Sugar Dumplin Canadian Premiere
🎬 Sugar Dumplin’ to Premiere in Toronto July 27 Following Major U.S. Festival Selection
Toronto, ON – [Insert today’s date] — After making waves on the international circuit with its official selection at the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), award-winning short film Sugar Dumplin’ will celebrate its Canadian premiere on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at The Royal Cinema in Toronto.
Written and directed by Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker Tristan Barrocks, Sugar Dumplin’ is an emotional, culturally rich story exploring Black fatherhood, dementia in the Black community, and the unspoken love shared through Caribbean food traditions. The film stars beloved Jamaican actor Oliver Samuels and Canadian screen star Chantel Riley (Frankie Drake Mysteries, Wynonna Earp), with Natanya Barrocks producing for Mid Career Productions.
“This film is my act of emotional resistance,” says Barrocks. “Sugar Dumplin’ is about loving someone who may not have had the tools to love you the way you hoped. It’s about culture, memory, and showing up for each other—even when it’s complicated.”
Set in a Toronto kitchen, Sugar Dumplin’ tells the story of Ebony, a woman attempting to reconnect with her estranged father, Desmond, who is battling Alzheimer’s. What begins as a heartfelt gesture—sharing a Jamaican meal—spirals into a clash of expectations, pain, and ultimately, healing. The story balances humour and heartbreak, layered with generational tension and the sensory power of Caribbean food.
The Canadian premiere will feature a post-screening Q&A and meet & greet with the cast and creative team, including Chantel Riley, Natanya Barrocks, and Tristan Barrocks. This marks the first public screening of the film in Canada, following its debut at ABFF in Miami on June 12, 2025, where it was celebrated as part of the official festival selection.
📍 Event Details:
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2025
Venue: The Royal Cinema – 608 College Street, Toronto
Time: 5pm EST
Details: Film screening + post-show Q&A + meet & greet
Tickets: Coming soon – link to be provided
🔥 Media Story Angles:
The return of Sugar Dumplin’ to Toronto after a U.S. festival debut
A powerful narrative on Black fatherhood told through Caribbean food and memory
Legendary actor Oliver Samuels stars in an emotionally raw, culturally grounded short
Toronto-based Black filmmaker gains recognition at ABFF and brings the story home
A fresh conversation on dementia and masculinity in the Caribbean-Canadian community
For interview requests, review screeners, or to attend the premiere as accredited media, please contact:
ABOUT THE FILM:
Sugar Dumplin’ is a heartfelt short film that explores the bond between an aging Jamaican father living with dementia and his daughter trying to reconnect with him. Rooted in food, identity, and unspoken love, the film challenges tropes of absentee fatherhood and showcases the emotional depth of Caribbean masculinity.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
Tristan Barrocks is an award-winning Jamaican-Canadian director, writer, and producer. Known for emotionally resonant stories that bridge identity, culture, and generational truth, Barrocks’ previous works include Dear Black Dad, Wallflower, and A Letter From the Fathers.
