In anticipation of our upcoming Black History Month event, A Night of Obsidian, taking place on February 24th, we’re honoured to spotlight the curator behind the evening: Natasha Tony. 

Natasha’s history with Reel Causes dates back to 2021, having curated our Black History Month programming each year since. Beyond Reel Causes, she is the CEO and Founder of Elevate Inclusion Strategies and a respected leader in labour relations, inclusive leadership, and organizational change. Recognized as a Black leader by the Vancouver Economic Commission, Natasha brings an intersectional and reconciliation-focused lens to all she does. As a cultural producer, community builder, and host of the Narrative Shift podcast, her work centers identity, belonging, and healing.Below, Natasha shares the meaning behind A Night of Obsidian and offers deeper insight into the intention behind the event, in her own words.

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There are moments when gathering is not optional—it is medicine. A Night of Obsidian is one of those moments. This evening is an invitation to pause, to retreat together, and to sit in the presence of people who have dedicated their lives to freedom through story. At a time when so much pulls us apart, this is a night to remember the power of being in community.

A Night of Obsidian: A Gathering of Story and Resistance

A Night of Obsidian is an evening to come together as a community to watch a powerfully relevant film and then engage in deep, rich conversation with freedom fighters who document social movements through film, writing, and lived experience. This is not just a screening. It is a shared space to breathe, reflect, and be nourished by stories that remind us who we are and what we are capable of together.

This night is about connection—about empowering one another to continue documenting, advocating, and standing for our collective freedom. Obsidian holds memory, protection, and truth. This evening does too.

The Film: Shoot The People

We will be screening Shoot the People, a documentary following photographer and activist Misan Harriman as he documents global protest movements during a year that leads to his Oscar nomination. Through Harriman’s lens, we witness the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice across the world.

The film weaves historical context, interviews with activists, and reflections on digital activism to reveal the intersectionality and collective power of modern movements. Shoot the People is a reminder that documentation is not passive—it is an act of resistance. The film invites us to recognize our own power in shaping a more just society and to understand storytelling as a living, breathing force for change.

Our Circle of Freedom Fighters

I am honoured to host this evening and hold space as both curator and community member. As a cultural producer, community builder, and host of the Narrative Shift podcast, my work centers identity, belonging, and healing—and this night lives at that intersection.

We are joined by an extraordinary panel of guests whose lives embody the impact of documenting truth.

Lillian E. Benson, ACE, is a legendary film and television editor whose work includes Eyes On the Prize II, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, and Get In The Way – The Journey of John Lewis. Her storytelling has shaped how generations understand civil rights, legacy, and resistance.

Elmer Dixon is a lifelong activist whose journey spans from marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to co-founding the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party. His work organizing Police Alert Patrols, Free Breakfast Programs, medical clinics, and food programs reflects a living legacy of community care and liberation in action.

An Invitation

A Night of Obsidian is an evening to be together—to listen, to remember, and to be strengthened by story. Come share time with us. Come sit in the glow of truth, resilience, and collective imagination. We need each other, and this night is a place to begin again, together.

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We hope you can make it to A Night of Obsidian on February 24th 7:00PM at The Rio Theatre!

Tickets: https://riotheatre.ca/event/reel-causes-a-night-of-obsidian/