Join Reel Causes for A Night of Obsidian in honour of Black History Month.
A Night of Obsidian is an evening to come together as a community to watch a powerfully relevant film and then engage in rich conversation with freedom fighters who document social movements through film, writing, and lived experience. This is not just a screening. It is a shared space to breathe, reflect, and be nourished by stories that remind us who we are and what we are capable of together.
The Film
Shoot The People is a documentary that follows photographer and activist Misan Harriman as he documents global protest movements during a year that leads to his Oscar nomination. Through Harriman’s lens, we witness the resilience of grassroots activists fighting for equality, civil rights, and social justice across the world.
The film weaves historical context, interviews with activists, and reflections on digital activism to reveal the intersectionality and collective power of modern movements. Shoot The People is a reminder that documentation is not passive—it is an act of resistance. The film invites us to recognize our own power in shaping a more just society and to understand storytelling as a living, breathing force for change.
Panel Discussion
Our Curator, Natasha Tony, is hosting. As a cultural producer, community builder, and host of the Narrative Shift podcast, her work centers identity, belonging, and healing—and this night lives at that intersection.
We are joined by an extraordinary panel of guests whose lives embody the impact of documenting truth.
Lillian E. Benson, ACE, is a legendary film and television editor whose work includes Eyes On the Prize II, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, and Get In The Way – The Journey of John Lewis. Her storytelling has shaped how generations understand civil rights, legacy, and resistance.
Elmer Dixon is a lifelong activist whose journey spans from marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to co-founding the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party. His work organizing Police Alert Patrols, Free Breakfast Programs, medical clinics, and food programs reflects a living legacy of community care and liberation in action.