 | This draft may incorporate text from a large language model, which is prohibited in Wikipedia articles. (May 2026) |
Tristan Barrocks | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tristan Jason Barrocks December 20, 1983 Toronto, Ontario, CA. |
| Education | Seneca College (AD) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse |
Natanya Barrocks (m. 2010) |
| Children | |
Tristan Barrocks is a Jamaican-Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer, and educator based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is known for directing human-centered stories that centre Black voices and experiences, and for founding The Digital Storytellers and Mid-Career Productions (operating under Barrocks INC), creative organizations providing opportunities for BIPOC creatives in the Canadian film and television industry. He is also a professor at Seneca College in Toronto.
Early life
editTristan Barrocks was born into a Jamaican-Canadian family, the third of four siblings.[citation needed] His father, Albert Barrocks, is a professional photographer who encouraged him to think creatively from an early age.[citation needed] Barrocks discovered a passion for the performing arts at the age of seven when he was cast in a musical production. He later graduated from a digital media program in 2008, after which he began his career capturing live theatrical performances across Toronto.[citation needed]
Career
editActing
editBarrocks has over twenty years of experience as a film and television actor. His screen credits include roles in Dawn of the Dead (2004), Mean Girls (2004), and The Perfect Man (2005).[1] His on-camera experience later informed his approach to directing, particularly in his ability to draw authentic performances from actors.
Filmmaking
editAfter graduating in 2008, Barrocks developed a distinctive approach to visual storytelling.[citation needed] He directed commercials and branded content for a range of clients while simultaneously pursuing narrative and documentary projects. He founded The Digital Storytellers, an organization that provides real-world opportunities for young and emerging BIPOC creatives in film, television, and commercial production.[citation needed]
In 2018, Barrocks directed Connecting the Dots, a national documentary series exploring the historical contributions of the Black community in Canada. The series premiered at the Hollywood North Film Festival.[citation needed]
His 2020 short film Praise & Worship, co-directed with O'Shane Howard, is described as a visual journal of the Judeo-Christian spiritual experience. It premiered at the Toronto Black Film Festival.[2]
In 2021, Barrocks directed Dear Black Dad, a short film celebrating Black fatherhood. The film was released digitally and reached over 125,000 views, receiving coverage from international publications including Glossy Inc. and Munaluchi Bride.[3] That same year, he served as director and creative director for the spring cover of international bridal magazine Munaluchi Bride, with the project released in Ghana, Canada, the United States, and England.[2]
Barrocks' 2022 film Mother to Mother and 2023 web series Wallflower further expanded his directorial catalogue. A Letter From the Fathers, an award-winning short, screened at the American Black Film Festival, the Essence Film Festival, and the Swedish International Film Festival.[4]
His 2025 short film Sugar Dumplin' follows a daughter attempting to reconnect with her estranged father through the flavours of his Caribbean childhood. The film stars veteran Jamaican actor Oliver Samuels and holds a 9.6 rating on IMDb. Barrocks served as director, writer, and executive producer on the project. It premiered at the Oscar-qualifying Pan African Film Festival and had its Jamaica premiere in February 2025 at the Sunken Gardens at Hope Botanical Gardens.[5][6] The film was also selected for the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival 2025.[7]
In 2026, Barrocks directed and produced Beyond the Resort, a Caribbean travel docu-series created by his production company Mid-Career Productions (operating under Barrocks INC). The series is hosted by travel journalist and television personality Natalie Preddie and co-hosted by on-air personality Kayla Marie Williams. The first season, filmed entirely in Saint Lucia, premiered on March 1, 2026, on YouTube, with four episodes exploring community-led experiences, locally owned Black businesses, and Caribbean cultural identity beyond the tourist experience.[8][9][10] Of the project, Barrocks said: "As a Jamaican-Canadian who grew up in a Caribbean household, I carried the culture with me long before I truly explored the islands themselves. Beyond the Resort gave me the chance to return with fresh eyes, to step away from the polished postcard version of the Caribbean and lean into the unknown, the secluded, and the often-overlooked spaces."[8]
Also in 2026, Barrocks served as producer on Echoes of Care, a web series. He has also served as producer on City Gospel Presents.
Commercial and advertising work
editAs a commercial director, Barrocks has worked with a broad range of major brands and community organizations. His clients include CIBC, IKEA, YouTube, Roots Canada, SickKids Hospital, Bermuda Tourism Authority, Appleton Estate, Tonal, CRWN Magazine, and the Jane and Finch Centre, among others.[4] He is a multiple W3 Award winner for excellence in advertising and digital storytelling.[4]
Teaching and mentorship
editBarrocks serves as a professor at Seneca College in Toronto, where he mentors emerging filmmakers in production, digital media, and storytelling. He has also been a guest speaker at Georgian College.[citation needed] He is a two-time participant in the Diversity of Voices Initiative, a professional development program for underrepresented Canadian screen industry professionals, and serves as a judge for the Canada Media Fund's Racialized Production Portfolio.[4] He has been an active member of the OYA Arts Coalition and has participated in international industry forums including MIP Africa and the CaribbeanTales Cross-Continental Forum.[4]
Podcasts
editBarrocks hosts two podcasts as part of The Chonilla Network. Story Over Everything features conversations with individuals sharing personal and professional perspectives. Creative to Creative with Tristan Barrocks features discussions with creatives across fashion, culture, photography, and film. Both are available on Spotify, iHeart, and TuneIn.[11][12]
Filmography
editKey: D = Director · W = Writer · P = Producer · EP = Executive Producer · A = Actor
Film and television
edit| Year | Title | Type | D | W | P | EP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Connecting the Dots | Documentary series | Yes | Yes | Hollywood North Film Festival | ||
| 2020 | Praise & Worship | Short film | Yes | Toronto Black Film Festival; co-directed with O'Shane Howard | |||
| 2021 | Dear Black Dad | Short film | Yes | Yes | 125,000+ digital views; multiple festival selections | ||
| 2021 | Munaluchi Bride (cover film) | Branded content | Yes | International release; Ghana, Canada, US, England | |||
| 2022 | Mother to Mother | Short film | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 2022–23 | A Letter From the Fathers | Short film | Yes | Yes | Yes | ABFF; Essence Film Festival; Swedish International Film Festival | |
| 2023 | Wallflower | Web series | Yes | Yes | Yes | Creator; Black teenage girl self-discovery story | |
| TBA | City Gospel Presents | Special | Yes | ||||
| 2025 | Sugar Dumplin' | Short film | Yes | Yes | Yes | IMDb 9.6; Pan African Film Festival (Oscar-qualifying); Jamaica premiere Feb 2025; Caribbean Tales International Film Festival | |
| 2026 | Echoes of Care | Web series | Yes | ||||
| 2026 | Beyond the Resort | Docu-series (YouTube) | Yes | Yes | Directed & produced; hosted by Natalie Preddie; filmed in Saint Lucia; premiered March 1, 2026 |
As actor (selected)
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Dawn of the Dead | Actor | Feature film |
| 2004 | Mean Girls | Actor | Feature film |
| 2005 | The Perfect Man | Actor | Feature film |
| 2025 | Sugar Dumplin' | Young Desmond | Also director and producer |
Projects in development
edit| Title | Type | D | W | P | EP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diaries of an Average Black Dad | Comedy series | Yes | Yes | Yes | Father in midlife crisis redefining extraordinary life | |
| Boy Read | Drama | Yes | Yes | Yes | Father and son; self-expression and self-discovery | |
| Malton | Drama | Yes | Script in development |
Awards and recognition
edit- Multiple W3 Awards for excellence in digital storytelling and advertising
- Juror, 17th Annual Shorty Awards – Real Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences[13]
- Sugar Dumplin' — Pan African Film Festival official selection (Oscar-qualifying), 2025
- Sugar Dumplin' — Caribbean Tales International Film Festival official selection, 2025
- A Letter From the Fathers — American Black Film Festival, Essence Film Festival, Swedish International Film Festival
- Dear Black Dad — multiple international festival selections
- Connecting the Dots — Hollywood North Film Festival
- Praise & Worship — Toronto Black Film Festival
References
edit- ↑ "Tristan Barrocks". IMDb. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Tristan Barrocks – Director and Writer". TristanBarrocks.com. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Filmmaker Tristan Barrocks focuses on mining the Black experience". Loop News. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "About Tristan". TristanBarrocks.com. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sugar Dumplin film starring Oliver Samuels premières in Jamaica". Jamaica Observer. 2025-02-04. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Sugar Dumplin: A Touching Short Film About Memory and Family". SFLCN. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "CTFF2025 presents SUGAR DUMPLIN by Tristan Barrocks". Caribbean Tales International Film Festival. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- 1 2 Schneiderman, Jill (2026-02-28). "Beyond the Resort: A Love Letter to the Caribbean". DIVINE. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Beyond the Resort: New Caribbean Travel Series by Natalie Preddie". Black Canadian Creators. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "This New Canadian Travel Series Is Your Sign To Stop Vacationing On Autopilot". VITA Daily. 2026-02-04. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Tristan Barrocks Presents Story Over Everything". Spotify. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Creative To Creative w/ Tristan Barrocks". Spotify. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ "Tristan Barrocks — Real Time Academy". Shorty Awards. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
External links
edit- Official website
- Tristan Barrocks at IMDb
- Tristan Barrocks on FilmFreeway
- Tristan Barrocks on Vimeo
- Mid-Career Productions
- Beyond the Resort official website
Category:Living people Category:Canadian film directors Category:Canadian male film directors Category:Canadian screenwriters Category:Canadian film producers Category:Black Canadian filmmakers Category:Film directors from Toronto Category:Seneca College faculty Category:Jamaican Canadians Category:Canadian documentary filmmakers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)