Jenny’s Vision is one of three local films that will enjoy national broadcast Sept. 18 on CBC television as part of its Absolutely Canadian series showcasing unique stories from communities across Canada.Maria Belenkova-Buford is hopeful her short doc could change someone's life

Film student projects to find national audience

The most rewarding part of filming her short documentary Jenny’s Vision is the thought that its message of hope could change someone’s life, says Maria Belenkova-Buford.

A film student, she tells the story of an artist with a visual disability.

“Jenny has some challenges she had to overcome,” says Belenkova-Buford. “My film shows how you can still create while having a major impairment.”

It is one of three local films that will enjoy national broadcast Sept. 18 on CBC television as part of its Absolutely Canadian series showcasing unique stories from communities across Canada.

Entitled “Reel Shorts: Windsor,” the episode is curated and produced by filmmakers Theodore Bezaire and Michael Stasko, a faculty member in the Department of Communication, Media, and Film. In addition to Jenny’s Vision, it features Journey Back to Jackson Park by drama grad Audra Gray (BFA 2003) and Jackson Park Band Shell by Madeline Mazak (BA 2017). It will air at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

A full one-hour program which expands the playbill to include Understanding Differences by Lourdes Lasala (BA 2021), Big Little Show by Gemma Cunial (BA 2019, MFA 2021), and Lethe by Adam Dunn (BA 2017, MFA 2021), will be available for streaming on CBC Gem.

Belenkova-Buford earned a degree in accounting from the Odette School of Business in 2005. She says she is using what she learned there to her new avocation.

“I see that I’m applying more and more of my business skills in film-making,” she says. “Leveraging resources and marketing opportunities to bring my projects a little bit further.”

Jenny’s Vision was selected for screening later this month at the Seize the Film festival in Serbia, the FLOW Film Festival in Sunrise, Florida, and the Celebrating Abilities Virtual Film Festival hosted by the College of Adaptive Arts in Saratoga, California.