COHORT 4 PARTICIPANT

Shazia Javed is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of LifeSketch Media, who is committed to nuanced storytelling & showcasing perspectives from historically marginalized communities. She began her career two decades ago as one of the first on-field female camera-persons for one of India’s leading News Channels. Her first feature documentary 3 SECONDS DIVORCE streamed worldwide on Netflix and won the Audience Choice Award at Reelworld Film Festival. She currently works in Canada as a Producer, Director, Writer and Showrunner in a variety of genres across film and television. Most recently, she created, produced, and directed the drama series POTLUCK LADIES, which is currently being broadcasted across Canada on YES TV and on Prime Video via Hollywood Suite.

Her work has screened at prestigious festivals such as SeriesFest, Hot Docs, Yorkton Film Festival, and Mumbai International Film Festival. In addition, her projects have garnered support from both Canadian and international broadcasters, the Independent Production Fund, Canada Media Fund, and Indigenous Screen Office. She is also a recipient of grants from Canada Council of the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Edmonton Arts Council.

Shazia’s achievements led her to be included in Playback’s 10 to Watch in 2020. She has participated in some of the best incubators making her an alumna of the BANFF Spark Accelerator for Women in the Business of Media, Netflix/BANFF Diversity of Voices, Reelworld E20, Women in the Director’s Chair, BIPOC TV & Film’s Showrunner Bootcamp, and the DOC Breakthrough Program.