Black Cop is a Canadian drama film, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[1] The full-length directorial debut of actor Cory Bowles, the film is an expansion of his earlier short film of the same name.[1]

Black Cop
Directed byCory Bowles
Written byCory Bowles
Produced byAaron Horton
StarringRonnie Rowe
Sophia Walker
Sebastien Labelle
CinematographyJeff Wheaton
Edited byJeremy Harty
Music byDillon Baldassero
Production
company
Black Op Films
Distributed bySamuel Goldwyn Films
Release date
  • September 11, 2017 (2017-09-11) (TIFF)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

The film stars Ronnie Rowe as a Black Canadian police officer who himself becomes the victim of racial profiling, and takes revenge on his community.[2][3]

In February 2018, the film was picked up by Samuel Goldwyn Films for distribution in the United States.[4]

Plot

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Part 1

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The film starts off with an African Canadian cop (Ronnie Rowe) recalling his childhood. When he was young, a little boy called him a name relating to a candy bar and he did nothing. After hearing this offensive name multiple times he eventually responded with picking up his textbook and beating him over the head with it. During this part he makes remarks on how his race alienates him because he is a cop: His father (who died before he got his badge) told his son that if you are ever stopped by the police even for the time you should put your hands up and freeze. He ends this part by saying that he never really did listen to his father.

Awards and accolades

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At the 2017 Vancouver International Film Festival, Black Cop won the award for Best Canadian Film.[5] At the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, the film won the John Dunning Discovery Award.[6]

Bowles received a nomination for the Directors Guild of Canada's DGC Discovery Award in 2017.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Nova Scotia film Black Cop to debut at TIFF". CBC News, August 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Kate McGillivray (11 September 2017). "Filmmaker behind 'Black Cop' on carding, racial tension and trauma". CBC News. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Nova Scotia director tackles police violence in film Black Cop". CBC News, November 13, 2016.
  4. ^ "Halifax filmmaker's Black Cop acquired by U.S. distributor". CBC News Nova Scotia, February 8, 2018.
  5. ^ "VIFF Announces BC and Canadian Award Winners for the 36th Annual Festival" (Press release). Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society. 7 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Winners: John Dunning Discovery Award". Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, March 11, 2018.
  7. ^ Barry Hertz, "Directors Guild of Canada reveals long list for Discovery Award". The Globe and Mail, September 5, 2017.
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