Concordia’s professor, Bonnie Harnden shines at Tromsø Educational Film Festival
Actress Aiza Ntibarikure playing the teacher, with student, played by Armand Lupien, in You Arrive.
Concordia drama therapy professor Bonnie Harnden, and actor and filmmaker Mark Krupa, BA 92 (psychology), MA 12 (creative arts therapy), have recently captured attention with their film You Arrive, an exploration of intergenerational trauma.
It was awarded Best Educational Film at the Tromsø Educational Film Festival in Norway. The festival aims to promote the use of film as a pedagogical tool, bringing together educators and filmmakers from around the globe.
Harnden's film is not a newcomer to acclaim. It has garnered recognition at various international festivals worldwide, notably the Cannes World Film Festival and the Berlin Shorts Awards.
The genesis of "You Arrive" stems from Harnden's extensive experience working with children and teenagers affected by family trauma. Drawing upon her decade-long tenure at the Montreal Children's Hospital, Harnden sought to transcend traditional research dissemination methods.
She first crafted a play to convey her findings in a more accessible format. The positive feedback she received encouraged her to adapt the work into a film with Krupa. The result is a “performance auto-ethnography edu-drama” says Harnden, that blends storytelling, research, and performance into the narrative on intergenerational trauma.
For Harnden, You Arrive serves as a powerful tool for teaching complex concepts in a relatable manner. An upcoming screening of the film at Concordia in June, will also help raise funds for the Concordia Arts in Health Clinic (CAHC).
Watch their acceptance speech here.
Learn more about Concordia’s Drama Therapy graduate program and the CAHC.