‘Live Love Laugh’ overall winner at Cinéfest Sudbury
By Marci Becking
SUDBURY – The mini documentary, “Live Love Laugh”, directed and filmed by Ed Regan of Regan Pictures and produced by the Anishinabek Nation, was the big winner on Sept. 21 at the 29th Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival. The mini-doc won the overall Best of Shorts Northern Flicks and the Open Category.
“Live Love Laugh” is a candid film about an Indigenous woman named Dawn and the stigma and discrimination she has faced since her diagnosis of HIV 20 years ago.
“When Laura approached me to be a part of the mini doc series, I agreed right away,” says Dawn. “I wanted to speak my truth so that others won’t have to experience the same level of discrimination I faced. It’s different now, but when I was first diagnosed I could hear people whispering behind my back.”
The Anishinabek Nation’s HIV/AIDS Coordinator Laura Liberty says the film, the first of four produced by Regan Pictures, aims to encourage dialogue about one’s own biases and fears around HIV and to reduce stigma by personalizing the experience of living with HIV. Dawn explains that HIV does not define her and aims to ‘Live Love Laugh’ like everyone else.
“I am so grateful to Dawn for welcoming Ed and I into her home and trusting us with her story,” says Liberty. “Ed’s ability to capture and guide Dawn during the interviews made a huge difference in her feeling safe and open to share. I am so proud of the award; both Dawn and Ed deserve the recognition as they give so much of themselves for the benefit of others.”
Filmmaker Ed Regan says he was completely surprised by the acknowledgement.
“I was grateful to have ‘Live Love Laugh’ considered as a finalist. I thought I would go to Sudbury, watch the film on the big screen, and go home! I really wasn’t expecting to win one, let alone both awards. It’s a huge honour.”
Regan says the creative process is a lengthy one and requires unique listening skills.
“The most important part of retelling someone’s story is being a good listener. It’s not just hearing their words, but applying empathy to try and understand the layers beneath what they are saying,” says Regan. “The interview needs to be set up at a place where everyone feels comfortable, especially if it’s going to be a sensitive discussion. It depends on the storyteller’s capacity to speak. The creative process is nonlinear… It can be challenging sometimes yes, but I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
The mini documentary series will be released and made available on the Anishinabek Nation YouTube channel.