Louise Bennett is a Jamaican icon. The country’s leading author, poet, and comedienne, ‘Miss Lou’ pioneered the use of the Jamaican language, raising the patois dialect to an art level and reflecting the truth and essence of Jamaican life. Louise reflects upon her rich life story and her illustrious body of work. One of 20 Unique documentaries on Caribbean authors - Literature Alive. Profiling Caribbean-Canadian authors from the 1960s through to the hip-hop generation, these 26 revealing and provocative documentaries explore the lives and creative processes of some of today's most brilliant writers, poets, and lyricists. In so doing, we discover the links between personal experience, ancestry, and migration; between Canada and the Caribbean; between an artist and their art.

A refreshingly new and funny take on Black church life. Lord Have Mercy! features up-and-coming Canadian actor Arnold Pinnock as Youth Pastor Dwight Gooding. An ambitious but socially inept young minister who plans to make big changes at Mt. Zion, a church in the heart of Toronto's Caribbean community. But he must compete with the charismatic and easy-going Pastor Cuthbert Stevens (played by popular Trinidadian comic Dennis "Sprangalang" Hall) for the loyalty and attention of the eccentric church crew. The gifted ensemble cast includes Leonie Forbes, one of Jamaica's most respected actors who was also nominated for a Gemini for Best Actress for the series.

Join Jamaican icon, Leonie Forbes for a buffet lunch at River Restaurant. Lunch catered by Blue Mountain Bistro.

Johanna (Josette Simon) is a Jamaican woman who emigrates to Canada to escape the crushing poverty of her homeland. She lands a job as a nanny for a yuppie couple and develops a loving relationship with their children. Johanna misses her son David (Richard Mills) and makes plans to fly him up for the Christmas holiday. Her friends try and talk her into letting the boy stay illegally and enlist the help of Gordon (Errol Slue) to falsify the necessary documents. David and Johanna are housed by Adam (Lyman Ward), the school principal who once tried to seduce Johanna after she attended a night class he was teaching. Later, mother and son face deportation, and Adam loses his job for intentionally ignoring David's bogus immigration documents.

Exquisitely beautiful and profoundly moving, What My Mother Told Me is a dramatic journey towards self discovery. The story focuses on Jesse, a young woman from England, who goes to Trinidad to bury her father. Reluctantly she agrees to meet her mother, whom she thought had abandoned her when she was a child. Her mother tells her stories, revealing a troubled and violent marriage, and Jesse is forced to face the truth about her past. What My Mother Told Me cleverly evokes complex connections between history, memory, violence and cultural identity.

Poor Boy's Game is a 2007 Canadian feature film directed by Clement Virgo. Sparked by an upcoming grudge-match between an ex-con and a local boxing champ, racial tensions flare up. It is a story of class struggle, racial tensions and boxing, set in the Canadian east coast port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The film is a compelling, intelligent drama that is powerful enough to knock out resistance to its charms. It stars Danny Glover and Tonya Lee Williams.

Celebrate with us at Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W. Hosted by Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum. http://www.appletonrum.com/

Gloria, an impoverished orange seller from the country, overcomes countless obstacles -- both personally and professionally -- until she becomes the owner of the Hotel Glorianna in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Kerie-Ann Lewis and Carol Campbell star as the young and adult protagonist, and Rodney Campbell portrays her abusive husband, Milton. This true rags-to-riches tale of Gloria Minto packed theaters in its native Jamaica.

Come with us, and enjoy a celebration after the film! Hosted by Leda Serene Films http://www.ledaserene.ca/web/