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In 1972, the President of Uganda, Idi Amin, announced that all Asians had 90 days to leave the country. Among other countries, Canada offered “an honourable place” to almost 8,000 Ugandan Asian refugees.

Thrown into Canada is an award-winning, feature-length documentary that explores Canada’s first major migration of non-European refugees, set against the backdrop of African post-colonialism, a brutal military dictatorship, and changing Canadian attitudes to diversity. Their story of struggle and hope became part of Canada’s conversations about refugees and cultural pluralism, and informed the Canadian response to future refugee movements.

Written, directed, and produced by Aleem Karmali, the film features interviews with historians, Canadian immigration officials, and those who lived through the expulsion, including Canadian Senator Mobina Jaffer and Alberta's 19th Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani.

Thrown into Canada won two awards at the 2023 Vancouver Asian Film Festival: Best Director in a Canadian Feature Film and Best Editing in a Canadian Feature Film. It has screened at over 15 film festivals and events and has been nominated for six awards.

Supported by generous funding from the Edmonton Arts Council and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.

Click here to view the film's Electronic Press Kit