Colina Phillips was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia but spent all but the first few years of life in Toronto, Ontario. She became involved in Toronto’s music scene in her teens and continued into a successful music career. The recording, S.V.P. Blue Mood, contains several of her original compositions and as a member of SWAY she earned a JUNO.
Making Change was the first film directed by Colina Phillips. The film screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, was accepted at FESPACO in Burkina Faso, The Atlanta Film Festival and appeared on Women’s Television Network. The Black Film & Video Network was instrumental in making the film.
Making Change was purchased for the film collections of York University, University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia and written about in Black Like Who?, Rinaldo Walcott and Re/Visioning Canadian Perspectives on the Education of Africans in the Late 20th Century, Vincent R. D’Oyley and Carl E. James (Leslie Saunders). Other video work has appeared on BRAVO television. Currently work is proceeding on a documentary project.