Raymond Helkio is a film and theatre director whose work focuses on LGBTQ human rights issues and stories through documentary and video works.
From Tanzania, With Love
A film by Raymond Helkio, January 2020
The Rainbow Lounge
HOST & PRODUCER, June 27, 2019
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
Toronto’s most revered artists come together for a spectacular sing-along evening around the piano. Queer classics, costumes and outrageous surprises helped us raise $3200 for Rainbow Railroad to bring two LGBT Iranian refugees to safety in Toronto.
Upright Citizens Brigade
IMPROV PERFORMER, Graduating Class 101
LIVE IMPROV SHOW, December 19, 2018
UCB Theatre, Hell’s Kitchen
Founded by Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, UCB’s 101 improv class, instructed by Zack Willis, live in New York City.
MUSINGS FROM THE BUNKER Series
VIDEO & BOOK DESIGN, June 2019
VIDEO PROJECTIONS, October 2018
VIDEO PROJECTIONS, May 2018
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
Video installation and subtitles for arias in this poetry/variety show of queer, quirky, and queenly proportions from the minds of Patricia Wilson and David Bateman.
OASIS LOVE (Toronto)
PRODUCER, June 2018
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
Part comedy, part drama, part musical and all heart. Follow Damien as he navigates his first serious relationship, from falling in love to coming out, and everything in between. Official QueerPride programming featuring Johnny Salib (playwright, sound composer) + Franny McCabe-Bennett, dramaturge.
Hamlet In A Hot Tub (The Film)
DIRECTOR, February 2, 2018
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto
Hamlet In A Hot Tub (The Movie) follows Gertrude and Polonius as they secretly conspire to marry their children, Hamlet and Ophelia. But Ophelia soon discovers Hamlet and Polonius have been keeping a secret of their own. Semi-finalist, San Maro Torinese Film Festival (STIFF), 2018
You Love That I’m Not Your Wife
VIDEO & MEDIA, CAST, November 3-18, 2017
The Players Theatre, New York
Video, projection, promotions, plus Raymond cameos as Olivia-Newton Simons, the kale eating fitness host. This fun and sexy exploration of modern day relationships first debuted in Los Angeles before this sold-out run in off-off-Broadway. Written and directed by Joanne Piano-Mosconi.
Cracking The Case Of The Golden Purse
Created by Raymond Helkio, Paul Bellini, David Bateman with music by Stewart Borden, 2017
Two gay cops attempt to catch a purse snatcher only find out it’s one of them.
Official Selection of the New York Mobile Film Festival, July 2018. Originally commissioned by RT Collective, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival in 2016.
Tom Thomson Gets Wet, Art Gallery of Ontario
VIDEO INSTALLATION, October 26 & 29, 2016
An exploratory film deconstructing the death of Tom Thomson for #HashTagGallerySlut, a performance work from the provocative mind of Keith Cole, featuring drag legend Maria Delmonte, porn star Ryan Russell with cinematic landscaping by Raymond Helkio.
A commissioned film by Keith Cole for the AGO’s Toronto: Tributes and Tributaries.
Lost & Found On The Q Train
Directed by Raymond Helkio, featuring Shirley U. Jest, 2016.
A Brooklyn housewife loses herself in the writings of a journal she steals from a stranger. Before reading the diary the housewife makes a judgment about the stranger but are we making judgments about the housewife?
An official selection of the New York Mobile Film Festival, July 2018. Originally commissioned by RT Collective, Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival in 2015.
WERK. FIERCE. OVAH. AVIANCE!
Directed by Raymond Helkio featuring Kevin Aviance, 2015.
At the height of his career, drag superstar Kevin Aviance is beaten and left for dead on crowded East Village street in New York City. WERK. FIERCE. OVAH. Aviance! is the examination of Kevin’s physical and emotional journey through the lens of his provocative performance works.
Official screening selection of the East Villiage Queer Film Festival, 2018.
…When The Bullying Ends (Being Enza Anderson)
Directed by Raymond Helkio, 2015.
Enza Anderson continues to make international news for her work as an anti-bullying and queer rights activist yet behind the headlines is a trans woman who is being bullied out of living a normal life.
Honourable Mentions at the 2016Honourable Mentions, Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival, India, 2016Kolkata Shorts Festival, India.
An Evening With The Impostors
Directed by Raymond Helkio, 2014.
The Impostors are getting ready to bring their high-glam drag spectacle to the small town of Port Hope, Ontario. The Impostors are ready, but is Port Hope?
Toronto Inside Out Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, TIFF Bell Lightbox, 2014
OUTtv Post-Production Fund award, 2014
Nominated Emerging Canadian Filmmaker, 2014
My Sex Is Genderless
Directed by Raymond Helkio, 2013
Commissioned by RT Collective, Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival
Toronto Inside Out Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Kijiji Connections
Directed by Raymond Helkio, 2014
RT Collective, Toronto Inside Out LGBT Film Festival
Death Of A Bathhouse
Produced by Raymond Helkio, 2013.
Combining footage from the final days of St. Marc’s Spa with interviews from Toronto artists Sky Gilbert, Keith Cole, Brad Fraser, Drasko Bogdanovic & Shane MacKinnon, we explore the art culture and ultimate demise of one of Toronto’s longest-running bathhouses.
Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival, India, 2016
Queer City Cinema Film Festival, Regina, 2015
Inside Out Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, TIFF Bell Lightbox, 2013
Queering Spaces: Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives, Screening from June–September 2015
What’s It Like?
Directed by Raymond Helkio, 2017.
Written and performed by David Bateman featuring arias with Hélène Ducharme and Stewart Borden.
February 15, 2017
Rhubarb launch party at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
What’s It Like? addresses the taboos surrounding physical, identity-mongering pathologies that raise questions that affect us all, and does so with a solo performance aided by arias, ukuleles, and projections that simultaneously possess the patience, the irritation, and the operatic indulgence of one disgruntled diva.
RAID: Operation Soap
Written and directed by Raymond Helkio with David Bateman, music by Stewart Borden starring Keith Cole and Johnny Salib, featuring Paul Bellini, Brock Hessel, Amy J. Lester, Travis L’Henaff.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
A sold-out performance about the Toronto bathhouse raids. A comedy love-story about two of the men that were arrested and how their horrific experience changed the course of LGBT history, marking the birth of Pride day.
QueerPride Festival, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
Hamlet In A Hot Tub
A comedy about Hamlet, Ophelia, Gertrude and Polonius set in a modern-day bathhouse. Directed by Raymond Helkio, written & adapted by Brock Hessel, David Bateman also featuring Paul Bellini, Amy J. Lester, music by Stewart Borden.
Peterborough Pride
The Garnet
September 19, 2015
Glad Day Bookshop
End Of The World Tour
July 25, 2015 (two shows)
The 519 Community Centre waterpark
June 21, 2015 (two shows)
Nuit RoseClosing Ceremonies
Church Street Stage
Pride Toronto (2015)
Rhubarb Festival
From the washrooms at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
February 17–21, 2015
Nightly cameos included: Keith Cole, Enza Anderson, Rolyn Chambers, André Prefontaine
Coming Out Queer (An Evening of Boundary Pushing Performances and Art, June 4, 2015, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
A night of uncensored performance, film and discussion in defiance of community standards with Raymond Helkio, Reg Hartt, Keith Cole, Rolyn Chambers, Amy Pearl and outrageous performances by Pepper Highway, Mangina Hurts + autographs by Reid from One Complexion + #ArtForFreedom film Nobody Knows Freedom featuring Donnarama.
WorldPride Human Rights Conference (2014) video interviews include: Jordan Tannahill, Patricia Wilson, Brad Fraser, James Fowler, Andrea Houston, Frank Mugoisha, Chris Veldhoven, Doug Kerr, Michael Went, Brendan Healy, Jörn Weisbrodt, Mathieu Chantelois, Susan Gapka, Maura Lawless, Ramraajh Sharvendiran, Hazelle Palmer, Rolyn Chambers, Stephanie Stephens, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Scott Dagostino, Irshad Manji, Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Thomas G. Conway, Todd Ross, Marcela Romero, Francine Elliott, Bruce Mayhew, John McCullagh, Frank Folino, Antoine Elhashem, Kevin Beaulieu, Akim Ade Larcher, Deb Pearce, Keith Cole, Shaun Proulx (retired), Patrick Marano, Scott Ferguson, Brenda Cossman, Jane Farrow, Lauryn Kronic, Jacquie Lucas, Davina Hader, Roy Mitchell, Junior Harrison, Sean Hiller, Richard Elliott, Zelda Angelfire, Susan Gapka, Francisco Alvarez, Keith Hambly, Barbara Hall, Stefonknee Wolscht, Doug Kerr and Maurice Tomlinson.
Films available for rent through the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre.
