Shelley Saywell is an Emmy Award-winning Canadian documentary filmmaker. "Filmmaker Shelley Saywell's Lowdown Tracks at Hot Docs". Parkdale Villager, April 24, 2015. 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."Behind the Doc: Shelley Saywell". BlogTO, March 5, 2009. Saying it Very Well, POV magazine, 2003, Hot Docs, Director in Focus, 2003
Filmography
Awards Award Year Category Film Result Ref(s) Canadian Screen Awards 2017 Best Writing in a Documentary The War at Home Brent Furdyk, "2017 Canadian Screen Awards nominees revealed". Global News, January 17, 2017. Donald Brittain Award Gemini Awards 1995 No Man's Land "And the Canadian nominees are..." Vancouver Sun, January 18, 1995. Best Writing in an Information/Documentary Program or Series 1997 Donald Brittain Award Fire and Water Christopher Harris, "CBC-TV tops Geminis News, current affairs lead nominations". The Globe and Mail, January 15, 1997. Best Direction in a Documentary Program or Series 1998 Everyman - Kim's Story: The Road From Vietnam "The Gemini Awards: Here's a selected list of the 12th Gemini Awards opening night gala winners". Hamilton Spectator, March 2, 1998. 1999 Donald Brittain Award Crimes of Honour "Milgaard wins big at Geminis". Halifax Daily News, November 8, 1999. 2000 Legacy of Terror: The Bombing of Air India "Complete list of Gemini nominees". Toronto Star, September 20, 2000. Best Direction in a Documentary Program Best Writing in a Documentary Program Out of the Fire 2003 Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series A Child's Century of War "Academy announces Gemini Documentary, News and Sports nominees". Canada NewsWire, August 26, 2003. 2005 Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series Angry Girls 2007 Donald Brittain Award Martyr Street "TV dramas lead the field for Gemini Awards". CBC News, August 28, 2007. Best Direction in a Documentary Program 2011 Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series The Nanny Business Genie Awards 2011 Best Feature Length Documentary In the Name of the Family "A look at some of the key Genie Award categories". Canadian Press, February 2, 2011. Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2001 Best Canadian Feature Documentary Out of the Fire Brenda Bouw, "My Left Breast wins gold award at Hot Docs festival". National Post, May 8, 2001. 2006 Martyr Street "'Martyr Street' wins best of Hot Docs". CBC Arts, May 7, 2006. 2010 In the Name of the Family "Propaganda tale wins Hot Docs prize movies; Bin Laden bodyguard film also a winner". Toronto Star, May 9, 2010.
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