Stories That Transform Us, directed by Corey Payette, is a documentary feature film created to celebrate Urban Ink’s 20th anniversary season.

For over 20 years, Urban Ink has supported Indigenous and diverse voices through storytelling and performance, empowering artists and encouraging collaboration, inclusivity, and social change through challenging, thought provoking, and groundbreaking productions. Telling the story of Urban Ink’s foundation and how the company has evolved over the years, the film looks back on the depth and scope of their history through past productions with re-imagined creative shorts of the diverse theatrical works produced since 2001.

The film centres around conversations with Urban Ink’s three Artistic Directors, beginning with founder Marie Clements, followed by Diane Roberts, and current Artistic Director, Corey Payette. Each one, extremely inspiring, moving and humble as they describe the challenges faced and their visions of the future. The film illustrates how it all began and how Canadian theatre has moved forward to a place where diverse and Indigenous stories are now being heard.