TRURO, N.S. — Troy Jackson will be doing a lot more than visiting family and friends when he returns to Truro this spring. He’s one of the directors of Truro’s first Emerging Lens Film Festival.
“I love film and I love doing things in Truro,” he said. “These festivals have been happening in Halifax, and last year there was a satellite show in New Glasgow. When I was there I told them to let me know if they decided to expand to Truro – and here we are.
“I have a lot of good memories from Truro, with great support, and the CEC has always had a great environment of creation,” he said of Cobequid Educational Centre.
Co-directors of the multicultural film festival, which will take place at the NSCC lecture hall on April 28, are Tara Taylor and Shelley Fashan.
Jackson grew up in Truro and now lives in Toronto where he performs, writes, makes films, studies fashion and manages his husband’s law office, while helping raise their 20-month-old child.
A little over a year ago, he and his twin brother Todd shot a short sitcom-style film called Hoods outside of Truro. It tells a story of two black teens who are at a Halloween party when people in Ku Klux Klan outfits show up. It was released under Jackson Bros Productions and will be shown at the Truro festival.
“I want to make sure any work I do has some social spin to it, and racism is still an issue,” he said. “My family is a family of storytellers and I’ve always enjoyed telling stories and acting things out.
“We’re going to be shooting something small when I’m back. It’s great because I’m almost 49 and I still get to play with my brother.”
Tickets to the film festival will be available about three weeks before the event and, through sponsorship, are free.
To keep up to date on Jackson’s activities, visit his website at troyjackson.ca or the Jackson Bros Productions Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Jackson-Bros-Productions-167369487304404/.
More information on the film festival can be found online at https://www.theemerginglens.com/
