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Nine-episode documentary series about the dreams of up-and-coming young basketballers in Toronto makes great family viewing for the Holidays. National Film Board of Canada and Red Bull Media House present Direction Nord (True North) by Ryan Sidhoo, now available free of charge in French.

PRESS RELEASE
18/12/2018

December 18, 2018 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and Red Bull Media House present Direction Nord (True North) by Ryan Sidhoo, a nine-episode documentary series now available online with French subtitles. The series, which has already garnered more than 260,000 streaming views in its original English version, provides an intimate look at the rise of the Toronto hoop dream, through the stories of five young athletes inspired by the wave of professional talent coming from their city. The director captures the raw emotion of navigating today’s youth-basketball machine through the eyes of the city’s players, coaches and families at the centre of it.

The series follows contemporary coming-of-age stories as they unfold in an evolving city, sharing a unique Canadian experience that’s rooted in generational immigration. Direction Nord (True North) was produced by the NFB’s Shirley Vercruysse and is distributed in partnership with Red Bull Media House.

The perfect series to binge-watch with the family during the Holidays

Starting today, French-speaking audiences across Canada can watch the nine episodes of Direction Nord (total running time 2 h 39 min, with each episode lasting between 15 and 23 min) on the ONF YouTube channel and at ONF.ca, in the original English version with French subtitles, as well as on Red Bull TV in the original English version.

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES IN THE SERIES
DeMar DeRozan, Steve Nash, Cory Joseph, Jamal Murray, Jamaal Magloire, Damon Stoudamire, Phil Dixon, Michael Meeks, Devoe Joseph and Schea Cotton

FIVE YOUNG ATHLETES IN THE SERIES

  • Elijah Fisher (Grassroots AAU): At six-foot, three-inches tall, Elijah is the number-one-ranked 12-year-old in North America. His parents keep him balanced amidst the social-media hype.
  • Keone Davis (King Nation AAU): What he lacks in size, he makes up for in heart. Keone has a strong connection with his mother.
  • Jalen Celestine (King Nation AAU): Son of Curtis Celestine, who played collegiately at Marist University in New York. Jalen hopes to go to prep school in the States.
  • Malachi Ndur (King Nation AAU): Son of former NHL player Rumun Ndur. Malachi is a small-town kid who has been thrust into the fast-paced world of youth basketball.
  • Cordell Veira (Toronto Basketball Academy): In his senior year, Cordell hopes to land his first NCAA Division 1 offer while carrying the weight of family redemption.

ELITE COACHES IN THE SERIES

  • Coach Ro Russel (Grassroots AAU): A trailblazer in Canada’s AAU Basketball scene, Ro Russell has coached the likes of NBA champions Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph. His next project is developing Elijah Fisher into an elite talent.
  • Coach Vidal Massiah (Northern Kings AAU): A former Team Canada Captain, Vidal Massiah hopes his brand of tough love will prepare his players for life on and off the court.
  • Coach Adeel Sahibzada (Toronto Basketball Academy): The founder of the underdog program at the Toronto Basketball Academy, Adeel Sahibzada is looking to send a player to an NCAA Division 1 program without the benefit of the financial backing enjoyed by larger programs.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Instagram: @ONF_NFB & @RedBullCanada

Facebook: NFB & Red Bull

Hashtag: #TrueNorthDoc

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Related Products

Electronic Press Kit | Images, trailers, synopsis: True North

Photos: Photo Credit:  Yasin Osman/Red Bull Content Pool
Trailers: 30 second and 60 second
Episode Descriptions and NFB Media Space

Associated Links

Red Bull Media House
Red Bull TV

Media Relations

  • About the NFB

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of distinctive, engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 6,500 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.

  • About Red Bull Media House

    Red Bull Media House is an award-winning, globally distributed multi-platform media company on a mission to inspire with ‘beyond the ordinary’ stories – both direct-to-consumer and through partnerships. With a focus on sports, culture and lifestyle content, Red Bull Media House offers a wide range of premium media products across TV, mobile, digital, audio, and print. Red Bull Media House produces and licenses a broad selection of global live broadcast events, compelling and inspirational local storytelling with original short and long-form programming as well as feature films from around the world.