Kimanje, who graduated from Social Sciences (psychology) in 2012. “It was quite intimidating to be sharing our story. We experienced the vulnerability that comes with sharing one’s story first-hand.  However, we also know the power of sharing stories, and that is why we created this doc.”

Her documentary, Lockdown Baby, follows the story of Kimanje and her husband, Ian, as they grapple with the uncertainty and worry that followed when the COVID-19 lockdown orders came into effect just weeks before their second child was due.

“At a time when the entire world was watching a death toll, we were very much focused on the exact opposite,” she says. “This emotional juxtaposition of life and death forced us to also reflect on what it will look like to raise our sons to know and understand love, even if they can’t give and receive it with hugs, kisses, and visits.”

The result is a story that focuses on the things in life that matter and the stuff that helps us through some of the most scary and difficult times in our lives.

“This doc is our way of showing others that they are not alone and is a love letter of sorts to all viewers. The reality is, whether you’re raising kids, or you’re all on your own, we all need to start thinking about what love looks like from a distance,” says Kimanje.

The art of the documentary begins with understanding people

There’s a lot to consider when making a documentary of any length, and for Emily some of the most valuable things she brings to the table and to her production company, Film Garage North Inc., are the lessons learned while in university.

“Studying psychology and religious studies were key in developing my ability to understand different peoples’ experiences and understanding of the world,” says Kimanje. “Mac is also a place where people from all over the world come together and having the honour of meeting many different people from different backgrounds and cultures, also introduced me to new ways of hearing and telling stories.”

Celebrating diverse voices is something that is the heart of the documentaries she creates.

“What is most important to us though, is creating media that reflects the lives and stories of people who have historically been under or un-represented,” she says. “My husband and business partner is from Uganda, and my children are therefore citizens of the world. It is important to me, that when they look at screens, they see content that reflects the world that they know and own. I want them to see images like their home in Uganda and know the value of that lifestyle as well as the value of the lifestyle of their home in Canada.”

Lockdown Baby can be streamed on CBC Gem. To learn more about what’s next for Emily and her husband, check out their website.