Odessa Rae is an Academy Award and BAFTA Award winning film producer and actor, known for originating and producing the documentary Navalny, which won the Best Documentary Feature at the 95th Academy Awards and Best Documentary at the 76th BAFTA Awards.[1][2] She was key in the formation of Ivanhoe Pictures, which produced Crazy Rich Asians. She has acted in multiple feature films and TV episodes, including Hard Candy, Smallville, and Movie 43.
Odessa Rae | |
|---|---|
 Rae in August 2020 | |
| Born | Calgary, Canada |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupation(s) | Film producer, Actor |
| Employer | RaeFilm Studios |
| Known for | Producer of Navalny |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Documentary
Bafta Award for Best Documentary Producers Guild of America Award for Best Documentary Cinema Eye Honors Alfred I. duPont - Columbia Award |
Biography
editRae’s films have been shown at festivals around the world, in 2024 she premiered Josh Mond's It Doesn't Matter at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival starring Christopher Abbott and Jay Will. She also recently produced Ibrahim Nashat's Hollywoodgate (Venice Film Festival world premiere) and Karim Amer’s Defiant (Toronto International Film Festival Premiere).[3][4]
Odessa has received multiple honors including the Producers Guild of America Award, DuPont Columbia, Greirson Award, Cinema Eye, Critics Choice Awards In addition the Audience Award in the US Documentary competition and the Festival Favorite Award at Sundance Film Festival. She is the recipient of the 2023 UN Sustainable Goals Impact Through Film Award.[citation needed]
Rae's early life was spent between North America, Asia and India. She studied International Relations at University of Toronto,[5] is fluent in Japanese and conversationally fluent in several other languages. She began her film career in Japan. Widely known through appearances in commercials with Brad Pitt,[6] From there she went on to co-write, produce and star in her first feature film, Jenifa.[7]
She was key in the formation of Ivanhoe Pictures, which produced the box office hit, Crazy Rich Asians.[8] In January 2017, Rae signed a first-look development deal with the company.[9]
In 2021, Rae launched RaeFilm Studios, focusing on the development and production of non-fiction content.[10]
Filmography
editExecutive producer
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Of Dust and Bones | Diane Bell |
Producer
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Navalny | Daniel Roher | Winner, Best Documentary at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)
Winner, Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards Sundance Film Festival 2022 Audience Award Sundance Film Festival Festival Favorite Award Cinema Eye Honors |
| 2022 | The Story Won't Die | David Henry Gerson | Official Selection Hot Docs Canadian Int. Documentary Film Festival |
| 2023 | Hollywoodgate | Ibrahim Nash’at | Official Selection Venice Film Festival
Official Selection Telluride Film Festival Winner, Grand Jury Award Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Winner, The Golden Eye Zurich Film Festival Winner, El Gouna Gold Star for Documentary Film El Gouna Film Festival Winner, The Mayor of Gdynia Award Docs Against Gravity Winner, Special Mention for Best Documentary Luxembourg Film Festival |
| 2023 | Defiant | Karim Amer | |
| 2024 | It Doesn't Matter | Josh Mond | Official Selection 77th Annual Cannes Film Festival |
Actor
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Chosen Family | Frances | |
| 2018 | Half Magic | Roxy | |
| 2017 | Hangman | TV Reporter | |
| 2015 | Always Worthy | TV Reporter | |
| 2014 | Asthma | Bathing Wings | |
| 2013 | Movie 43 | Danita | |
| 2012 | The Visit | Diana Short | |
| Gabe the Cupid Dog | Carissa | ||
| Rizzoli & Isles | Yoga Instructor | TV series | |
| 2011 | Man Without a Head | Venula | |
| My Dog's Christmas Miracle | Crystal | ||
| 2010 | Rules of Engagement | Gretchen | TV series |
| Smallville | Maggie McDougal/Silver Banshee | TV series | |
| Leverage | Cora McRory | TV series | |
| Let the Game Begin | Patient Patient | TV series |
References
edit- ^ "'Their eyes were burning': Former Calgarian producer Odessa Rae heads for Oscars Sunday for Navalny". Calgary. 2023-03-12. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Calgary producer, animators and dancer among those who represented the city at the 2023 Oscars". Calgary. 2023-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Opinion: Putin's nemesis has a spirit that can outlast any strongman". 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ Mullen, Pat (August 9, 2023). "Thom Powers on the Buzz and Biz of TIFF Docs". POV Magazine. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Odessa Rae". ListenNotes.com. September 26, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Minisini, Lucas (March 25, 2024). "From 'Navalny' to 'Hollywoodgate,' producer Odessa Rae is at the center of global geopolitics". Le Monde. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "Jenifa". Mubi. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ "The little-known film company that made 'Crazy Rich Asians' possible". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
- ^ Lodderhose, Diana (January 13, 2017). "Ivanhoe Pictures Inks Development Deal With Odessa Rae". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Hunt, Stephen (March 12, 2023). "'Their eyes were burning': Former Calgarian producer Odessa Rae heads for Oscars Sunday for Navalny". CTV News. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
External links
edit- Odessa Rae on Instagram
- Odessa Rae at IMDb