Documentary Battleground Receives Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere

Battleground, the documentary short film from Black Canadian philosophy PhD. candidate and poet turned filmmaker, Kwesi Thomas, in collaboration with director Mark Bone (Rescate, No Country is an Island), recently received its Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere. 

The film, which is about the effects of the George Floyd murder on the Canadian black community, aims to spark conversation and give a glimpse into the effects of racism in this country. The film was conceived by Kwesi Thomas and Mark Bone which through their conversations immediately following the death of George Floyd.

Battleground is a short documentary that addresses the lifelong struggle and confusion that many black people face in silence when growing up. It is an intimate look into the subtle, often overlooked moments of racism and the ensuing vulnerabilities that linger for life and can shape identity. 

"As this film is being released, the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial was read while a 15-year old black girl was killed by police in Ohio. This is a moment of cultural war. Generations of Black people in North America have found themselves in war-torn skin. Now, again, our skin begins to quake, minds to dizzy, hearts beat rapidly, and palms perspire. Battleground is an attempt to capture this experience so that those who have not had it can have an empathetic entry point. Amidst these murders - George Floyd, Daunte Wright, and far too many others to name -- we cry, fight, and search for breath," says Kwesi Thomas.

Filmed in Toronto, Battleground is released under Escarpment Films. Cinematography by Adam Madrzyk (Guion) and Mark Bone, edited by Bone with an original Score by Timothy Mann (Aftermask, Dearest Enemy).