Biografia
Diana Braithwaite is an African-Canadian writer and musician born in Toronto, Canada.
Writing: Film and Television
Diana's feature film Underground to Canada produced by Global TV aired nationally. Race to Freedom, a feature film produced by Atlantis Films, BET, Family Channel, and CTV was nominated for a Cable Ace Award, in Los Angeles.
Gracie, produced by CBC and Inside Stories, won a Gemini for Best Short Drama and a Yorkton Short Film and Video Award for Best Short Drama and Best Musical score.
Survivors produced by Inner City Films and Alfons Adetuyi was nominated for a Gemini Award, received 1st place at the Columbus International Film Festival, official selection at TIFF, and won The Golden Sheaf Award for Best Musical score.
In 2015, Diana was selected with 7 writers to take part in Writer's Guild Canada's Diverse Screenwriter's Program - sponsored by Bell Media. The WGC/Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters program was designed to bring new voices and perspectives into the writers' rooms of English-language Canadian television series.
2016 - 2017 Rose Lane -television series - 1st story editor of the pilot script - David Barlow,
2021- 2022 - completed 2nd edit. Script consultation in 2022 - David Storey (Producer Corner Gas)
Theatre: Diana attended York University's Graduate Theatre Programme. Her stage play - Martha and Elvira -a theatre script published by Sister Vision, received African-American Women in the Arts Award for Best One-Act Play in Chicago and was performed in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, and Europe. Diana's script Nutshells - won the best play - Black Theatre Canada. Wonder of Man - a musical, was produced by Nightwood Theatre - Toronto. Hallelujah, Ontario- Documentary Produced and directed by Jeff Henry was written by Diana Braithwaite and- staged at Metro Convention Centre. Something Special- children's play toured libraries and schools in Toronto. Sunset Explodes - Musical- staged at First Night Glenn Gould Theatre-CBC. Sugar and Gold - The Story of the Underground Railroad. Researched and wrote a one-hour school performance piece with partner songwriter Chris Whiteley on the story of the underground railroad, Production has been performed to more than 150,000 students in North America.
2022 - 2023 Martha and Elvira - developing theatre play from one act to full-length production
Radio: CBC Radio -Researched and presented on-air historical Toronto stories - Here and Now - 2011 & 2012 OTHER THEATRE: Music Research consultant: SOULPEPPER 2018: For the production of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by August Wilson As a performer and blues singer, Diana has performed on stages such as Massey Hall- Toronto, Moscow Centre for Performing Arts, La Passage Blues Festival - France, Oakville Performing Arts Centre, Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre, Midland Performing Arts Centre
OTHER: Awarded Blues Life Time Achievement Award 2018, Album of the year, Songwriter of the year (SOCAN) Chalmers Fellowship award winner - African Canadian History, Winner of the African-American Women in the Arts Award. Dubbed a " national treasure"- by Bluz FM on Jazz FM, Diana has been instrumental in keeping the blues alive internationally for two decades. Songs co-written by her and her husband, producer Chris Whiteley, won multiple awards reaching number 1 on XM Sirius satellite and Best Blues CD -Jazz FM.
Other awards: Album of the year, Blues with a feeling- Maple Blues Awards, SOCAN songwriter of the year.
