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Carl Bessai

Birth Name:
Carl Bessai
Birth Place:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Profession
Director, Producer, Writer, Cinematographer, Camera department, Actor
Carl Bessai

Fast Facts

  • Won a San Francisco International Film Festival Award for Film & Video - Biography for "Life and Times" in 2000
  • Won three Leo Awards, one for Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama for "Normal" in 2008 and two for Best Feature Length Drama and Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama for "Sisters & Brothers" in 2012
  • Won three Vancouver International Film Festival Awards, two for Best Western Canadian Feature Film for "Unnatural & Accidental" and "Normal" in 2006 and 2007 and one for Most Popular Canadian Film for "Mothers&Daughters" in 2008
  • Studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design and at Toronto's York University
  • Began his career as a camera trainee on the TV series "Avonlea" in 1993 before making his writing, producing, and directing debut with the 1998 documentary "Brothers from Vietnam․"
  • Quote: "Most actors want to be a participant in the creative process․ They don't want to be a cone that you put out against a piece of tape․․․[or] a digital effect․ They're living creative, awesome manic creatures that need to explore․ That's what art is․"
  • Best known as a filmmaker who produced and directed the films "Repeaters," "Sisters & Brothers," and "Normal․"

Awards

  • 1999Golden AlexanderNominated
  • 2002Leo - Feature Length Drama: Best Screenwriter:Nominated
  • 2002Best Canadian FeatureWinner
  • 2006American Indian Movie Award - Best Director:Nominated
  • 2006American Indian Movie Award - Best Film:Nominated
  • 2006Best Western Canadian Feature Film - Special MentionWinner
  • 2007Leo - Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2007Leo - Best Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2007Leo - Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2007Best Western Canadian Feature FilmWinner
  • 2008Leo - Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2008Leo - Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama:Winner
  • 2008Leo - Best Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2008Most Popular Canadian FilmWinner
  • 2008Platinum Award - Fantasy/Horror:Winner
  • 2009Genie - Best Achievement in Direction:Nominated
  • 2009Genie - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
  • 2010Leo - Best Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2010Leo - Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2010Leo - Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2010Golden St. GeorgeNominated
  • 2011Leo - Best Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2011Leo - Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2011Leo - Best Direction in a Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series:Nominated
  • 2011Leo - Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2011Leo - Best Feature Length Drama:Nominated
  • 2012Leo - Best Feature Length Drama:Winner
  • 2012Leo - Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama:Winner
  • 2014German Independence Award - Audience AwardNominated
  • 2015Leo - Best Motion Picture:Nominated
  • 2015Leo - Best Direction in a Motion Picture:Nominated
  • 2017Grand Jury Prize - Bridgestone Narrative Feature Competition:Nominated
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