Village Keeper is a Canadian drama film directed by Karen Chapman, and released in 2024.Annemarie Cutruzzola, "TIFF Top 20: A Guide to Our Most Anticipated Films at the 2024 Festival". She Does the City, August 16, 2024. The film stars Oluniké Adeliyi as Jean, a Black Canadian widow living in the Lawrence Heights community of Toronto, where she tries to protect her children Tamika (Zahra Bentham) and Tristin (Micah Mensah-Jatoe) from neighbourhood violence.Victoria Ahearn, "Karen Chapman embarks on feature directorial debut". Playback, June 26, 2023.
The cast also includes Maxine Simpson as Jean's mother, as well as Oyin Oladejo, d'bi.young anitafrika, Ethan Burnett, Shiloh O'Reilly, Noah Zulfikar, Ricardo Betancourt, L.A. Sweeney, Mark Sparks, Gordon Fulton, Zara McLean, Jael Obasi and Mekeylah Minott in supporting roles.
Chapman's feature directorial debut, it entered production in summer 2023, in Toronto.
The film premiered in the Discovery program at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.Kim Izzo, "Two Canadian features added to TIFF Discovery progamme". Playback, August 13, 2024.
Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Directors Guild of Canada 2024 Best Direction in a Feature Film Karen Chapman Connie Thiessen, "Sweet Angel Baby leads DGC Awards’ film nominations". Broadcast Dialogue, September 20, 2024. Canadian Screen Awards 2025 Best Motion Picture Enrique Miguel Baniqued, Karen Chapman "2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS CBC/RADIO-CANADA NOMINATIONS BY PROGRAM". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, March 25, 2025. Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film Oluniké Adeliyi Best Supporting Performance in a Drama Film Zahra Bentham Micah Mensah-Jatoe Maxine Simpson Best Original Screenplay Karen Chapman John Dunning Best First Feature
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