snugharbourmedia.ca » Julia Bennett

Julia Bennett is a proven documentary journalist and writer with a passion for great stories and the people who can tell them. She brings curiosity, rigour and structural sense to her long-form work in all media.

Career highlights

2012-2014 / Documentary and digital producer Clients included: White Gold Productions (To The Ends of the Earth, which follows concerned citizens making change at the frontiers of extreme oil and gas extraction).

2009-2013 / Sessional Instructor, course designer – Inside Journalism Ryerson University, G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education –

2009-2012 / Documentary producer, story editor, outreach coordinator – Prosecutor International Criminal Court/ NFB/White Pine Pictures/TVOntario /BBC – Co-wrote treatment, conducted research interviews with victims of war crimes and counsel, negotiated access, field-produced shoots, partnered with University of Toronto to present free community screening featuring ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and Stephen Lewis.

2012 / Analyst, Convergent Projects – Telefilm Canada Creative, legal, financial and risk analysis on content, financing, tax credits, and budgets.

2012 / Outreach Coordinator, Juror – DOC Community Connections Screening Series Liaised between Documentary Organization of Canada and partners including the Workers’ Action Centre and Yorkwoods School Moderated free public screening and discussion about Precarious Work (Courage, at Harthouse); and about the El Sistema music program.

2010-2011 / Documentary Series Producer – The Passionate Eye CBC News Network – Canadian version editor of international documentaries.

2008 / Instructor, course designer – The Business of Television Toronto Film School – Designed and taught course where students created their own new “channel”, documentary series, factual format show and news show.

2005, 2006 / Instructor – Summer Institute of Film and Television Workshop leader on documentary, research, and pitching at this annual week-long conference for television creators held annually in Ottawa.

2001-2006 / Production Executive – Discovery Health Channel and Life Network Part of team overseeing delivery of documentaries and series.

2005 / Workshop leader – I Can Pitch, Getting Your Story Straight Heritage Canada-funded event to build film production capacity in Toronto.

2003, 2005 / Mentor, story coach – Innoversity Creative Summit Coached emerging media creators at this at this annual conference.

2000 / Director, Writer, CBC, Tommy Douglas: The Fight of a Lifetime

1994-1999 / Producer, CBC Documentaries & Canada: A People’s History

1989-1993 / News Producer, CBC TV, Newsday, The National, The Journal

Community development

2014 / Organizer, Square Dances for Hope Neighbourhood series for learning dancers, learning callers and mentors, and emerging musicians and mentors; local charity partner (Huband Crade of Hope, education in Kenya). Snug Harbour Dance is a member of the Country Dance and Song Society.

2013-2014 / Founding collective member – World Fiddle Day Toronto Annual free public workshops bringing string players of all ages and abilities together for a one-day festival at Harbourfront to play fiddle tunes from around the world.

2007-2014 / Fundraiser, video volunteer – AlgomaTrad Family Music & Dance Camp Produced documentary on learning outcomes for successful Ontario Arts Council grant for this Sault region all-ages day camp for learning traditional Ontario dance and music.

2008-2014 / Host, Leader – High Park Walking Tours One of six committee members programming, publicizing, hosting and leading these free learning walks for citizens Sunday mornings in Toronto’s High Park.

2001-2014 / Outreach volunteer – Toronto Country Dancers Instructor for beginners, sound trainee, event volunteer, participant.

2001-2014 / Outreach volunteer – Toronto English Country Dancers Toronto English Country Dancers – event organizer, caller trainee, participant.

2013 / Story editor, script consultant – What’s Art Got To Do With It? Advised on documentary about Creative Works Art Studio (St. Michael’s Hospital) and its artists.

2013 / Panel moderator – Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival Screenings and discussions on films about community issues.

2013 / Evaluator, web series – Independent Production Fund

2013 / Juror, online video, National Magazine Awards

2003-2012 / Juror, documentary, factual, variety – Gemini Awards

2012 / Workshop Leader, Interactive History WebDocs, DOC Institute

2010 / Contributor – History and its Publics SSHERC proposal for a crowdsourced, location-based web history of Toronto. Partner with Spacing Magazine and the Dept. of History, University of Toronto.

2009 / Co-creator, writer – Fifty Years of Death and Life Microsite for 50th anniversary of Jane Jacobs’ The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Partner with Jane’s Walk, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Toronto.

Education

2016 / Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies – York University (in progress) Community dance as a brain-body community building practice

2012 / Bachelor of Arts – University of Toronto – Victoria College

2012 / Mobile web design – Ladies Learning Code

2011 / Corus Digital Media Curriculum – International Women in Digital Media Summit

Recognition

2016 / Toronto Arts Council – Community Arts Projects – Dance Together

2014 / Country Dance & Song Society – Mary Kay Friday Fund, Square Dance for Hope – outreach to young musicians

2013 / Donald Brittain Award nominee (Canadian Screen Awards) Producer, Script Editor – Prosecutor / le procureur

2008 / Banff Rockie Award, Co-Producer, The Border: Interactive & Mobile

2008 / Country Dance & Song Society Summer Bursary

2002 / Canadian Nurses’ Association Writing Award, Tommy Douglas: The Fight of a Lifetime

2001 / Prix Gémeaux nominee, Canada: A People’s History / Canada: l’histoire d’un peuple – Years of Hope and Anger

1996 / Bravo!Fact Short Film Fund – Clay & Glass
Co-creators: architect Janet Walker, cinematographer Peter Walker, The Glass Orchestra, curators at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery.