“You Are Here: A Come From Away Story” - The Making of a Film

In 2016, during one of the most divisive and turbulent political campaigns in recent American history, a modest sized musical about a community in Newfoundland announced that it would open on Broadway.  On paper, a musical about what happened on a far-flung Canadian island on September 11, 2001, would hardly seem like a winning proposition.  But that’s exactly what happened – “Come From Away” became one of the most successful shows to open in New York in 2017.  Its message of kindness, compassion and generosity towards strangers was exactly what the world needed to hear during the corrosive political discourse that was taking place at that time.  It was also the inspiration behind making a successful feature documentary about the actual Newfoundlanders who inspired this theatrical landmark.  Moze Mossanen, the writer and director film, wanted to capture this extraordinary community and what actually happened there during the dramatic days following 9/11; the events of which led up to “Come From Away” and it’s electrifying opening on Broadway in March 2017.  The writer and director will also speak about the challenges faced when making the film as well as the documentary’s own remarkable journey when it was released in Canada and the United States.