Short film 2021Dear, Black Dad
"A visual journal dedicated to every Black father who has committed their life to being present."
Dear Black Dad is a short film that sparked national conversation about Black fatherhood in Canada — and beyond. A deeply personal project that became something much larger than its runtime.
The film follows three Black fathers across Toronto as they reflect on what it means to show up — for their children, for their community, and for themselves. Shot over four days with a lean crew, every frame was built around the emotional truth of each subject rather than a conventional documentary structure.
The result was a film that felt less like a documentary and more like a letter — one that audiences received personally, regardless of their own background or experience of fatherhood.
FILM · 2021
Tristan Barrocks
YEAR
2021
FORMAT
Short film - 4k
RUNTIME
3 Minutes
The Making OfBehind the film.
Four days of shooting across Toronto. A lean crew, natural light, and three men willing to be completely open on camera. These are the moments between the moments.
DirectorTristan Barrocks
Sound designMid Career Productions
ProducerTristan Barrocks
O’shane Howard
Colour GradeMid Career Productions
Director of photographyMatthew
Orignial scoreTristan Barrocks
EditorTristan Barrocks
Production Company