Sugar Dumplin’ at LAMP: A Community Screening I’ll Never Forget

Jul 14

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