Shelley Saywell

Shelley Saywell is an Emmy Award winning Canadian documentary filmmaker. ^[1] A two-time winner of the [[Hot Docs Award for Best Canadian Feature Documentary, her films are focused on issues of social justice and conflict, with a particular emphasis on women and children. Her films have been officially selected by numerous international festivals and broadcast in more than 30 countries. Saywell has been personally honoured with an Award for Creative Excellence, by Women in Film and Television, and UNESCO’s Gandhi Medal for the Promotion of Peace. Her complete collection of research, footage, photographs, and transcripts is now held by the University of Toronto, Media Commons Archives.

Saywell is author of the upcoming “If Only Love, A Memoir of Second Chances,” Random House Canada, publication date spring 2026. Women in War:First Hand Accounts from World War II to El Salvador, Penguin Viking, 1986, contributing editor, Ourselves Among Others, St Martins Press, 1988

She was co-founder with Deborah Parks of Bishari Films.^[2] Saying it Very Well, POV magazine, 2003, Hot Docs, Director in Focus, 2003

Filmography

1988 - Shahira: Nomads of the Sahara
1994 - No Man's Land
1995 - Fire and Water
1007 - Rape: A Crime of War
1997 - Kim's Story: The Road from Vietnam
1999 - Hamas: Behind the Mask
1999 - Legacy of Terror: The Bombing of Air India
1999 - Crimes of Honor
2000 - Out of the Fire
2001 - A Child's Century of War
2002 - Street Nurse
2003 - A Generation of Hate
2004 - Angry Girls
2006 - Martyr Street
2008 - Devil's Bargain: A Journey into the Small Arms Trade
2010 - The Nanny Business
2010 - In the Name of the Family
2015 - Lowdown Tracks
2016 - The War at Home

Awards

Award	Year	Category	Film	Result	Ref(s)
Canadian Screen Awards	2017	Best Writing in a Documentary	The War at Home	Nominated	^[3]
Canadian Screen Awards	2017	Donald Brittain Award	The War at Home	Nominated	^[3]
Gemini Awards	1995	Donald Brittain Award	No Man's Land	Nominated	^[4]
	1995	Best Writing in an Information/Documentary Program or Series	No Man's Land	Nominated	^[4]
	1997	Donald Brittain Award	Fire and Water	Nominated	^[5]
	1997	Best Direction in a Documentary Program or Series	Fire and Water	Nominated	^[5]
	1998		Everyman - Kim's Story: The Road From Vietnam	Won	^[6]
	1998		Everyman - Kim's Story: The Road From Vietnam	Won	^[6]
	1999	Donald Brittain Award	Crimes of Honour	Won	^[7]
	2000	Donald Brittain Award	Legacy of Terror: The Bombing of Air India	Nominated	^[8]
		Best Direction in a Documentary Program		Nominated
		Best Writing in a Documentary Program		Nominated
		Best Writing in a Documentary Program	Out of the Fire	Nominated
	2003	Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series	A Child's Century of War	Nominated	^[9]
	2005	Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series	Angry Girls	Nominated
	2007	Donald Brittain Award	Martyr Street	Nominated	^[10]
	2007	Best Direction in a Documentary Program	Martyr Street	Nominated	^[10]
	2011	Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series	The Nanny Business	Nominated
Genie Awards	2011	Best Feature Length Documentary	In the Name of the Family	Nominated	^[11]
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival	2001	Best Canadian Feature Documentary	Out of the Fire	Runner-up	^[12]
	2006		Martyr Street	Won	^[13]
	2010		In the Name of the Family	Won	^[14]

References

^ "Filmmaker Shelley Saywell's Lowdown Tracks at Hot Docs". Parkdale Villager, April 24, 2015.
^ "Behind the Doc: Shelley Saywell". BlogTO, March 5, 2009.
^ Brent Furdyk, "2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed". Global News, January 17, 2017.
^ "And the Canadian nominees are..." Vancouver Sun, January 18, 1995.
^ Christopher Harris, "CBC-TV tops Geminis News, current affairs lead nominations". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1997.
^ "The Gemini Awards: Here's a selected list of the 12th Gemini Awards opening night gala winners". Hamilton Spectator, March 2, 1998.
^ "Milgaard wins big at Geminis". Halifax Daily News, November 8, 1999.
^ "Complete list of Gemini nominees". Toronto Star, September 20, 2000.
^ "Academy announces Gemini Documentary, News and Sports nominees". Canada NewsWire, August 26, 2003.
^ "TV dramas lead the field for Gemini Awards". CBC News, August 28, 2007.
^ "A look at some of the key Genie Award categories". Canadian Press, February 2, 2011.
^ Brenda Bouw, "My Left Breast wins gold award at Hot Docs festival". National Post, May 8, 2001.
^ "'Martyr Street' wins best of Hot Docs". CBC Arts, May 7, 2006.
^ "Propaganda tale wins Hot Docs prize movies; Bin Laden bodyguard film also a winner". Toronto Star, May 9, 2010.

External links

[1] "Filmmaker Shelley Saywell's Lowdown Tracks at Hot Docs". Parkdale Villager, April 24, 2015.

[2] "Behind the Doc: Shelley Saywell". BlogTO, March 5, 2009.

[3] Brent Furdyk, "2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed". Global News, January 17, 2017.

[4] "And the Canadian nominees are..." Vancouver Sun, January 18, 1995.

[5] Christopher Harris, "CBC-TV tops Geminis News, current affairs lead nominations". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1997.

[6] "The Gemini Awards: Here's a selected list of the 12th Gemini Awards opening night gala winners". Hamilton Spectator, March 2, 1998.

[7] "Milgaard wins big at Geminis". Halifax Daily News, November 8, 1999.

[8] "Complete list of Gemini nominees". Toronto Star, September 20, 2000.

[9] "Academy announces Gemini Documentary, News and Sports nominees". Canada NewsWire, August 26, 2003.

[10] "TV dramas lead the field for Gemini Awards". CBC News, August 28, 2007.

[11] "A look at some of the key Genie Award categories". Canadian Press, February 2, 2011.

[12] Brenda Bouw, "My Left Breast wins gold award at Hot Docs festival". National Post, May 8, 2001.

[13] "'Martyr Street' wins best of Hot Docs". CBC Arts, May 7, 2006.

[14] "Propaganda tale wins Hot Docs prize movies; Bin Laden bodyguard film also a winner". Toronto Star, May 9, 2010.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]