Canada’s RAY OF HOPE debuts at Berlin EFM
Building on the success of directing behind the scenes and capturing the performance recordings of the actors during auditions and productions for Oscar-nominated THE BREADWINNER (directed by Nora Twomey and executive produced by Angelina Jolie), the new feature-length documentary film delves into the intricate aftermath of trauma within a community aiming to attain justice for the multitude who have gone missing or perished. RAY OF HOPE follows an Eelam Tamil Canadian woman, Rathika Sitsabaiesan, a former Canadian Member of Parliament, who fled the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in 1987 to Canada with her Tamil family as a five-year-old child. Intergenerational conflict is at the heart of the story told from the viewpoint of Sitsabaiesan and other Tamil families as we bear witness to the resilience of the community. Channeling memory into connectivity the documentary film delves deeply into the collective experiences of survival for over half a century of the Tamil people.
Sitsabaiesan’s visit to Sri Lanka in 2013 rekindled her own traumatic memories. During this trip, she was surveilled by this very government accountable for widespread suffering. The story was already known to Singh who accompanied her on the visit. The development of RAY OF HOPE was made possible through the 2022 DOC Institute’s Breakthrough Program.
Today, RAY OF HOPE is presented at the Berlin European Film Market as a testament to the resilience of the Tamil people and shows that Rathika’s experience echoes a larger narrative of Eelam Tamils. Singh teamed up with Nikila Cole (Wanderings) who serves as a co-director to explore the intricate interplay between personal and collective healing and the ongoing pursuit of accountability by the Tamil community. The documentary is executive produced by Patricia Scarlett (Rasta: A Soul’s Journey) and Dayana Stanislaus.
RAY OF HOPE will premiere in Ontario, Canada on May 11, 2024, with the Canadian Theatrical release of the film running until May 18. The final screening date of May 18 marks the 15th anniversary of the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka following the bloody massacre of thousands of Tamils in Mullivaikkal, Sri Lanka. Sensethefuture Pictures Founder & CEO Teresa Potocka BSc Joint (Hons.), (Judge of BaMs since 2020) and The Government of the Republic of Poland Pro Memoria Medal recipient, a UK and EU based Broadcast Media Executive, Journalist and Producer joins as Executive Producer of RAY OF HOPE to help launch international sales for the title. Commenting on the making of RAY OF HOPE, Rathika Sitsabaiesan, a former Canadian Member of Parliament said: “The vast majority of Tamils who escaped Sri Lanka have ended up in Canada and hundreds of thousands in Europe. Even though it is a Canadian film it is important to have RAY OF HOPE making its debut in Europe. The communities where Tamils live will have an awareness of some of the traumas Tamils have survived and are continuing to live with and this film brings it home. It has taken us ten years to bring this to the screen because of the uncertainty of where we can turn without the parties involved being harmed or the footage being sabotaged. Many participants had pulled out of our project for fear of retribution, which meant that we had invested a lot of time and
repeatedly found ourselves back at square one before making headway.
” Commenting on the making of RAY OF HOPE, Ryan Singh, Award-winning Filmmaker and Producer said: “I feel humbled to have had an opportunity to learn about the Tamil people, understand their fight for freedom, and the impact of the genocide from which the Tamils suffered and many escaped. I am thankful to the community for allowing us access and to our team for being so respectful as we tell this important story.”
Commenting on spotlighting the oppression of a marginalised community Nikila Cole, Award-winning Director said: “I am deeply honored to be involved in this important and universal story of the plight of victims of genocide, their experiences, survival, and aftermath. I grew up with a very superficial understanding of what happened in Sri Lanka and the plight of the Tamil people. This experience has given me a deeper understanding of the human story and I’m grateful to our participants for sharing their personal stories. How inspiring to see what they and the next generation have gone through and are now moving past.” Commenting on the debut of RAY OF HOPE at Berlin EFM, Canadian Tamil Cinema Enhancement Organisation President Muraleetharan Kanthaswamy said: “Having been on the frontlines of the Tamil cause for decades, I recognize this film for being the first film that tells our story without political angling.”
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Notes to Editors:
About Ryan Singh Productions
Singh has worked on shows for NBC, FOX, CBS, Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Disney, Rogers, Bell Media, Planet Africa, as well as notable channels across the Caribbean. His acting career appearances include Entertainment Tonight Canada, and Global News. Ryan’s acting credits include THE EXPANSE (Syfy, Amazon Prime Video), DESIGNATED SURVIVOR (ABC, Netflix), KIM’S CONVENIENCE (CBC, Netflix), and Alexander Payne’s DOWNSIZING (Matt Damon). In directing MEMENTO: A SOUTH AFRICAN ARTVENTURE Singh has emerged as a new director and secured awards at the 2021 Directors Screen Awards – Best Documentary Director – “Memento: A South African Artventure” – Winner, 2020 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival – “Memento: A South African Artventure” – Best Canadian Documentary – Winner, 2020 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival – Best Cinematography – “Memento: A South African Artventure” – Winner For nearly two decades, Ryan Singh Productions Ltd has been creating content for film, television, new media, and theatre. Starting with theatre and radio productions, the company quickly moved into documenting stories and events that impact diverse audiences, eventually evolving into film and television production. The company’s content is deeply rooted in social justice, the black experience, and human rights.
About Nikila Cole Co-Director and Writer Nikila Cole is a multi-award winner of many documentaries, fiction projects and TV series including the Audience Vote for Best Documentary at Palm Springs Int’l for INTIMACIES, about Michael Kearns, Hollywood’s first openly HIV+ gay actor Best Screenplay at Oaxaca Int’l and Second Rounder at the Austin Film Festival for SERPENT QUEEN. Exeleon Magazine named her Creative Pioneer of the Year.
About Rathika Sitsabaiesan Former Canadian Member of Parliament for the Scarborough Rouge River Riding, Sitsabaiesan, has made significant contributions to recognizing and celebrating Tamil heritage. She introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Canadian parliament, designating January as Tamil Heritage Month. This initiative aims to honor the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Tamil community. Sitsabaiesan is the recipient of The V. K. Krishna Menon Institute’s “Personality of the Year Award” in 2012. The award was conferred on her for her untiring efforts on human rights issues in Sri Lanka, opposing the persecution of Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka and her ability to represent her constituency without racial and creed prejudices. She is a Global Human Rights Activist.
About Sensethefuture Pictures SENSETHEFUTURE PICTURES, headquartered in London, is an award-winning global television and communications business founded by Teresa Potocka BSc Joint (Hons.) The BBC approved company secured the Media Innovator Award for Best TV and Film Communications Agency in EMEA in 2019. We originate, develop and produce programmes and films for the unscripted market and enable the development and production of IP with emerging and established talent as well as strategic public relations, communications and world premiere PR. We continue to successfully amplify and profile brands across a number of channels across geographies. In enabling brand reach we integrate a narrative-led approach and deliver bespoke campaigns and coverage across a range of industry sectors.