We Will Be Brave // An event about healing masculinity in Guelph

Please register for this free documentary film screening at the Art Not Shame space on Friday, March 7th. Everyone is welcome, no one will be turned away. There will be an audience talkback with Toronto guests and a local expert.

Schedule

• 6:00pm Doors open
• 6:30pm Opening remarks and spoken word performance
• 7:00pm Film starts
• 8:15pm Audience Talkback
• 9:00pm event ends

Trailer and Synopsis

From photography and beatboxing to poetry and martial arts, the "Good Guise" collective sparks conversations around healthy masculinity through art. They welcome others to join in their mission of finding radical alternatives to shame and punishment for men who have harmed, or been harmed. How can a group of racialised men confront their privilege and power, while also honouring the hurt that society punishes them for feeling? How can we move away from punishment towards healing?

We Will Be Brave talks about men's mental health in a way that is honest, vulnerable, timely and very rarely seen on screen. Explorations around what masculinity is, and re-evaluations of what it could be are intertwined with revelations about the unique mental health challenges faced by men of colour, who are often sidelined or exclusively villainized in these conversations.

This screening is made possible with the support of the Ontario Arts Council.

Our panelists

CHRISANN HESSING - Writer, Director, Producer
Chrisann Hessing is a documentary filmmaker and impact producer based in Toronto. She has produced award-winning short films that have screened at Hot Docs, RIDM, Global Impact Film Festival and the London Asian Film Festival. Her work has been supported by the Ontario Arts Council, Inspirit Foundation, BravoFACT! Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent and Telefilm Canada. Chrisann’s latest film, Turning Tables, won Best Short Documentary at the 43rd American Indian Film Festival, and has screened in over 30 film festivals internationally. In 2020, Chrisann was selected as one of Reelworld's Emerging 20 and named Talent to Watch by Telefilm Canada.

JAH GREY - Good Guise member, director of Black Men's Therapy Fund
Jah Grey is a self-taught photographic artist specializing in portraiture, exploring Black masculinities through vulnerability and self-actualization. Grounded in his identity as a Black AuDHD trans man, his work challenges hyper-masculinity and societal constructs, offering counter-narratives that reflect grace, humanity, and belonging. His photography has been exhibited internationally, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the United Nations. Featured in Adidas, CBC Arts, and Afropunk, he also founded the Black Men’s Therapy Fund, promoting mental wellness. Through his lens, Jah Grey creates space for Black men to exist authentically, embracing fluidity, joy, and emotional transparency.

JUSTIN REID - local speaker
Justin is a spoken word artist, activist, and educator who blends poetry with social change. His work has been featured on TEDxGuelph, RogersTV, and the Guelph Civic Museum, using the power of words to amplify voices and ignite conversations on justice and advocacy. Justin is deeply committed to youth mentorship and community development. He has worked with organizations like Jamaican Self Help, Kawartha World Issues Centre, and the Community and Race Relations Committee, leading programs that equip young people with the tools to navigate mental health, systemic barriers, and personal growth. His work has included mentoring young men on self-awareness, emotional resilience, and leadership, creating spaces where they can openly discuss challenges and build confidence. Through workshops and one-on-one guidance, he has helped youth develop skills to advocate for themselves, engage in community activism, and pursue meaningful opportunities. To learn more, visit HighRLearning.com or connect via Realhighrlearning@gmail.com / Instagram @highrlearning.

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