DIRECTOR BIO: JILL SHARPE

Director: Jill Sharpe

Since the early 1990's director Jill Sharpe has created an award winning body of work in the documentary genre which has been presented internationally at film festivals and along broadcast airwaves in over 20 countries. Highlighted in Queue Magazine as one of the Top 21 Artists for the Twenty First Century who could change the face of BC culture, Sharpe's interests span the issues of social justice, media and culture.

Short selected filmography:

2007 "Corporations in the Classroom" (46 minutes) investigates the upside and downside of increasing corporate influence on public education in North America. New release premiering at DOCSDF Film Festival in Mexico City. Aired on Global Televsion in Canada.

2005 "Girls Don't Fight" (46 minutes) provocatively explores women's recent entry into what has long been considered a male domain: the fight rings of sport. Nominated for a Leo Award and Gemini Award: Best Sports Documentary. Aired on CTV in Canada.

2004 "Weird Sex & Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche" (60 minutes) bilingual documentary celebration of Canadian Cinema showcasing 70 films and interviewing Canada's top 21 feature directors. Won the 2nd Audience Choice Award at the Whistler International Film Festival. It also garnered a Leo Award nomination for Best Arts documentary. Aired on The Movie Network , Bravo and Movie Central, Canada.

2002 "CultureJam: Hijacking Commercial Culture" (57 mins) delivers a fascinating rap on the 20th century movement called "Culture Jamming". Won the Audience Choice Awards at both the Vancouver and Auckland International Film Festivals and was selected for over 35 international festival screens. Nominated for the prestigious Donald Brittain Award for Best Social Issue Documentary, it went on to win the Leo Award for Best Social Issue Documentary & Best Editing. Aired on CBC Newsworld and Vision TV, Canada and TRIO network in United States.

2002 "In the Company of Fear" (52 mins) about the power of non-violent action in the face of state terror, profiling the work of protective accompaniment in Colombia. Nominated Best Political DOC at the Canadian National Hot Docs Awards 2000; invited to over 20 International Film Festivals including the United Nations Film Festival in San Francisco, aired on Vision TV.* NB: Directed by Velcrow Ripper, Produced, Written and Developed By Jill Sharpe.

GUEST LECTURE INVITATIONS & APPOINTMENTS:

Moderator, Sharing Stories, Scotland, 1999
Panelist, Vancouver Film Festival, 1999
Panelist, United Nations Film Forum, Stanford University, 1999
Panelist, Rencontres International de Documentaire, Montreal, 2002
Lecturer, Emily Carr School of Design, 1998 & 1999
Lecturer & part-time instructor, Vancouver Film School, 1998/99/02
Instructor, Gulf Islands Film and Television School, Summer 2002
Board Member, Canadian Independent Film Caucus, Vancouver 1998
Jury Member, DOXA Film Festival, Vancouver, 1998
Workshop Leader, Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers, 2003
Mentor, NFB Canada Belfast shoot – 2003
Workshop Leader, Victoria Film Society - 2006

A film by Jill Sharpe. A Reel-Myth Production Inc. Produced by Lynn Booth and Jill Sharpe.Developed with the participation of Rogers Communications Inc.. Produced with the financial participation of Rogers Documentary Fund. Produced with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund and Telefilm Canada: Equity Investment Program, Rogers Cable Network Fund, British Columbia Film, The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and The Province of British Columbia: Film Incentive BC. Produced in association with VISION TV, Knowledge Network, Saskatchewan Communications Network and Canadian Learning Television. Distributed by Films Transit International.