'It’s our journey': Cape Breton director wins award at Atlantic International Film Festival

Glen Gould didn’t intend to act in his own film.

He had written the script, was sitting in the director’s chair, and also doing a producer’s duties throughout the production. Adding an acting role to his job description — in his directorial debut, no less — was not originally in the cards.

However, to accommodate the requirements for provincial tax credits, Gould took on the character of the recently out-of-prison uncle Arty in his directorial debut Jeffrey’s Turn. The film also features Zeegwon Shilling as JR Sylliboy, a 17-year-old from Black Bear First Nations who is called upon by his uncle for a road trip from Cape Breton to Maine.

The film is loosely based on the journey a teenage Gould took with his own uncle, Donald Marshall Jr.

Marshall Jr. is a historic figure in the world of Canadian law. Wrongly convicted of murder in 1971, he spent 11 years in prison before being acquitted. The case is foundational in the fight against Indigenous injustices in the legal system and led to the introduction of the Canada Evidence Act.

Even if it was out of necessity, Gould’s performance stuck with viewers at the Atlantic International Film Festival, winning the David Renton Award for Outstanding Performance in Acting.

“I’m portraying my Uncle Junior here,” said Gould. “People were like, oh, are you going to imitate him? I was like, no. In the end, I’m not going to imitate him. I’ll have some of his sayings and his mannerisms, but I’m not going to try to mimic him.”

Yet, Gould also said it was like, “bringing him back to life, just for a short amount of time.

“It’s our story,” explained Gould. “I had the idea to make this film over 10 years ago. I’m going to base it on this road trip.”

While not every aspect of the trip made it into the film, Gould incorporated several highlights from his memory.

“If you’re going to write, write about what you know,” he said.

Gould was in the director’s chair. He was producing. He had written the script. Now, he was also acting.

“I wore four hats through the whole process,” he said of production.

“I don’t know if I would ever do it again.”

Gould said he is still interested in directing and writing, but doing all four at once was a stressful experience. Furthermore, Gould suffered a stroke right after pre-production, as they were about to go to camera.

“I had a few stressful years,” he said. “I wasn’t eating the best and whatever, but the stress levels were high. I got a lot of newfound respect for producers now because I know what’s involved on that end.”

Even so, Gould shot the film while he was recovering.

“I plugged through and you know, I was focused,” he said. “That was the main thing on my mind, was to get through this. Get through this production.”

As for the David Renton Award for Outstanding Performance in Acting from AIFF, Gould is grateful. It’s the second time he’s won the award, first in 2011 for portraying Avery Paul in Michael Melski’s Charlie Zone.

The award carries a special meaning for Gould.

“It was nice to receive the award because I actually worked with David Renton years ago (on a) theatre production,” said Gould.

Next, Jeffrey’s Turn will appear at the Reelworld Film Festival in Toronto, the Silver Wave Film Festival in Fredericton, as well as an independent film festival in Berlin, Germany. Afterwards, Gould hopes to see the film get a theatrical release once out of the festival circuit, then perhaps put onto streaming.

“So far, everybody that’s watched the film said, hey, you know what, that’s a great film, Glen,” he said. “Overall, the response has been pretty positive.”

In the meantime, he said he’s been working away on a few other ideas that have been circling around in his mind. Another road trip film. A novel adaptation.

“I do have some ideas,” said Gould.

To learn more about Jeffrey’s Turn and for updates on its screenings, check out jeffreysturn.com.