Canadian filmmaker Tama Gempton graduated from Simon Fraser University in 2003 and received a BFA in Film. He comes from a background in the arts. His mother, Irene, was a professional dancer; his father, Shaun, is a woodcarver and sculptor. As a child, Tama’s parents and his sister, Shilo, formed the dance theatre troupe, Arrow Lakes Dance Theatre. They performed at Expo 86 in Vancouver, Canada; Expo 88 in Brisbane, Australia; and at the Milwaukee U.S.A. Summer Festival in 1988.

The majority of his five student films use an artistic form to examine learning disabilities and how they affect people. While attending university Tama volunteered for a Mark Achbar documentary, The Corporation; and a Stan Douglas video installation, Susperia.

In 2004, Tama released his first independent 35mm short film, Vowel Play a conceptual look at reading.

Tama traveled to a small coastal community: Klemtu, British Columbia in 2006. The Kitasoo Xaixais Band and Health Canada invited him to teach the youth, ages five to eighteen, how to make a video discussing staying healthy in the community. He produced the video How to Stay Healthy in Klemtu.

On Earth Day 2007 Tama made a HD short CO2 or you? Examining the issue of climate change.

The Nlakapamux Health and Healing Society in Lytton, British Columbia invited Tama in 2008 to teach video techniques to the youth on how to document the traditional medicine knowledge of local elders.

Tama’s films have appeared at numerous festivals around the world including India, Europe, Canada, the Principality of Monaco, Hollywood, USA, EXPO 2008 Zaragoza, Spain and the United Nations.