Coming Together: Canadians & Cubans during COVID Documentary

During the worst crisis of the 21st century, a wonderful thing happened: two communities, a small group of Canadian photographers from Ontario and a village in southern Cuba called Chivirico, came together to help those most affected by the COVID pandemic.

Wanting to assist the Cuban families and friends they had visited each year, these Canadian photographers embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign. Two months and $20,000 later, they purchased much needed over the counter medication, hygiene products, and, most importantly, 30,000 syringes to vaccinate the population of Chivirico.

When the medicine and care packages arrived in Santiago De Cuba, the Cuban team took over and distributed the articles to those families most in need. “I almost cried,” said Tanya, one of the Cuban team leaders, when a grandmother from Chivirico said: "Oh, my God! They still remember us…”

This is a story about two cultures coming together, overcoming language barriers, short supplies and international logistics. It is a story about doing the right thing when times are tough.

As filmmakers, Cassiel Robas and I wish to document this beautiful story and share it with the rest of the world. We will interview and record those Cubans and Canadians who made it happen, who came together in a common purpose. Please help us produce this tribute to universal goodwill.

So far, we’ve financed a small portion of the project but we need to reach our goal of $10,000 Canadian Dollars, which will cover production costs. Please donate any amount to help us create this film. In return we will list you as a contributor in the film credits and, of course, we will send you photos and news about the production in progress. Finally, our intention is to enter this film in the juried competition of the Eye2eye International film festival in Cobourg, Canada in June 2022. Afterward, we hope to distribute it more widely.

Thank you for your interest and support of our project!