Deep Rooted - Press Kit
Deep Rooted is a short documentary that dives into the mental health crisis facing farmers across Canada. Featuring four farmers from Ontario, Québec and Saskatchewan in blunt, honest and authentic discussions of mental health and suicide in agriculture. Through interviews with researchers, crisis responders and advocates, the film analyzes how farm culture, gender roles and chronic stress have contributed to this crisis.
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Biographies
Kyle McDonnell | Director
Kyle is a young writer and director whose work often explores dysfunctional family relationships and themes of isolation, indecision and coming-of-age set in distinctly rural Ontario landscapes. Being raised on a sheep farm outside of Goderich, Ontario as a child of divorce has enormously affected his work, including his last two films; A View of the Lake (2018) and Menesetung (2015). A View of the Lake won “Best Fiction” and was nominated for “Best Director” at Yorkton Film Festival, and was selected at Cinéfest Sudbury among other festivals. Menesetung was selected in TIFF Canada’s Top Ten, and won “Best Film” at the Ryerson University Film Festival.
Deep Rooted represents a shift to documentary filmmaking, exploring the crisis in mental health in agriculture and its relationship with legacy and outdated notions of gender.
Van Wickiam | Producer
Van is a Toronto based producer and founder of Public Space Productions. Since graduating from Ryerson University’s Film Studies program in 2015, Van has produced several award winning short films, including Praise, a Lone Man (2018) and A View of the Lake (2018), that have played in festivals across North America. Van looks to bring films to life that explore the complexities of everyday life that helps us better understand who we are.
Public Space Productions
Public Space is a Toronto based production company, with a wide catalog of projects including award-winning short films, music videos and commercial work.