Almost Live episode #161
The Perfect Story offers a riveting, intimate look at the ethical and moral challenges sparked by the relationship between a foreign correspondent and a young Somali refugee. By revealing the boundaries of journalism and filmmaking, the film questions what stories are told, why, and who gets to tell them.
We’re thrilled to welcome award-winning journalist and the film’s writer and director, Michelle Shepard, as our special guest!
The Perfect Story received two nominations at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, for Best Documentary Program and Best Original Music in a Documentary.
Written, Directed and Produced by Michelle Shephard
This documentary film is presented with audio description courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada – NFB/ONF.
This event will not be recorded.
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Guest Bio
Michelle Shephard is an award-winning journalist, author, filmmaker and podcast host and producer and has covered issues of terrorism and civil rights since the 9/11 attacks. She is the co-founder of Frequent Flyer Films, a production company that focuses on challenging, character-driven films that tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Michelle is the host of CBC Podcasts’ WHITE HOT HATE, UNCOVER: SHARMINI and BRAINWASHED. During her two decades as a national security correspondent for the Toronto Star, she reported from more than 20 countries, including Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Pakistan and went behind the wire at the U.S. Naval prison in Guantanamo Bay more than two dozen times. Shephard was the co-director and producer of the Emmy-nominated documentary Guantanamo’s Child, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015. Her latest book is Decade of Fear: Reporting from Terrorism’s Grey Zone.
The NFB is Canada’s public producer and distributor of award-winning documentaries, auteur animation, interactive stories and participatory experiences, working with talented creators across the country. The NFB is taking action to combat systemic racism and become a more open and diverse organization, while working to strengthen Indigenous-led production and gender equity in film and digital media. NFB productions have won more than 7,000 awards, including 12 Oscars. To access this unique content, visit NFB.ca
