Alison Duke

An award-winning writer-producer-director and passionate artistic activist committed to boldly telling stories of resistance and change. Alison has an MFA at York University in film production and is sought after lecturer. 

Inspired by Ava Duvernay, #metoo and the reality that opportunities for women behind the camera in Canada are long overdue, Alison hired five Black female Canadian directors to helm short films for the Akua Benjamin Legacy Project, which celebrates the legacies of Canadian-based black activists Dudley Laws, Charles Roach, Rosie Douglas, Marlene Green and Len and Gwen Johnson.

Alison got her start directing and producing documentaries with the hip hop cult classic, Raisin’ Kane: a rapumentary. From there she worked as a segment producer and field director on syndicated factual and lifestyle shows. Eventually she made her way to social issue docs. She also has collaborations with other filmmakers as a producer.

She founded OYA Emerging Filmmakers Program (formerly Black Youth! Pathway2Industry), a 3-year initiative to support black youth who are graduates of film, television and digital media programs access essential training, mentors, networks and film industry spaces.