“SponsorLand” – World Premiere screening and Q+A on Wednesday, November 8, 7pm, Isabel Bader Cinema (93 Charles St West) – tickets are $10.00

To reserve tickets to the public Toronto screening: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-cutting-factory-presents-sponsorland-tickets-39013786285

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Michèle Hozer (Sugar Coated), SponsorLand chronicles the first year in the lives of a Syrian family brought to Canada in the fall of 2015 by PEC Syria, a private sponsor group in Prince Edward County.

Canadians became international heroes during the Syrian refugee crisis when they stepped up, opened their doors, and sponsored 25,000+ in need. But how is reality stacking up against all the good intentions and good news headlines? When does caring become control and what’s the line between autonomy and dependence? And, what does ‘it takes a village’ really mean? SponsorLand seeks to shed light on these thornier questions as well as the positive outcomes of the sponsor-refugee relationship.

SponsorLand is a thoughtful, intimate take on the dynamic between newcomers to Canada and their sponsors who commit money, emotional and sweat equity to support resettlement and the family who while grateful, wonder what they have to sacrifice to fit in.