Series 3

crossing the divide

About the Film

Two Canadians, one Liberal and one Conservative, attend a U.S. convention focused on depolarizing politics, determined to engage in tough conversations for a healthier democracy.

Director/Writer

Co-director

Producers

Chrisann Hessing

Ashley Brook

Chrisann Hessing,
Lauren Grant

Editor

Chelsea Bennett

Composer

Michelle Lorimer

Runtime

10 MIN

Ashley Brook,
Bryce Zimmerman

Cinematographers

Alex Huynh Do, Amanda Wong

Sound

Laurels

download media kit

About the Directors

Chrisann Hessing

Chrisann Hessing is a Toronto-based documentary filmmaker and impact producer. Her award-winning films have screened at festivals like Hot Docs, RIDM, and the London Asian Film Festival, with support from the Ontario Arts Council and Telefilm Canada. Her short film Turning Tables won Best Short Documentary at the American Indian Film Festival and screened in over 30 festivals. Her debut feature, We Will Be Brave, premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival and won Audience Choice Feature Film at the 2023 Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival. Chrisann directed the six-episode doc series Unrigged for TVO, exploring modern democracy in Canada. Passionate about visual storytelling, she collaborates with community arts organizations and serves on the board of POV Magazine.

Ashley Brook

Ashley is an award-winning director and producer with over a decade of experience in cinematography, editing, and writing for documentaries. She is the creator and producer of CANADIANA, a two-time Canadian Screen Award-nominated series exploring unique Canadian history, which has gained over 100K YouTube subscribers and millions of views. Ashley runs two production companies, with projects supported by The Bell Fund, Canada Media Fund, and others. Her works are distributed in schools and featured in international museum exhibitions. Currently, Ashley is writing and directing a documentary supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. She is a member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Canadian Cinema Editors guild.

Artist Statement

Civic engagement means advocating for causes, engaging beyond your bubble, collaborating on creative solutions, and building a sustainable future. My passion for social justice aligns with the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

In a polarized world, we need more respectful, inclusive dialogue. True accountability requires understanding all sides with love, not judgment. Though conversations with opposing viewpoints may seem impossible, Braver Angels has shown me that common ground is achievable. This film explores engaging with ‘the other’ and shares a hopeful message: beneath our differences, our shared humanity unites us.