A local media production company has won two awards for its documentary telling the story of a long-time beloved Prince George math teacher.
6ix Sigma Productions won the 'Best of Fest' and 'Documentary History and Biography' awards at the 2020 installment of the prestigious Yorkton Film Festival.
In the 'Documentary History and Biography' category, Mr. Berry beat out 'Balakrishna', Magical Imperfection', 'On The Line' and 'Take Good Care of Each Other: The Fred Penner Story.'
For the 'Best of Fest' category, Mr. Berry beat out 'Humboldt: The New Season', 'Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up' and 'The Physics of Sorrow.'
Mr. Berry follows the story of elderly math tutor of 65 years, Brij Berry, as he continues to make his knowledge available to the community.
The film examines what keeps his students coming and, more importantly, what drives Mr. Berry to keep teaching after all these years.
Produced with the support of Telus’ STORYHIVE program, Mr. Berry is nominated for the 2020 Documentary History and Biography Award, as well as the Multicultural Award (30 minutes and over).
“We spoke with Mr. Berry recently to tell him about the award. As always he was extremely grateful for the recognition,” says Six Sigma in a Facebook post announcing its nomination.
The Yorkton Film Festival, based in Yorkton, Sask., started in 1947.
Producer Jason Hamborg says the film is a look into what it means to dedicate your life to one singular thing and an exploration into what Mr. Berry’s impact means to the community.
“I think the thing that is so interesting about him is that singular approach to his life,” Hamborg said in a previous interview with PrinceGeorgeMatters. “We wanted to dig a little deeper and I think the thing that is defining about Mr. Berry is just how much teaching means to him.”
Mr. Berry was Hamborg’s math tutor when he was a student in grade 10, and after he and director Daniel Stark discovered Mr. Berry was still teaching all these years later, they decided Mr. Berry’s story should be told.
The film offers insight into Mr. Berry’s approach to life and also features interviews from a number of people who’ve been taught by Mr. Berry or who have known someone he’s taught.
“I think people are just appreciative that the story is being told because Mr. Berry’s impact on people is kind of unique and similar at the same time,” said Hamborg.
He adds it’s important to remember how lucky we are in the community to have people like Mr. Berry.
“For ourselves, one of our big goals in the type of work that we are trying to do is to bring a sense of pride and excitement to everyone in Prince George,” said Hamborg, adding that Mr. Berry’s story is important locally, but it also has universal themes that can impact audiences beyond the city limits.
“I am hopeful that we have been able to make something that anyone can watch and be able to learn something from and have some takeaways from.”
Hamborg says Mr. Berry was honoured to be a part of the documentary but still doesn’t think of himself as remarkable.
"That’s another thing that’s great about Mr. Berry, he doesn’t think of himself at all of any sort of impactful person. His motives, in his mind, are almost selfish because he just gets so much enjoyment out of teaching, that’s why he wants to do it."
- with files from Hanna Petersen, PrinceGeorgeMatters
