Liberia77 http://liberia77.com A documentary and photo project Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:39:39 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 James & Jefferson http://liberia77.com/2012/02/james-jefferson/ http://liberia77.com/2012/02/james-jefferson/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:38:22 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=3575

James Morris with Jeff & Andrew 1977

When we first set out on this adventure, one of our main ambitions was to find out what had happened to James – the kind, gentle man who our housekeeper in the 70s.  But it was his son, Jefferson, who found us.   His arrival on our doorstep one morning, just a few days after our arrival, blew our minds and hearts.

Jefferson Morris with Jeff and Andrew 2010

We learned that James and had made it through the war, only to die from a simple, untreated infection a few years ago.   Our question then shifted to more about our responsibility in helping Jefferson, who could not even afford to go to school.

The fact that he was actually named Jefferson after me, was something we didn’t expect.

Jefferson only had one photograph of his father – a Liberian ID card .  (His name signed in my dad’s handwriting.)  He was happy to see a couple more photos that we had in our collection.

Since returning we have been amazed to receive a few more photos of James, from other families who James worked for after us.

I’m looking forward to Jeff Jr. seeing these when we return to Liberia with the photo collection.

James in 1984 (Marc Le Rouzes, Acton, Ontario)

James in 1983 (Steff & Marty Trerice - Limoges, Ontario)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://liberia77.com/2012/02/james-jefferson/feed/ 0 help u$ get the photos back to Monrovia http://liberia77.com/2012/01/help-us-get-the-photos-back/ http://liberia77.com/2012/01/help-us-get-the-photos-back/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:26:50 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=2943 it’s day 1 of our IndieGoGo campaign – every little bit helps!

]]> http://liberia77.com/2012/01/help-us-get-the-photos-back/feed/ 2 happy new year http://liberia77.com/2011/12/happy-new-year/ http://liberia77.com/2011/12/happy-new-year/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:06:52 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=2405

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/12/happy-new-year/feed/ 1 Vancouver screening! THU 08 DEC @ Denman Cinema http://liberia77.com/2011/11/first-weekend-clubs-canada-screens-series-presents-liberia-77/ http://liberia77.com/2011/11/first-weekend-clubs-canada-screens-series-presents-liberia-77/#comments Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:45:03 +0000 melaniew http://liberia77.com/?p=1843 We’re super happy to announce a Vancouver big screen showing of Liberia ’77, thanks to Canada Screens and the First Weekend Club – Thursday Dec 8 at the Denman St Cinema…    get tickets here! 

 

First Weekend Club’s Canada Screens Series Presents Liberia ’77 

With live music and complimentary wine tasting reception and a Q&A with filmmakers Jeff Topham, Melanie Wood and Andrew Topham.

Event details:

When: Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Where: Denman Cinema (1737 Comox Street at Denman)
6:30pm: Doors open with live music and complimentary wine tastings courtesy of Road 13 Winery
7:30pm: Film Screening followed by a live Q&A with filmmakers Jeff Topham, Melanie Wood and Andrew Topham.
Cost: $15 dollars in advance by PayPal or $16 at the door (includes glass of wine, music and film).

Buy Tickets Online Now!

Thursday, December 8th, 2011 at The Denman Cinemas

CANADA SCREENS CARD HOLDERS: Please send your RSVP to vip@firstweekendclub.ca by Wednesday December 7th.

This event is brought to you by First Weekend Club, proudly supporting Canadian film since 2003.

About the film Liberia ’77:

Imagine life with no photographs. No smiling faces. No family snapshots. No record of your past. Welcome to Liberia. When Canadian brothers Jeff and Andrew Topham return to the war torn West African country of their childhood to re-shoot their father’s photos from the 70s, they find a nation whose own photographic history was destroyed by war. Suddenly their tattered envelope of family photos takes on a significance they never could have imagined. Liberia ‘77 shows how despite time, war, distance and culture, photography connects us all.

Awards:

WorldFest-Houston 2011
Platinum Award for feature Documentary
Houston Critics’ Choice Award 2011 Best Feature Documentary

Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheaf Awards
Best POV Documentary & Best Director (Non-Fiction)

Possible Worlds Sydney Film Festival 2011
Winner Audience Award

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/11/first-weekend-clubs-canada-screens-series-presents-liberia-77/feed/ 0 a warm welcome from DJ http://liberia77.com/2011/10/a-warm-welcome-from-dj/ http://liberia77.com/2011/10/a-warm-welcome-from-dj/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:56:10 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=1634

Liberia ’77 – DJ the Chimp! from liberia '77 on Vimeo.

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/10/a-warm-welcome-from-dj/feed/ 2 World Television Premiere – 9PM TUES 15 NOV http://liberia77.com/2011/10/world-television-premiere-9pm-tues-15-nov/ http://liberia77.com/2011/10/world-television-premiere-9pm-tues-15-nov/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:34:27 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=1629 We’re pleased to announce that Liberia ’77 will makes its tv debut on Knowledge Network in British Columbia next month. We’re thrilled for it to finally be seen in our hometown.  Please check out the facebook event page and help spread the word!

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/10/world-television-premiere-9pm-tues-15-nov/feed/ 4 a win in Sydney! http://liberia77.com/2011/08/1601/ http://liberia77.com/2011/08/1601/#comments Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:48:53 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=1601

Possible Worlds, the 6th Sydney Canadian Film Festival, wrapped last night with the Sydney premiere of Small Town Murder Songs, capping an intense, successful week of screenings, Q&A’s, live music and parties.

20 feature films were shown at the festival, including 14 Australian premieres. Visitors were encouraged to rate the films they saw at the Festival.   All the votes have been counted and the results are in!

We’re thrilled to reveal that with an average score of 3.83 stars (out of 4), the winner of this year’s Audience Award for Best Film is LIBERIA ’77!

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/08/1601/feed/ 0 Faces for Radio http://liberia77.com/2011/06/faces-for-radio/ http://liberia77.com/2011/06/faces-for-radio/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:44:39 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=871

A real nice talk with the Bros. Topham and the legendary Sook Yin-Lee on CBC Radio One’s
Saturday afternoon storytelling show, DNTO.

 

 

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/06/faces-for-radio/feed/ 1 A Golden Harvest in Saskatchewan http://liberia77.com/2011/05/a-golden-harvest-in-saskatchewan/ http://liberia77.com/2011/05/a-golden-harvest-in-saskatchewan/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 18:31:29 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=752 Liberia ’77 was doubly honoured to take home two prestigious Golden Sheaf awards at this past weekend’s Yorkton Film Festival, winning for Best POV Documentary and Best Director (Non-Fiction).   Thanks to everyone involved at Yorkton for a great weekend, and congrats to all the amazing people we met – both for their tremendous artistry and also their skeet shooting aptitude.

 

 

 

 

]]> http://liberia77.com/2011/05/a-golden-harvest-in-saskatchewan/feed/ 6 Houston… we have no problems. http://liberia77.com/2011/05/houston-we-have-no-problems/ http://liberia77.com/2011/05/houston-we-have-no-problems/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 01:15:28 +0000 jefft http://liberia77.com/?p=742 Liberia ’77 takes home the Platinum Award + The Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Houston International Film Festival. Huzzah!

Producer Melanie Wood and Director Jeff Topham smile in Texas.

 

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