Movies at the Hub: Mother Tongue

This month Movies at the Hub brings you a series of short films, Mother Tongue (Canadian Short Films on Language, Culture & Belonging). On Thursday, November 19, 2026 join us for an evening of Canadian short films exploring how language, culture, migration, and family, shape our sense of identity and belonging.

Mother Tongue brings together four short films from filmmakers across Canada: 

• 19 Days (2016) by Asha Siad and Roda Siad
• Restaurant Kids (2026) by Sylvia Mok
• To Wake Up the Nakota Language (2017) by Louise BigEagle
• Trécarré: Exploring the Saint Mary’s Bay Sound (2024) by Natalie Robichaud.

Across diverse communities and generations, these films illuminate the bonds connecting us to family, place, and heritage. From refugee families navigating their first days in Canada and children growing up in Chinese family-run restaurants, to the revitalization of the Nakota language and the vibrant musical traditions of an Acadian community, each work offers a distinct perspective on carrying culture forward.

Together, this selection celebrates the stories, sounds, and traditions that define who we are, offering insight into what is preserved, transformed, or discovered as cultures cross generations and borders.

More than a screening, Mother Tongue invites audience reflection on personal connections to language and heritage, fostering community through shared narratives of home.

Rating: This program explores themes of immigration, displacement, cultural identity and language loss. Recommended for ages 12+.

Itinerary: Doors open at 7:15 pm, and the program begins at 7:30 pm. Following a brief intermission, the screening concludes around 9:15 pm, leading into a short guided discussion on the films' overarching themes. The event concludes at 9:30 pm.

Refreshments: Popcorn and soda will be available for purchase throughout the evening.

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This programming is generously supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.