Short doc about big bears to debut at Toronto's independent film festival

'Stewards of the North,' a mini-documentary about the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, has been selected for this year's Toronto Independent Film Festival Filmmaker Diego Rojas Garcia captured the polar bears of the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat for his documentary titled Stewards of the North. 1 / 1 Filmmaker Diego Rojas Garcia captured the polar bears of the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat for his documentary titled Stewards of the North. Advertisement COCHRANE — Diego Rojas Garcia had spent years learning the ins and outs of filmmaking, but nothing quite prepared him for the moment a massive polar bear suddenly appeared in front of him. Garcia was in Cochrane in January with his partner, Celeste Courtemanche, filming a documentary when polar bear Henry approached the enclosure. Garcia had his back turned, talking with habitat staff, when he heard them greet Henry. He turned around and realized he had missed the shot. 'I forgot to record,' he said. 'I was in complete shock.' The encounter became one of many memorable moments during the three-day trip that would become Stewards of the North, a nearly seven-minute documentary about the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. The film has been selected for the 2026 Toronto Independent Film Festival (Toronto Indie), with screenings set for Sept. 17 at the festival and Sept. 23 at the Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival. For Garcia, 29, the recognition is particularly meaningful because the documentary is his first independently produced film. 'I had my doubts that people would care enough,' he told TimminsToday, a sister site of TorontoToday. 'It's been very exciting and sort of emotional for me to see that people care about it.' Garcia, who lives in Brampton, was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Canada with his family when he was eight. His path into filmmaking has been unconventional. He studied communications and culture at the University of Toronto before completing a post-production program at Humber College. He then worked in film in lighting and grip before moving into post-production and advertising. Internships at a post-sound studio and virtual production studio helped him build the skills that eventually gave him the confidence to take on his own documentary. The idea came partly from his love of wildlife documentaries. Garcia and Courtemanche, who produced the film, regularly watch documentaries about animals and the environment. Filmmakers Diego Rojas Garcia and Celeste Courtemanche during their visit to the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. Supplied/Diego Rojas Garcia The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat stood out during their search for a story. 'People don't know about it,' Garcia said. 'No one knows that you can just drive out and see polar bears in their natural habitat, or as close to their natural habitat as you can get.' The pair drove from Brampton to Cochrane, a trip Garcia said took about 12 hours, considerably longer than the seven or eight hours Google Maps initially suggested. They spent two days filming, working closely with habitat staff to capture the relationship between the animal care team and the bears. 'The documentary kind of took its own shape,' Garcia said. 'It's a story about their relationship with the bears and what the habitat means to them.' The trip also gave Garcia a new appreciation for the animals. He was surprised by how playful they could be, comparing their behaviour at times to that of a labrador or golden retriever. A polar bear lounges in the snow at the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat. Supplied/Diego Rojas Garcia Garcia also learned about the individual personalities and needs of the habitat's bears, including Ganuk's allergies and Henry's tendency to make a den despite being male. The film's title, Stewards of the North, reflects both the importance of polar bears to the northern ecosystem and the people who care for them. Garcia described the habitat's staff as ambassadors for the species, highlighting their science-based approach to caring for the animals and enriching their lives. Filming wasn't without challenges. The temperature reached about -24 C during the trip, and Garcia was learning wildlife filmmaking as he went. 'Patience is definitely a factor,' he said. Still, the cold and long drive haven't deterred him from wanting to do more. 'I am hoping to do more wildlife shooting in the future for sure,' Garcia said. He hopes Stewards of the North will encourage people who have never heard of the habitat to make the trip themselves. 'Bringing awareness to its mere existence is the biggest thing that my short doc will do for the habitat,' he said.