CYPHER (Online Only)

CYPHER is a 22-minute documentary following three Black artists and community organizers creating visibility and safe spaces for Black youth in Vancouver, a city often perceived as lacking Black history and culture. The film centres on musician Dae Shields, actor and musician Moses Andeku (Kor Kase), and activist-educator Alisha Lettman. Together, they built Afro Van Connect, an organization that empowers Black youth through conversation and creative expression. At the heart of the film are monthly “Cypher” gatherings, where participants share stories, poetry, music, and dance. These intimate circles reveal the richness and diversity of Vancouver’s African diaspora while exploring identity, belonging, and the power of community.

Mariam Barry is a biracial Afro-Norwegian filmmaker based in Vancouver, Canada. Originally from Norway, she is a two-time recipient of the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices Fellowship and an alumni of the VIFF Catalyst program for up and coming filmmakers. Mariam is the lead producer of the Telefilm Talent to Watch feature “Hair or No Hair” and is a tapped talent for the Black Screen Office’s Directors Accelerator Program in collaboration with the Directors Guild of Canada. As a program recipient, Mariam has been a directing apprentice on Billion Dollar Bluff (TUBI), Wildcards (CBC & CW) as well as Percy Jackson (Disney). As a director, her short film YAYE won a Best in BC award at GemFest.

Eva Anandi Brownstein was raised between the mountains of Northern India and Nelson, BC, and now lives and creates on Coast Salish territory. Her diverse interests have lead her through a wide range of media landscapes – from National Film Board documentaries to mountain adventure films to storytelling for social impact throughout Africa and Asia. In her work as Cinematographer and Director she finds inspiration in giving voice to underrepresented peoples and issues, and sharing stories of resilience.