## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/) 2. Markdownify 3. Node 4. [OCAD U mourns loss of acclaimed filmmaker and champion of Black voices](/markdownify/node/899) December 4, 2023 # OCAD U mourns loss of acclaimed filmmaker and champion of Black voices ![](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/assets/media/3FFI4AEZ7JEMPCJ6ZBZZTD2YHA.JPG.webp?itok=rOWI-hsY) ***Photo courtesy of the Globe and Mail.*** The OCAD University community is deeply saddened by the passing of Charles Officer on December 1, 2023, at the age of 48. Officer was a graduate of the communication and design program at the Ontario College of Art (OCA), before it became OCAD U. **REMEMBERING CHARLES OFFICER** Charles Officer was an acclaimed filmmaker and champion of Black voices, and an award-winning and visionary director, producer, writer and performer. Officer studied communication design at OCA. He then attended the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York City, where he studied performance. His work through features, documentary and television often centred Black voices and characters. Officer produced the groundbreaking 2022 CBC/BET television series *The Porter*, which won 12 awards at the Canadian Screen Awards (CSA) in April, including best writing and best drama series. He helmed feature-length films, such as the crime drama *Akilla's Escape* and the documentary *Unarmed Verses,* which told the story of Toronto Community Housing residents who were uprooted while their neighbourhood was revitalized. Officer's 2008 debut feature, *Nurse.Fighter.Boy*, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was nominated for 10 Genie Awards, the precursor to the CSA. His short film entitled *Short Hymn Silent War*, told the story of four black women coping with an epidemic of gun violence in their community. The film screened at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. His directorial debut *When Morning Comes*, a short film, also premiered at TIFF in the year 2000. In addition, Officer directed multiple episodes of television including *Rookie Blue* (ABC), *Saving Hope* (NBC), *Private* Eyes (Ion), *Ransom* (CBS), *21 Thunder* (Netflix), *Ranso*m and *Coroner*. He has directed music videos for artists such as K’naan and DJ Green Velvet. He served on the boards of Reel Canada, which introduces Canadian cinema to recently landed immigrants, and The Art Gallery of Ontario. He and his producing partner Jake Yanowski started the production company [CaneSugar Filmworks](https://canesugarfilmworks.com/about/). Officer is being remembered among his peers as a long-time creative collaborator and an influential member within the Canadian film and television sector. OCAD U extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. **Sources** [CBC](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-filmmaker-charles-officer-dies-at-48-1.7047947) [GGA](https://ggagency.ca/officer-2/) [The Globe and Mail](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-acclaimed-canadian-filmmaker-charles-officer-dies-at-48/) ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! 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This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026)