JANET BEST
Documentaries
Voice From a Church
A devoted member of an Anglo-Catholic church talks about how he first came to the church, what it means to him, the value of its liturgy and language and the nature of its community. Throughout there are scenes from church services.
Documentary 16:25
Filmed, edited and directed by Janet Best
The Dust of His Feet
The story of an eccentric poet musician and his passionate student in Bangladesh. The folk musician and song writer Matal Rajjak Dewan is remembered in all his complexity by his student Abdul Hai Dewan who carries on his legacy.
Played at the 2011 Documenting Bangladesh Film Festival
Documentary 1:03:46
Filmed, edited and directed by Janet Best
Wonder and Amazement - Rita Briansky on Her Life in Art
Artist Rita Briansky has had her paintings displayed in many museums and galleries. Growing up in a small lumber town in Northern Ontario and then in Montreal, Rita was always a loner and non-conformist. Now at 92, she is still searching, innovating, and creating art as well as teaching and inspiring seniors in their art.
Played at the 2018 Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Documentary 39:49
Directed by Janet Best and Dov Okouneff
A New Life on the Land: Jewish Farmers in Canada
As told on camera by early settlers, their children and grandchildren, this is a story of Jews who came to farm Canadian soil. It's about escape from poverty and oppression in Eastern Europe, of first winters living in underground shelters, of clearing the land and bringing in first crops, of community get-togethers and singing. From the West to Quebec and Ontario, it is an ongoing story of Jewish farming in Canada.
Played at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival (May 2014), Bucharest Jewish Film Festival (November 2014) as well as in Montreal, Ottawa and Durham, North Carolina.
Documentary film 56 min.
Producer & Director – Dov Okouneff
Co-director, Editor & Camera – Janet Best
Norman Hall
Norman Hall started out as a successful Ottawa businessman but after a mental breakdown he decided he wanted to become an artist. He moved to the Riviera and lived the life of the artist, producing thousands of paintings and drawings. But despite his life long effort he never became known. The film explores this life through the reminiscences of his friends and family.
Documentary film 28 min.
Directed, shot & edited by Janet Best
Videographe co-production
Music Video
Someone's Going to Leave Us Tonight
This song is written from the point of view of one of the women murdered by Robert Pickton and the lytics are based on the writings of one of his victims, Sarah de Vries. The video was shot on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside where Sarah de Vries lived and worked.
Music Video
Music & Lyrics by Jim Best
Sung by Kyra Shaughnessy
Filming & Editing by Janet Best