Documentary filmmaker, and co-founder of Bonfire Originals
OK, a bit about me… growing up with Jamaican and Scottish parents, I was encouraged from a young age to try, taste and experience everything - at least once. I always felt I've straddled multiple experiences, and yet never felt fully part of one - to me, that's nurtured my sense of curiosity, exploration, bridging gaps and seeing opportunities in every new connection.
As a filmmaker, I'm fuelled by my passion for exploring, learning and helping tell the stories that rarely get told. My work has taken me around the world, from Ethiopia to Chile, Jamaica to Japan, working with reggae & ska legends, championship pro athletes, disgraced superstars and communities/organizations striving for change.
And at some point during your rush hour commute, you may have heard me (DJ Gramera) on the airwaves during my 15 years hosting StolenSouls: a weekly soul, funk and reggae vinyl radio show on CHRY 105.5FM - and you most definitely got invited (or will be) to one of my DJ nights.
I am also the co-founder and partner of Bonfire Originals, a production company based out of Toronto, focusing on documentary filmmaking and collaborating with fellow creatives.
Link me anytime, whether an idea, potential project or you just wanna connect.
Graeme Mathieson
Toronto, Canada
g@gramera.com
Toronto, Canada
g@gramera.com
SELECT Credits
"Play It Loud: How Toronto Got Soul" feature doc (TVO, Knowledge, 2025) // Director + Writer
"Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land" 5 x 15:00 docuseries (NFB, 2024) // Director + Writer
"The Komagata Maru Incident" doc short (Historica Canada, 2022) // Director
Danny Green's "Beyond the Arc" 6 x 30:00 docuseries (TSN, 2020) // Co-EP + Producer
"Shella Records - A Reggae Mystery" feature doc (Hot Docs, CBC, 2019) // Creative Consultant
"Ruff & Tuff - Stranger Cole's Toronto Roots" doc short (2018) // Collaboration w/ Chris Flanagan
Complaints Dept. "Rebel Lion" music video (Reelworld Film Festival 2018) // Director
"Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land" 5 x 15:00 docuseries (NFB, 2024) // Director + Writer
"The Komagata Maru Incident" doc short (Historica Canada, 2022) // Director
Danny Green's "Beyond the Arc" 6 x 30:00 docuseries (TSN, 2020) // Co-EP + Producer
"Shella Records - A Reggae Mystery" feature doc (Hot Docs, CBC, 2019) // Creative Consultant
"Ruff & Tuff - Stranger Cole's Toronto Roots" doc short (2018) // Collaboration w/ Chris Flanagan
Complaints Dept. "Rebel Lion" music video (Reelworld Film Festival 2018) // Director
AWARDS
Winner: Documentary, Arts/Culture, Yorkton Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Winner: Best Documentary, Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Winner: Audience Choice Award, Caribbean Tales International Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Winner: Best Doc Series, Baltimore New Media Fest 2024 (Sounds & Pressure)
Winner: Best Directing in Reality, Talk, Doc Series, Baltimore New Media Fest 2024 (Sounds & Pressure)
Nomination: Best of the Festival, Yorkton Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Nomination: Director Non-Fiction, Yorkton Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Nomination: Short Non-Fiction Program, Rockie Awards 2022 (The Komagata Maru Incident)
Winner: Best Documentary, Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Winner: Audience Choice Award, Caribbean Tales International Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Winner: Best Doc Series, Baltimore New Media Fest 2024 (Sounds & Pressure)
Winner: Best Directing in Reality, Talk, Doc Series, Baltimore New Media Fest 2024 (Sounds & Pressure)
Nomination: Best of the Festival, Yorkton Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Nomination: Director Non-Fiction, Yorkton Film Festival 2025 (Play it Loud!)
Nomination: Short Non-Fiction Program, Rockie Awards 2022 (The Komagata Maru Incident)
FESTIVALS
Yorkton Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Yorkton Film Festival 2025: "Sounds & Pressure"
Black Film Festival of New Orleans 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Windsor International Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Available Light Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Caribbean Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival 2025: "Sounds & Pressure"
Caribbean Tales International Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Junction North International Doc Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Baltimore New Media Fest 2024: "Sounds & Pressure"
Hot Docs 2018: "Ruff & Tuff - Stranger Cole's Toronto Roots"
Reelworld Film Festival 2018: "Rebel Lion"
Yorkton Film Festival 2025: "Sounds & Pressure"
Black Film Festival of New Orleans 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Windsor International Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Available Light Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Caribbean Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Windrush Caribbean Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival 2025: "Sounds & Pressure"
Caribbean Tales International Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Junction North International Doc Film Festival 2025: "Play it Loud!"
Baltimore New Media Fest 2024: "Sounds & Pressure"
Hot Docs 2018: "Ruff & Tuff - Stranger Cole's Toronto Roots"
Reelworld Film Festival 2018: "Rebel Lion"
PRESS
SAD Magazine: What Keeps The Art(ists) Alive?: Reflections on Play It Loud! and Creating Art in Vancouver
RANGE Magazine: Jay Douglas: the Reggae Pioneer Who Shaped Toronto’s Sound
Toronto Guardian: “A Day in the Life” with: Filmmaker Graeme Mathieson
Windrush Caribbean Film Festival: WCFF meets Play It Loud! filmmaker Graeme Mathieson
Playback: TVO explores program pairings for Black History Month
Exclaim: 8/10: 'Play It Loud: How Toronto Got Soul' Traces the Roots of the Iconic Toronto Sound
Exclaim: 8/10: 'Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land' Traces the Genre's Toronto Legacy
POV: Sounds & Pressure Review: How Reggae United Torontonians
Le Devoir: «Rythmes et résistance»: plongée dans l’histoire méconnue du reggae canadien
PBC Jamaica: Agenda Jamaica : Sounds and Pressure
Detroit Free Press: Windsor International Film Festival expands to Detroit with free Campus Martius shows
Afro Toronto: Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land
Jamaica Daily Observer: The life and career of singer Johnny Osbourne will be chronicled in a docuseries by Canadian director Graeme “DJ Gramera” Mathieson
CBC: New documentary highlights impact of Jamaican artists on Canadian music
Now: ‘If you don’t have money, make history,’ Iconic musician Jay Douglas’ documentary explores how Toronto’s reggae scene was born
Jamaica Gleaner: Canadian docufilm celebrates the life, career of J’can singer musician
Jamaica Gleaner: ‘Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land’ educates, entertains
NATYF TV: Rythmes et résistance: l'histoire du reggae au Canada à l'honneur pour le Mois de l'histoire des Noirs
TVO's The Agenda: Toronto's Secret Caribbean Music Legacy
Stir: VIFF Centre welcomes guest-curated film series and live music events for Black History Month
Reggae North: “Sound & Pressure” Featured in Jamaica
ByBlacks: “They figure reggae is for bad people. Badman music. I think reggae is love. Pure love.”
Core Magazines: Following the roots of reggae from Jamaica to foreign lands
Montreal Community Contact: Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land
Montreal Community Contact: The String Up: Celebrating reggae and sound-system culture
RANGE Magazine: Jay Douglas: the Reggae Pioneer Who Shaped Toronto’s Sound
Toronto Guardian: “A Day in the Life” with: Filmmaker Graeme Mathieson
Windrush Caribbean Film Festival: WCFF meets Play It Loud! filmmaker Graeme Mathieson
Playback: TVO explores program pairings for Black History Month
Exclaim: 8/10: 'Play It Loud: How Toronto Got Soul' Traces the Roots of the Iconic Toronto Sound
Exclaim: 8/10: 'Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land' Traces the Genre's Toronto Legacy
POV: Sounds & Pressure Review: How Reggae United Torontonians
Le Devoir: «Rythmes et résistance»: plongée dans l’histoire méconnue du reggae canadien
PBC Jamaica: Agenda Jamaica : Sounds and Pressure
Detroit Free Press: Windsor International Film Festival expands to Detroit with free Campus Martius shows
Afro Toronto: Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land
Jamaica Daily Observer: The life and career of singer Johnny Osbourne will be chronicled in a docuseries by Canadian director Graeme “DJ Gramera” Mathieson
CBC: New documentary highlights impact of Jamaican artists on Canadian music
Now: ‘If you don’t have money, make history,’ Iconic musician Jay Douglas’ documentary explores how Toronto’s reggae scene was born
Jamaica Gleaner: Canadian docufilm celebrates the life, career of J’can singer musician
Jamaica Gleaner: ‘Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land’ educates, entertains
NATYF TV: Rythmes et résistance: l'histoire du reggae au Canada à l'honneur pour le Mois de l'histoire des Noirs
TVO's The Agenda: Toronto's Secret Caribbean Music Legacy
Stir: VIFF Centre welcomes guest-curated film series and live music events for Black History Month
Reggae North: “Sound & Pressure” Featured in Jamaica
ByBlacks: “They figure reggae is for bad people. Badman music. I think reggae is love. Pure love.”
Core Magazines: Following the roots of reggae from Jamaica to foreign lands
Montreal Community Contact: Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land
Montreal Community Contact: The String Up: Celebrating reggae and sound-system culture