Michelle Mama is a Canadian-Parsi writer, director, producer, and television professional and documentary filmmaker.[1] Most recently, she directed non-binary comic Mae Martin in an episode of CBC's The Nature of Things called Fluid: Beyond the Binary.[2]

Mama has been nominated five times by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for a Canadian Screen Award (Canadian Emmy) for Best Direction in a Documentary Series for her work on In The Making, for Best Direction, Factual, and for Shine True, Best Direction, Factual. In 2023 she was a double nominee for her work the History Channel series Lost Car Rescue, as well as Best Reality/Competition Program or Series for Canada's Drag Race and Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. The World.[3]

In 2023, Mama partnered with writer, director, and producer Bill Taylor to launch the production company Gay Agenda, a fully queer owned and operated production company based in Toronto.[4] She is currently working as a writer and director on the feature length documentary AntiDiva: The Confessions of Carole Pope.[5]

Background

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Mama is a proud member of and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.[1]

Her parents immigrated to Canada from India and Pakistan, and are descendants of Zoroastrians.[1]

Career

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Writer and Director

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Mama has worked in the entertainment industry for over two decades in a variety of different roles. As a writer, she worked on season 5 of the Canadian Television Series Baroness Von Sketch Show (IFC/CBC).[6] She has also worked as a director on the award-winning documentary feature film 21 Days to Nawroz, reality/competition show Come Dine With Me Canada,[7] and feature film comedy Your Beautiful Cul de Sac Home.

Awards and Nominations

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Year Award/Festival Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
2007 Anchorage International Film Festival Best Feature Your Beautiful Cul de Sac Home Nominated
Cinéfest Sudbury Best Canadian Film Nominated
2009 World Fest Houston - Platinum Remi Best Documentary 21 Days to Nawroz

Producer

Won [8]
Baghdad International Film Festival Best International Documentary Won [8]
Mexico International Film Festival - Silver Palm Best Documentary Won [8]
CINE International, Los Angeles - Golden Eagle Best Documentary Won [8]
Accolade Competition, Los Angeles Best in Show, Documentary Won [8]
2019 Golden Sheaf Awards Best Documentary Series In the Making

Showrunner, Series Producer, Director

Nominated [9]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Original Music Nominated [10]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Photography Nominated [10]
Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction, Documentary Series Nominated [11]
2020 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction, Documentary Series Nominated [12]
2022 MIPCOM Diversity TV Excellence Award Best LGBTQIA+ Unscripted Shine True

Showrunner, Series Producer, Director

Won [13]
Imagen Awards Best Variety/Reality Show Won [14]
Critic's Choice Awards Best Lifestyle: Fashion/Beauty Nominated
Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction, Factual Nominated [15]
2023 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction, Factual Lost Car Rescue

Series Director

Nominated [16]
2023 Canadian Screen Awards Best Reality/Competition Program/ Series Canada's Drag Race

Executive Producer

Nominated [17]
2023 Calgary International Film Festival DGC Canadian Doc Feature Award Summer Qamp

Executive Producer

Special Jury Mention [18]
People's Choice Award - TIFF '23 Audience Award First Runner-Up [19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Michelle Mama". The ANOKHI ADVOCATE List 2021. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  2. ^ Tang, Nigel (March 27, 2024). "Mae Martin explores the science of gender and sexual fluidity in a new episode of The Nature of Things". CBC Docs. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Banff World Media Festival 2024 - Michelle Mama". banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  4. ^ "Canadian producers Michelle Mama and Bill Taylor team to form Gay Agenda". C21media. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  5. ^ "'High School Confidential' singer Carole Pope focus of documentary 'AntiDiva'". Yahoo News. 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  6. ^ "Baroness von Sketch Show season 5 Don't Call Me Lady". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  7. ^ "Come Dine with Me Canada (2010)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  8. ^ a b c d e arZan (2018-04-01). "21 Days to Nawroz By Michelle Mama". Parsi Khabar. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  9. ^ Film, Yorkton. "Yorkton Film". Yorkton Film. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  10. ^ a b "IN THE MAKING". mayabankovic.com. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  11. ^ "2020 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS". solutionsmedia.cbcrc.ca (in French). Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  12. ^ "Michelle Mama". Academy.ca. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  13. ^ "MIPCOM '21: "Shine True," "Dreaming Whilst Black" win Diversify Awards". Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  14. ^ Foundation, Imagen (2021-08-02). "36th Annual Imagen Awards Nominations Announced". Imagen Foundation. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  15. ^ "Michelle Mama". Academy.ca. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  16. ^ "Michelle Mama". Academy.ca. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  17. ^ "Canada's Drag Race". Academy.ca. 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  18. ^ "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled". LiveWire Calgary. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  19. ^ "Juried Awards". TIFF. Retrieved 2024-04-23.