Realize your future with 成人大片 Graduate Studies
Changing his story
Dominic Akena
Documentary Media MFA alumnus
When he was nine, Dominic Akena was abducted and forced to become a child soldier in Uganda. His story was featured in the 2007 Academy Award-nominated documentary War/Dance, directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix. Now, he鈥檚 telling his own stories as a documentary filmmaker.
What was it like being a child soldier?
It was terrifying. We were in constant fear of being beaten by the rebel soldiers who abducted my brother and me. After they separated us, I became emotionally numb but knew I had to go on. Eventually I managed to escape but I never saw my brother again. It still haunts me to this day.
Why did you want to be a documentary filmmaker?
When Sean and Andrea came to my village, I didn鈥檛 know what a documentary was. But I saw them use their vision and skills to share my story with the world, and that changed my life physically, mentally and emotionally. That showed me the power of film and I wanted to learn that for myself.
How was your 成人大片 graduate experience?
成人大片 played a huge role in my journey. As a community, 成人大片 is woke and very supportive of students in special situations like mine. [Former Documentary Media graduate program director] Katy McCormick really helped me with the application process as an international student, and is a big reason why I鈥檓 here today. 成人大片 gave me the opportunity to tell my story and I鈥檓 very grateful for that.
What is your thesis film Safari about?
鈥淪afari鈥� is a Swahili term for human journey so it鈥檚 about my immigration story and what it means to be a child soldier. There鈥檚 the physical journey of trying to embrace life in a new culture and environment, and the mental journey of trying to compartmentalize my memories and deal with my trauma.
How did 成人大片 Graduate Studies help you become career-ready?
My supervisors Dr. Gerda Kammerer and Dr. Blake Fitzpatrick were instrumental in my thesis film鈥檚 success. 成人大片 Graduate Studies taught me to produce films with a level of confidence and comfortability I didn鈥檛 have before鈥� I couldn鈥檛 see another purpose of going through all of that, other than to tell stories that matter.
Photo: Ian Patterson
鈥淸成人大片] is woke and very supportive of students in special situations like mine.鈥�
鈥楾he journey continues to be amazing鈥�
Cyrus Sundar Singh, Communication and Culture PhD student and Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Mahnoor Shahid, Master of Public Policy and Administration alumna
Dr. Kristopher Alexander, Master of Digital Media professor
Rachel McNamee, Environmental Applied Science and Management MASc alumna
Gavin Ball, Master of Digital Media alumnus
Shay Erlich, Child and Youth Care MA graduate
Dr. Karen Spalding, Director, Master of Health Administration (Community Care)
Charlie Wall-Andrews, Management PhD student and Trudeau Scholar
Shaping the future of health care
Kittie Pang, Master of Health Administration (Community Care) student
Dominic Akena, Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Jessica Phulchand, Molecular Science PhD student
Dr. Jenny Liu, Psychology PhD alumna
Emily Shepherdson, Aerospace Engineering PhD student
Pearson Ripley, Documentary Media MFA alumnus
Dr. Dale Carl, Director of Graduate Students and Professor, Ted Rogers School of Management
Asmaa Malik, Scholar-in-Residence, Yeates School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
A new look at the world鈥檚 oldest profession
Jenny Duffy, master鈥檚 alumna, Philosophy & Public Policy and Administration
Christian Hui, Master of Social Work alumnus
Dr. Anne Wagner, Psychology MA, PhD alumna and adjunct professor
Humza Nusrat, Biomedical Physics PhD student
Making black-and-white more grey
Nathaniel Brunt, Communication and Culture PhD student and Trudeau Scholar
Supporting women through building science
Building Science master's students
Andrew Brankley, Psychology MA alumnus and PhD student
Using drones to locate people with dementia
Dalia Hanna, Computer Science PhD student
Building sustainability into architecture
Matthew Ferguson, Architecture master's student
Flipping the script on Black men's pain
David Grant, Master of Social Work alumnus
Standing up for immigrant women
Vathsala Illesinghe, Policy Studies PhD student
Riley Kucheran, Communication and Culture PhD student
Dr. Kamal Al-Solaylee, Journalism professor, Faculty of Communication & Design
Jamie Fine, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering PhD student
Richa Siddavaatam, Computer Science PhD student
Travonne Edwards, Child and Youth Care MA alumnus
Giving refugees a second chance
Adrienne Smith, Immigration and Settlement Studies MA alumna
Opening possibilities with inclusive tech
Mauricio Meza, MBA-MTI alumnus
Ella Dubinsky, Psychology MA
Secret marathon meets social change
Kate McKenzie, Master of Digital Media alumna
Julie Robertson, Environmental Applied Science and Management MASc alumna
Transgender research meets transformed lives
Jake Pyne, Master of Social Work
Cannabis research meets new potential
Steve Naraine, Molecular Science MSc
Jewelry business meets digital disruption
Noura Sakkijha, Ted Rogers MBA
Dr. Ben Barry, Professor and Director, Centre for Fashion Diversity and Social Change
Dr. Samin Eftekhari, Chemical Engineering PhD
City issues meet the big picture
Dr. Colin Robert Phillips, Policy Studies PhD
Cancer research meets better patient care
Dr. Michael Kolios, Professor and Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, Faculty of Science
Ariana Cancelli, Master鈥檚 in Urban Development, MPl
Professional passion meets real-world opportunities
Jacky Au Duong, Master of Professional Communication
Inspirational faculty meets innovative research
Dr. Amira Abdelrasoul, Chemical Engineering PhD
Entrepreneurship meets accessibility
Maayan Ziv, Master of Digital Media alumna
Life-changing experience meets long-term success
Adedoyin Adesemowo, MBA-MTI
Ancient traditions meet empowered youth
Dr. R茅al Carri猫re, Policy Studies PhD