Image+Nation
CHARLOTTETOWN'S COWBOY

CHARLOTTETOWN'S COWBOY

VANESSA TIGNANELLI | CANADA | 2026 | 5 MIN | ENGLISH

VANESSA TIGNANELLI | CANADA | 2026 | 5 MIN | ENGLISH

IN-CINEMAVIRTUALShort
NOV 22 / 13:00Cinéma Public505 Rue Jean-Talon E. Montréal, QC H2R 1T6 (métro Jean-Talon)

Synopsis

At 63, Ricky Lee leaves Texas behind and moves to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. After spending much of his life hiding his sexuality to survive, he finally discovers a sense of home, belonging, and the freedom to live openly as himself.

Filmmaker Bio

Vanessa Tignanelli is an Italian-Canadian documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Prince Edward Island. Her work explores identity, resilience and belonging through intimate stories of people who challenge stereotypes or live outside conventional expectations. Drawing on conceptual art and journalism, she works across photography, film and visual art to rehumanize stories about gender, ageing, human rights, environmental justice and cultural memory. Her work has appeared in The Globe and Mail, CBC, BBC, Bloomberg, VICE, Maclean's and The Narwhal, and has received national and international recognition.

Director's Statement

As a fellow newcomer to PEI, I recognized in Ricky Lee a profound love for a place that offers respite, healing, and the freedom to be oneself. His journey from surviving as a gay man in Texas to finding paradise in Charlottetown speaks to the transformative power of easy breaths and an art-filled community. Created for CBC Creator Network for a small regional audience, this short film has gone on to reach more than half a million views nationwide. Seeing the outpouring of love for Ricky reminds me why I tell stories: to applaud authenticity, share tales of tenacity, and encourage us to revere our shared humanity.

Producer

Katie Rowe

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