Congratulations to WMM filmmaker Laurie Townshend, who has been awarded the Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary by the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) for directing the powerful new WMM release A MOTHER APART, which was also made with the support of our Production Assistance Program. This coveted award honors outstanding achievement in documentary filmmaking, and Townshend’s exploration of motherhood through the eyes of Staceyann Chin more than exemplifies that excellence.
A MOTHER APART follows acclaimed poet, performer, and activist Staceyann Chin (DEF POETRY SLAM, MOTHERSTRUCK!) on a personal quest to find for her biological mother, who abandoned her as a child in Jamaica. Now a mother herself, Staceyann wrestles with a painful and complex question: How do you raise a daughter when your own mother left you behind? A MOTHER APART, available to book or purchase through Women Make Movies, is a profound story of resilience, reconciliation, and intergenerational healing, offering vital perspectives on Black motherhood, LGBTQ+ identity, and the transformative power of forgiveness and love.
Women Make Movies congratulates Laurie Townshend on this extraordinary achievement and celebrates her contribution to the ongoing legacy of women filmmakers who are reshaping the documentary landscape. The 24th Annual DGC Awards ceremony took place on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Koerner Hall in Toronto.
