Rails, Jails and Trolleys (August 2022) produced by the South Asian Studies Institute and directed by Henna Mann, documents history’s largest farmers’ protest and the Canadian diaspora’s response to it. This groundbreaking documentary captures the electric ethos of a protest that received international attention and the resounding response by Canadians to the movement. A full year in the making the documentary tells the story of why and how the farmers’ movement ignited a nation, and youth, women and men from all over the world.
The award-winning documentary first premiered on August 24th, 2022 at the University of the Fraser Valley, in a sold-out screening. Prior to the screening, speeches were made special guests including MP Brad Vis, and UFV Sponsors: Dr. Garry Fehr, Associate Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies as well as, Roy Hayward, President of the UFV Union. Followed by this, Dr. Satwinder Bains, the Producer of Rails, Jails and Trolleys and Henna Mann, Director of the documentary, discussed their experiences in documenting the Canadian response to the farmers’ movement through the year-long making of the documentary. Following the successful first screening, Dr. Bains moderated an open Q&A with the audience members in discussion with Henna Mann and social activists featured in the documentary including Mo Dhaliwal, Raji Aujla and Ravina Toor.
On October 1st, 2022, Rails, Jails and Trolleys screening took place at the Tourism Abbotsford’s Taste of Abby event. Craig Nichols, Executive Director of Tourism Abbotsford called the screening of the documentary to be critical as part of their event to bring awareness to agriculture and food security issues. The documentary was screened to over a hundred attendees, followed by a panel discuss moderated by Dr. Satwinder Bains. Panelists included Dr. Parm Bains (President and CEO of Westberry Foods Inc), Dr. Inder Mann (Political Scientist) and Mr. Bal Dhillon (Teacher in Burnaby School District) who was interviewed in the documentary along with Director Henna Mann.
On November 16th, 2022, the Mustang Justice Program founder Annie Ohana hosted a screening of Rails, Jails and Trolleys at the LA Matheson Secondary School. Prior to the screening, Henna introduced the film and her journey in directing it. The school community and local community members joined together to watch the film. Following the screening, Dr. Bains and Ohana held an open Q&A with the audience members.
On March 15th, 2023, as part of the UFV Office of Sustainability’s March for Sustainability series, Rails, Jails and Trolleys screened at the University of the Fraser Valley campus in Chilliwack. The screening was followed by a discussion on farmers’ issues in India and the Indo-Canadian diaspora’s affinity to the movement.
On March 28th, 2023, Rails, Jails and Trolleys screened and won the Best Feature Film award at the Feedback Female Film Festival, a festival that showcases and celebrates the talent of female filmmakers. SASI accepted the award with great honour. The audience’s feedback of the documentary is made publicly available here: https://youtu.be/yohMJosR_ek?si=2e5pedQq4u_fK3ZX.
Most recently, on November 19th, 2023, the Rails, Jails and Trolleys screened at the Sikhlens: Sikh Arts and Film Festival at the Chapman University in Orange, California. Audience members across North America attended the screening including a special guest from India, Gurdeep Dhaliwal who supported Rails, Jails and Trolleys by providing his footage from protest-grounds in Delhi, India.
On February 22nd, Rails, Jails and Trolleys will be screening at the KDocsFF: Journeys in Solidarity, Metro Vancouver’s premier social justice film festival, distinguished by its commitment to community, dialogue and activism. It is programmed to be screened in honour of “Radical Humanity.” The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Director Henna Mann and social activists that supported the documentary including Anita Lal, Bal Dhillon, Jagdeesh Mann and Mo Dhaliwal. If you are interested in attending this upcoming screening, tickets are available here.
