The National Farmers Union (NFU) is teaming up with award-winning documentary filmmakers, Tamer Soliman and Sarah Douglas, of March Forth Creative Inc. to produce and present Depth of Field: Films About Farming – 40 short documentaries highlighting farm stories from across Canada.
This year, the filmmakers will begin traveling and filming on location, completing the films by 2024. Depth of Field will connect Canadians with a diversity of farmers who are playing a key role in the solution to the climate crisis, highlighting their sustainable initiatives. Depth of Field will give Canadians an opportunity to learn about agriculture in Canada from the farmers, farm workers, producers and land stewards themselves. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is providing the NFU with up to $253,726 in funding for this project through the AgriCommunication Program.
“In the face of climate change, our farmers are taking action to ensure their production processes are increasingly more sustainable. Organizations like NFU that showcase the sector’s leadership in sustainability are helping to build public trust in Canada’s food system,” said the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Depth of Field will help Canadians understand more about farmers, addressing an awareness gap in our food system. Several reports note that consumers “have concerns about … a lack of overall transparency [within the food system]”. Canadians are sympathetic towards farmers, but would like to know more about production practices.
In November 2021 Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial Agriculture Ministers’ made a priority in the Guelph Statement, calling for “fostering awareness of sector commitment to the sustainable production [tackling climate change and environmental protection to support GHG emissions reductions] of safe, high-quality food and building public trust…” Depth of Field will feature farmers’ stories told directly, honestly, and with a focus on their sustainable practices.
The NFU will share the films online and via local screenings in collaboration with other farmer organizations during the fall and winter of 2023-2024. People interested in hosting a community screening can get in touch with NFU Communications and Project Manager, Nasseem Hakimian. To learn more, visit https://www.nfu.ca/filmsaboutfarming/.
Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the AgriCommunication Program.
