Family documentaries · Toronto, Ontario

Capture the moments and memories that matter most.

We bring your family’s stories to life through cinematic, thoughtful interviews and professional archiving services.

Commission a story

Learn how we turn your memories, photographs and home movies into a story your whole family can gather around.

Starting points

Every family film starts with an idea.

Browse nineteen ways into a story. Open any title to see how the day works and what the film looks like.

Not sure where to start? Help me choose →
How it works

Crafting your legacy into keepsake cinema.

From the first conversation to the moment your family presses play, we make the whole experience easy, personal and enjoyable.

1
A pile of old black-and-white family photographs

Discovery.

The starting point for the story we will produce. We learn about our protagonist and how best to shape the experience, and you approve the script before we roll.

2
A filmmaker seated beside studio lights, reviewing notes before an interview

Production.

Every story has its own requirements. Whether it’s a full-day documentary shoot, a short interview or archiving the old photographs, this is where we bring it to life.

3
A private family website showing the finished film and a gallery of photographs

The Portal.

With your story captured and your physical media digitized, your family gets a private portal to watch, revisit and share with the people who matter.

Services

Choose your format.

Every film is quoted for the family it’s made for. Below are our most common services, and we’re always open to special requests and custom packages.

A smiling older man in a straw hat, outdoors under trees

The Portrait

The essentials, beautifully done, to share key memories and moments.

  • One-person interview
  • 100 photographs digitized
  • 5–8 minute documentary
  • Private family website
Starting at $3,100
Inquire about The Portrait
An older couple embracing and laughing together

The Memoir

For the stories that have several chapters or characters.

  • Up to three people interviewed
  • 250 photographs digitized
  • 12–15 minute documentary
  • Private family website
Starting at $6,200
Inquire about The Memoir
An older man seated in a lecture hall, ready for his interview
Bespoke

The Feature

For legacy stories that deserve the full feature-film treatment. Bespoke, and tailored to the whole family story.

  • Three or more people interviewed, at home or in studio
  • A 20-minute-plus film, with companion short films
  • Up to 1,000 photographs, plus VHS or film digitization
  • Live stream of the interview for family in other cities
  • Private family website
Quoted per project
Inquire about The Feature
An older man in glasses smiling in a stone courtyard
When the film ended, nobody moved. My father just looked at the screen, and then he said, “I forgot I ever sounded like that.”
A son · Rosedale
Contact Us

Commission a story.

Tell us a little about the person you have in mind. We’ll talk through what’s possible, with no pressure.

hello@rootsandreels.ca 416 555 0148 By appointment · Toronto, Ontario