‘Black Ice’ director, producer join Black History Month screening at York

Wide angle perspective of antique-looking cinema, lit by film projector and screen

Oscar-nominated director Herbert Davis and Vinay Virmani (BA 2008), film producer and York alum, will attend a special screening and Q-and-A for the critically acclaimed Black Ice at York’s Tribute Communities Recital Hall on Feb. 13.

Debuting at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2022, Black Ice captured the attention of critics and casual moviegoers alike, earning Davis the TIFF People’s Choice Award in the documentary category that year.

Executive produced by Lebron James, Drake and Maverick Carter – and produced by Virmani – the film explores the sordid history of discrimination against Black hockey players in leagues across North America. Spanning from the inception of the Coloured Hockey League (CHL) in 1895 to the turbulent desegregation of the NHL and beyond, Black Ice features testimony from current players across multiple leagues including P.K. Subban, Akim Aliu, Saroya Tinker, Mark Connors and Wayne Simmonds.

Still from Black Ice (2022) film by director Herbert Davis
Black Ice (2022) by director Herbert Davis

This screening is a collaborative event hosted by York’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD); the York U Black Alumni Network (YUBAN); the Office of the President; and in partnership with the Athletics & Recreation Department; York’s student engagement team; and the Jean Augustine Chair in Education.

York University’s Framework and Action Plan on Black Inclusion continues to serve as both a roadmap and reminder of the work that must still be done to respond to anti-Black racism and to lay a foundation for a more equitable future.

Following the film’s screening, AMPD Dean Sarah Bay-Cheng will lead a Q-and-A featuring Davis, Virmani and Tinker.

Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the screening will proceed at 7 p.m. Free registration is required for admittance to this event. For more information and event registration, click here.