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Reimagining Dementia Through Storytelling: Sugar Dumplin’ on World Alzheimer’s Day
On World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21st), we joined a community of partners and supporters to reflect on the immeasurable value seniors bring to our lives and to spark new conversations about dementia. At Mid-Career Productions, we had the privilege of screening our short film Sugar Dumplin’ in collaboration with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario, Caribbean Vibrations TV Ltd., University Health Network, and Reimagining Dementia: A Creative Coalition for Justice.
Why Sugar Dumplin’?
Our film follows a daughter’s journey to reconnect with her estranged father, who is living with dementia, by cooking the food of his childhood. Rooted in Jamaican culture, Sugar Dumplin’ is about much more than food—it’s about memory, identity, and love. For us, the screening was not only about showcasing a film, but about sparking conversations on how dementia can be reframed: not as an end to one’s story, but as a new chapter where connection, creativity, and care still flourish.
A Community Conversation
The audience gathered at Canada’s National Ballet School was deeply moved. Watching Sugar Dumplin’ alongside Dancer Not Dementia—another powerful short highlighting how dance restores dignity and joy—there were very few dry eyes in the room. These films opened space to see people living with dementia as whole, vibrant individuals whose experiences cannot be reduced to a diagnosis.
The afternoon also introduced the community to an important upcoming project: Dementia in the Afro-Caribbean Community, a television series exploring dementia through fireside chats with experts. It’s a continuation of the same mission: to reframe dementia by centering the voices and experiences of those most affected.
Beyond the Screen
The event was a full celebration—steel drum music, an art exhibit, delicious food, and the presence of friends, family, and community. It was a reminder that storytelling is not confined to the screen. It lives in music, in art, and in how we choose to come together to uplift and honor seniors.
Our Commitment
At Mid-Career Productions, we believe film has the power to heal, to challenge stigma, and to reimagine what is possible. By sharing Sugar Dumplin’ on World Alzheimer’s Day, we aimed to contribute to a broader movement—reimagining dementia not as a loss, but as an opportunity to deepen empathy, strengthen community, and honour the stories of our elders.
Images Captured by Tim Fraser/KITE Studio
Sugar Dumplin’ Wins Top Prize at the Windrush Film Festival
Sugar Dumplin’, the powerful short film from Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker Tristan Barrocks, continues to make waves—this time in the UK. The film took home the Best Short Film award at the prestigious Windrush Film Festival 2025, a cultural celebration honoring the stories, voices, and legacy of the Windrush Generation and the Caribbean diaspora in Britain.
Held in late June in London, the Windrush Film Festival brought together filmmakers, actors, and audiences passionate about heritage-driven storytelling. Among them was Sugar Dumplin’ lead actress Chantel Riley, who attended the screening and engaged in meaningful conversations with attendees during a post-film Q&A.
Riley, known for her work in Wynonna Earp, Frankie Drake Mysteries, and Broadway’s The Lion King, delivered a raw and layered performance in Sugar Dumplin’ as Ebony—a woman struggling to reconnect with her estranged Jamaican father, played by comedy legend Oliver Samuels. The emotional tension between their characters, rooted in love, regret, and cultural expectation, was at the heart of the film’s resonance with audiences.
“This story moved people to tears,” Riley shared during the festival. “To see how much it resonated with a UK audience shows just how universal these Caribbean family experiences really are.”
Directed by Tristan Barrocks, Sugar Dumplin’ tells a deeply personal tale of intergenerational healing through food and memory. The win for Best Short Film is a major honor, especially given the Windrush Film Festival’s dedication to spotlighting bold, authentic stories of the Caribbean experience.
The award marks another milestone in Sugar Dumplin’’s growing festival run, following its U.S. premiere at the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and a trio of awards at Jamaica’s Black River Film Festival. With a sold-out Canadian premiere on the horizon (July 27 at The Royal Cinema in Toronto), the film continues to build international momentum.
For director Tristan Barrocks, this recognition is about more than awards. “It’s about cultural preservation. It’s about showing up for our stories,” he says. “And this win is a beautiful reminder that Caribbean voices belong on every screen.”
Stay up to date on Sugar Dumplin’’s journey at Mid Career Productions and follow @tristanbarrocks and @chantel_riley for behind-the-scenes moments and festival updates.
My ABFF Experience: Sugar Dumplin’ Found Its People in Miami
Attending the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) this year was nothing short of surreal. As a Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker, I’ve always looked up to ABFF as a space that truly celebrates Black storytelling—not just as entertainment, but as a cultural necessity. So to see my film, Sugar Dumplin’, screened on that stage… it was emotional.
Sugar Dumplin’ is one of the most personal projects I’ve ever made. It tells the story of a daughter trying to reconnect with her estranged Jamaican father, who’s now battling Alzheimer’s. The film stars Oliver Samuels, a legend in Jamaican culture, and Chantel Riley, a powerhouse talent who brought so much depth to her role. To watch these two share the screen, with an audience full of people who understood the nuances, the silences, the subtext—that was a moment I’ll never forget.
Did we walk away with a trophy? No. But what we gained meant more.
People hugged us after the screening. They cried. They told us it reminded them of their parents, their grandparents, their unspoken regrets. I had someone stop me and say, “This is the first time I’ve seen my family on screen like this.” That’s when I knew we had already won.
Sugar Dumplin’ was never about chasing accolades—it was about creating space for stories that reflect who we are and where we come from. Sharing it at ABFF, and having Chantel Riley there beside me to represent our team, was an honor. The post-screening Q&A turned into a heartfelt dialogue about memory, fatherhood, and the quiet ways we love each other in Caribbean families.
To every person who came up to us, who posted, who said, “this film touched me”—thank you. Your words reminded me why I do this. We didn’t leave ABFF with a trophy, but Sugar Dumplin’ found its people. And that’s the kind of win I’ll never forget.
Stay locked in. The journey continues.
— Tristan Barrocks
Writer | Director | Producer
Sugar Dumplin’ | @tristanbarrocks | @midcareerproductions
Sugar Dumplin’ at LAMP: A Community Screening I’ll Never Forget
Here we are, the filmmakers of Sugar Dumplin’ alongside the fantastic organizers of LAME, sharing a moment filled with excitement and creativity. The energy is palpable, with laughter, shared passion, and a sense of community shining through every smile. It’s a snapshot of the beautiful fusion between film and culture, where voices unite to amplify underrepresented stories with joy, colour, and heart. We’re so grateful to be part of this journey with LAME, championing stories that remind us all of the power of heritage and connection.
There’s something powerful about showing your work where you’re from—in the neighbourhoods that shaped you, in front of the people who understand your story without you needing to explain it.
This week, I had the privilege of screening Sugar Dumplin’ with the LAMP Community Health Centre in Mississauga, and honestly? It was one of the most meaningful moments on this journey so far.
Sugar Dumplin’ is a deeply personal film. It follows a young woman trying to rebuild a connection with her Jamaican father, who is now living with Alzheimer’s. The film stars Oliver Samuels and Chantel Riley, but it’s also starring all the stories we’ve lived—the silent dinners, the unspoken “I love yous,” the complicated love that lives in Caribbean families.
To be able to screen this film at LAMP, with an audience filled with elders, caregivers, and local residents—that was the real reward. The conversations we had afterward were heartfelt and raw. People shared their own stories of memory loss, of caregiving, of what it means to love someone who doesn’t always know how to show it back.
One person came up to me and said, “Thank you for telling the truth. Not the TV version. Our version.” That stuck with me.
This wasn’t a fancy red carpet moment. It was better. It was real. It was grassroots. It was a community. And it reminded me that Sugar Dumplin’ isn’t just a film—it’s a mirror, a hug, a way back to conversations we’re often afraid to have.
Thank you to the entire team at LAMP for hosting us with so much care and intention. And thank you to every person who showed up, shared space, and opened their hearts.
We’re just getting started.
— Tristan Barrocks
Writer | Director | Producer
Sugar Dumplin’ | @tristanbarrocks | @midcareerproductions
From the Kitchen to the Culture: Being Featured in IMPACT Magazine
When I first started working on Sugar Dumplin’, I knew I was telling a personal story—but I didn’t expect it would land me in the pages of IMPACT Magazine alongside some of the most inspiring brothers out here doing the work.
This month, I was deeply honored to be featured in IMPACT’s Men of Impact issue during Men’s Mental Health Month, and I don’t take that lightly.
As a Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker, father, and husband, I carry a lot of stories inside me. Sugar Dumplin’ is one of them—it’s a film about reconnection, memory, legacy, and the messiness of love within Caribbean families. It’s about a daughter trying to understand her father before it’s too late. It’s about food, silence, and everything we inherit emotionally that can’t be put into words.
When I first started working on Sugar Dumplin’, I knew I was telling a personal story—but I didn’t expect it would land me in the pages of IMPACT Magazine alongside some of the most inspiring brothers out here doing the work.
This month, I was deeply honoured to be featured in IMPACT’s Men of Impact issue during Men’s Mental Health Month, and I don’t take that lightly.
As a Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker, father, and husband, I carry a lot of stories inside me. Sugar Dumplin’ is one of them—it’s a film about reconnection, memory, legacy, and the messiness of love within Caribbean families. It’s about a daughter trying to understand her father before it’s too late. It’s about food, silence, and everything we inherit emotionally that can’t be put into words.
But more than that, it’s a film about what it means to be a man, not just strong, but vulnerable. Not just present, but emotionally available. Not perfect, but real.
Being featured in IMPACT Magazine, under the guidance and vision of Tunisha C. Brown, means more than a spotlight. It means this story is resonating beyond the film festivals and into the community, into spaces that care about healing, heritage, and humanity.
We often don’t give Black men the space to feel. We teach them to carry, to perform, to survive—but rarely to be soft, to grieve, to reflect. This feature was a reminder that the work we’re doing through Sugar Dumplin’ isn’t just artistic—it’s emotional resistance. It’s permission. It’s legacy-building.
Thank you to IMPACT Magazine and to everyone who’s lifted this project with your support, love, and encouragement. This one’s for every man learning to show up fully—flaws, feelings, and all.
Check out the full feature here:
👉 https://www.theimpactmagazine.com
— Tristan Barrocks
Writer | Director | Producer
Sugar Dumplin’ | @tristanbarrocks | @midcareerproductions
🎟️ Sugar Dumplin’ Canadian Premiere Tickets Are Now On Sale!
Toronto film lovers and culture seekers—the wait is over!
Tickets for the highly anticipated Canadian premiere of Sugar Dumplin’ are officially on sale now.
After making waves at the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Sugar Dumplin’ is returning home for a powerful screening event that celebrates Black fatherhood, Caribbean storytelling, and the unbreakable bonds of family and food.
🗓️ Date: Sunday, July 27, 2025
📍 Location: The Royal Cinema – 608 College St, Toronto
🎟️ Tickets: Click here to buy your tickets now
Directed by award-winning Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker Tristan Barrocks, Sugar Dumplin’ stars the legendary Oliver Samuels and rising star Chantel Riley in a deeply emotional story about reconnection, memory, and cultural legacy.
Attendees can also look forward to:
A post-screening Q&A
A special meet & greet with cast and crew:
• Chantel Riley
• Natanya Barrocks
• Tristan Barrocks
This one-night-only event is expected to sell out, so don’t wait to grab your seats!
🔥 Why You Should Attend:
Celebrate Jamaican and Caribbean culture on screen
Support Black Canadian cinema
Connect with community through story, food, and emotion