TALENT SPOTLIGHT: LISA JACKSON

2010 Film Program Alumna, Directors’ Lab

“The CFC showed me the nuts and bolts of fiction filmmaking in a Lab that was designed to teach us as much as possible about the craft and industry of film and television in less than a year. I came to it from doc filmmaking primarily and the calibre of the training and the guests and the breadth of information we were given access to helped shape my goals going forward. It helped me understand the industry and where I might locate myself within it.

I was inspired by my fellow CFC labmates and impressed by the level of passion the CFC invested in us. I was able to “try on” different styles and genres of fiction storytelling through the exercises and short pieces.”

Lisa Jackson is an award-winning Canadian and Anishinaabe filmmaker who uses storytelling to support Indigenous communities and share stories and raise awareness of Indigenous history and culture.

Lisa first caught the attention of her screen industry peers when she wrote, directed and produced Suckerfish (2004), an award-winning short documentary that tells a powerful story of when she fled Toronto at the age of 10 to live with relatives in Vancouver to escape her mother’s depression, alcoholism and prescription drug abuse – legacies of the residential school experience. Since then, Jackson has continued to create impactful stories through her independent production company, Door Number 3 Production, which help amplify women’s voices and stories.

In 2020, Lisa was the recipient of the BMO-DOC Vanguard Award from the DOC Institute for advancing the documentary craft and elevating the next generation of filmmakers.