Ayana O'Shun

Acting

Ayana O'Shun

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Born in Montreal, Ayana O’Shun (aka Tetchena Bellange) holds a degree in Cinema from the Université de Montréal. Her documentary Les Mains noires – Procès de l’esclave incendiaire (2010) was selected in over 40 national and international festivals. Ayana continued her directing career with the short fiction Lazyboy. and several short films, including the NFB documentary Médecins sans résidence. The film was the most viewed documentary on the NFB website for several weeks. A few years ago, Ayana was among the winners of “La Table de l’Histoire des Noirs de Montréal” for her advances in the arts. In addition, Ayana is one of the creators selected across Canada for the “Netflix Diversity of Voices” program. In 2022, her feature-length documentary Le Mythe de la femme noire denounces the stereotypes she herself has observed throughout her career. The film is widely distributed and wins the Magnus Isaacson Prize at RIDM 2022. Ayana O’Shun is also an actress who has appeared in some forty productions in film, television, theater and advertising. Whether behind or in front of the camera, this artist’s aim is to create powerful stories that promote connection between people and peoples, while breaking down barriers of gender or race.

Acting credits

The Day After Tomorrow poster
6.6

After paleoclimatologist Jack Hall is largely ignored by UN officials when presenting his environmental concerns about the beginning of a new Ice Age, his research proves true when a superstorm develops, setting off catastrophic natural disasters throughout the world. Trying to get to his son, Sam, who is trapped in New York City with his friend Laura and others, Jack and his crew must travel to get to Sam before it's too late.

The Day After Tomorrow

2004

On the Road poster
5.6

Sal Paradise is a young writer whose life is shaken and ultimately redefined by the arrival of Dean Moriarty, a free-spirited, fearless, fast talking Westerner and his girl, Marylou. Traveling cross-country, Sal and Dean venture out on a personal quest for freedom from the conformity and conservatism engulfing them in search of the unknown, themselves, and the pursuit of “it” -- the pure essence of experience.

On the Road

2012

The Guide to the Perfect Family poster
6.5

A couple in Québec deals with the pitfalls, pressure and high expectations of raising kids in a society obsessed with success and social media image.

The Guide to the Perfect Family

2021

The 3 L'il Pigs 2 poster
5.6

Five years after the death of their mother, Rémi, Mathieu and Christian have not changed much. Rémi is still as prolific and travels the world, multiplying his conquests, Mathieu leads a relatively peaceful life with his daughters and his wife and Christian lives off his brothers, hoping to find the perfect partner and finally settle down. When Rémi is kicked out of his house by his wife who discovers his infidelity and he suffers a panic attack, his brothers come to his rescue. Despite their different lifestyles, Rémi, Mathieu and Christian will try to help each other in order to form the united family that their mother would have wanted for them.

The 3 L'il Pigs 2

2016

Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave poster
NR

Investigating slavery in Canada through the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Black slave accused of burning Montreal in 1734. After an epic trial, this untameable slave is tortured and sentenced to death. But was she really guilty of this crime or was she the victim of a bigger conspiracy? Why this voluntary amnesia about this unknown page of Canadian history?

Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave

2010

The Thawing of Ice poster
NR

Louise Denoncourt, a parole officer, skillfully operates an experimental rehabilitation wing for criminals who have committed homicides. When she finds herself in front of Marc St-Germain, a new inmate whom her father suspects of being her mother's murderer, she embarks on a mission that quickly overwhelms her. She then puts everything at stake, even her life, in order to prevent any desire to reoffend. But will she be overtaken by the desire to avenge her family history?

The Thawing of Ice

2024

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Le voleur de papillons

2013

1st Bite poster
6.3

Set on a tropical island in Thailand, the strange plight of a beleaguered chef who, while romancing a mysterious woman, discovers the diabolical Zen of cooking. Following a near death escape, he returns to Montreal and falls hard for the woman of his life who unfortunately craves only his cooking but not his loving. Worse still, strange things surfacing around him indicate that his journey to the Far East has deep, divine implications. The stage is set for him to take the 1st bite of true love and end the cycle of suffering for all involved.

1st Bite

2006

Cassy poster
8.3

Cassy, 9, is obsessed, silent, angry. Recently, she lost her mother to a mysterious accident. Her turmoil clashes with that of her father, a violent man who treats women like objects. While the little girl rediscovers a kind of happiness thanks to a kind vocal instructor, the father’s behaviour grows increasingly erratic. Childhood and grieving confront some hot-button issues when sexual harassment, violence and homophobia enter the scene. Natacha Mitrani, the director’s daughter, is heartbreaking in the challenging role of Cassy.

Cassy

2019

A Cargo to Africa poster
5.0

No synopsis available yet.

A Cargo to Africa

2009

No artwork available
NR

On a cold fall evening, Leila is left alone to tend the family convenience store. A series of strange clients keep her in a constant state of apprehension. Language and cultural barriers also contribute to the making of a nerve-racking evening.

In Between/Entre deux

2009

Oscillations poster
NR

George Édouard is a janitor at the Montréal Polytechnique. The only other person he meets at night is a PhD student in physics, Audrey. They often meet to talk about music and science. One day George Édouard sees the return of his long-lost brother, René. The latter attended an exorcism. A ghost of the earthquake in Haiti has haunted him since.

Oscillations

2017

Behind the camera

The Myth of the Black Woman poster
8.0

The Myth of the Black Woman is a feature-length documentary that examines the imagery of black women in the media, from the 18th century black slave to Michelle Obama. It is an investigation into how stereotypes originate from slavery and still affect the lives of black women in Quebec. These stereotypes include Jezebel (the seductress, the femme fatale); Mammie (the obese woman, the asexual mother figure) and Sapphire (the angry, ambitious and arrogant black woman). This story will be told by black women on whom stereotypes have a high impact, through interviews with fascinating experts, and through archival footage from centuries past to the present.

The Myth of the Black Woman

2023

The Myth of the Black Woman poster
8.0

The Myth of the Black Woman is a feature-length documentary that examines the imagery of black women in the media, from the 18th century black slave to Michelle Obama. It is an investigation into how stereotypes originate from slavery and still affect the lives of black women in Quebec. These stereotypes include Jezebel (the seductress, the femme fatale); Mammie (the obese woman, the asexual mother figure) and Sapphire (the angry, ambitious and arrogant black woman). This story will be told by black women on whom stereotypes have a high impact, through interviews with fascinating experts, and through archival footage from centuries past to the present.

The Myth of the Black Woman

2023

Lazyboy poster
NR

Marie-Helene, a distinguished but neurotic woman, goes to her first appointment with a reputable psychologist. Wanting to prove that she doesn't really need a shrink, she ridicules everything inside the doctor's office. But soon, she goes from a sense of superiority to a total collapse in how others see her. It's clear - she'll have to spend a lot of time in the doctor's lazyboy.

Lazyboy

2012

Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave poster
NR

Investigating slavery in Canada through the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Black slave accused of burning Montreal in 1734. After an epic trial, this untameable slave is tortured and sentenced to death. But was she really guilty of this crime or was she the victim of a bigger conspiracy? Why this voluntary amnesia about this unknown page of Canadian history?

Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave

2010

Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave poster
NR

Investigating slavery in Canada through the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Black slave accused of burning Montreal in 1734. After an epic trial, this untameable slave is tortured and sentenced to death. But was she really guilty of this crime or was she the victim of a bigger conspiracy? Why this voluntary amnesia about this unknown page of Canadian history?

Black Hands: Trial of the Arsonist Slave

2010

Father's Day poster
NR

In this film, Ayana O'Shun investigates the phenomenon of absent fathers in black communities, through her personal story and that of luminous and resilient women from Quebec and Guadeloupe.

Father's Day

2025

Father's Day poster
NR

In this film, Ayana O'Shun investigates the phenomenon of absent fathers in black communities, through her personal story and that of luminous and resilient women from Quebec and Guadeloupe.

Father's Day

2025

Father's Day poster
NR

In this film, Ayana O'Shun investigates the phenomenon of absent fathers in black communities, through her personal story and that of luminous and resilient women from Quebec and Guadeloupe.

Father's Day

2025

The Interview poster
NR

Racial stereotypes and prejudices deprive a highly qualified candidate of a fair interview – and may prevent an employer from hiring the best person for the job.

The Interview

2010

No artwork available
NR

This short documentary highlights how discrimination prevents foreign-trained doctors from practising in Canada – even after they've received their Canadian qualifications.

Doctors Without Residency

2010