SIGIL FILMS
MELISSA JAMES • PRODUCER • DIRECTOR • ARCHIVAL
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FILM RESUME
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Hearse Chasing (2025)
Producer
Telus Originals
Mid-length documentary about a musicians journey with C-PTSD. Coming soon.
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Secrets of the Bunnyranch (2025)
Archive Producer
A+E Networks
6-part docuseries about legal brothels in Nevada. Premieres June 12th in the US on A+E.​
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The Ballad Of Judi Singh (2025)
Archive Producer
Knowledge Network, Premiere at DOXA
Feature documentary about the Canadian jazz singer Judi Singh
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Saints & Warriors (2025)
Archive Producer
Crave Originals, Premiere at Big Sky Documentary Festival
Feature documentary about indigenous basketball
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Toe Pick (2024)
Producer
Crazy8's
Short film - Official Selection at Whistler Film Festival,
Opening Night film at Vancouver International Youth Film Festival
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Searching for Satoshi (2023)
Archive producer
NOMINATED FOR 2025 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARD FOR VISUAL RESEARCH
CBC, Passionate Eye
Feature documentary about the mysterious disappearance of Bitcoin's creator.
Satan Wants You (2023)
Producer
CBC, Tubi Originals
Feature documentary about the origins of the Satanic Panic
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WITCH HUNT (2023)
Director, Producer
Short documentary about witchcraft and the magic resistance. Premiered at Salem Horror Fest.
Winner Best Documentary at Denver Underground Film Festival.
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Our Time To Be Kind (2023)
Archival Producer
Telus Originals
Feature documentary about BC public health officer Bonnie Henry
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I'm Just Here For The Riot (2023)
Archival Producer
ESPN 30 for 30
Feature documentary about the 2011 Stanley Cup riots
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Bloomberg.com (2022)
Field Producer - Bloomberg
Short documentary profiling environmental shipping company headquartered in Vancouver.
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Freethink Challengers Series (2021)
Field Producer - Freethink Magazine
Short documentary produced by US-based news magazine Freethink about ocean robotics.
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Precious Leader Woman (2021)
Impact Producer - Telus/ESPN
Impact and digital marketing consultant for feature documentary about Indigenous Olympic athlete Spencer O'Brien.
Audience Award BANFF Mountain Film Festival, Official Selection Whistler Film Festival.
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Someone Like Me (2020)
Visual & Archival Researcher - NFB
Feature documentary for the NFB about LGBTQ+ refugees from Kenya relocating to Canada via the Rainbow Refugee organization.
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Holmes Family Effect (2020)
Story Producer, Integrations Manager - CTV
Primetime factual series for CTV starring Mike Holmes, renovating non-profit spaces across Canada.
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Well Versed (2019)
Archive Producer - Knowledge Network
10-part short documentary series for Knowledge Network about BC books,​
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Letter from Masanjia (2019)
Co-Producer
Feature documentary qualified for 2019 Academy Awards, nominated for Best Documentary at the 2019 Canadian Screen Awards.
World premiere and Top 20 Audience Favourite at Hot Docs 2018.
Winner of over 15 festival awards. Called "a potent documentary… well-told" by The New York Times.
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Rag Doll (2018)
Production Manager, 1st AD
Animated short - stop motion and live action
Official Selection VIFF. Over 1M views on Youtube
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Reunion (2018)
Co-producer, Production Manager
Narrative short. Best International Short Film at the Portland Short Film Festival
Ravage (2018)
Co-producer, Production Manager
Narrative short. Premiered at the Global Impact Film Festival in Washington DC.
Official selection San Diego International Film Festival.
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Avenues of Escape (2017)
Co-Producer
Feature documentary on CBC Documentary Channel.
Winner of four Leo Awards including Best Feature Documentary.
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The Bleeding Edge (2016)
Associate Producer, Impact Producer
Narrative feature. Recipient of the Gabriel Award for humanitarian film.
Screened at UK Parliament hosted by the Speaker of the House the Rt Hon John Bercow.
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Human Harvest (2014)
Associate Producer
Winner of the 2014 Peabody Award, the Association of International Broadcasters Award, IDFA Honorary Award.
Canadian Screen Award nominee.
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How to be a Wild Elephant (2014)
Production Manager - CBC
TV documentary for CBC's The Nature of Things about an elephant sanctuary in Kenya.
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Venus and Mars (2013)
Digital Marketing & Publicity Associate - CBC
TV documentary for CBC Doc Zone.
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The Devil You Know (2010-2012)
Archival, Visuals & Music Supervisor - Investigation Discovery/OWN,
20 x 1 hour episodes true-crime documentary series.
Responsible for reenactments, creative B-Roll, archival material, music & clearances.
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Abandon Ship (2011)
Archival, Visual Research & Clearances - CBC
TV documentary for CBC Doc Zone.
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For the Love of Elephants (2010)
Digital Marketing & Publicity Associate - CBC
TV nature documentary for CBC The Nature of Things.
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No Fun City (2010)
Director, Producer, Writer
Feature documentary, aired on Superchannel. Winner of best documentary at Victoria Film Festival & Best Feature at the Toronto Independent Film Festival. Screened at CMJ music festival in NYC
Featured in Maclean's and the Globe & Mail
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Shake Rattle & Roll (2008)
Director, Producer, Writer
Short documentary. Winner of the CBC Award for Excellence & the Deluxe TV Award.
Screened at various festivals including "Don't Knock the Rock" in LA curated by acclaimed indie director Allison Anders.
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EDUCATION
2018 Canadian Media Producers Association - Audience Development Intensive Program
2017 Canadian Media Producers Association - Digital Bootcamp
2015 Project Management for Digital Media - UBC
2015 Web Design, CSS & HTML - Ladies Learning Code
2014 Writing for Web & Multimedia - UBC
2006-2008 Diploma in Broadcast Television/Communications – BCIT (with honours)
2005-2006 Video Production – Concordia University Montreal
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VOLUNTEER
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DOXA documentary film festival: Screening Committee, 2019-current
Reel Causes impact film society: Board of Directors , 2017-2018
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LANGUAGES
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Fully Bilingual (English/French)
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