Alison Duke (filmmaker)

Alison Duke
Nationality	Canadian
Alma mater	University of Windsor
Occupation(s)	Film director, producer, and writer
Years active	1996–present
Notable work	Mr. Jane and Finch – Winston LaRose 21 Black Futures: The Prescription

Alison Duke is a Canadian film director, producer, and writer.[1][2][3] She is the co-founder and director of Oya Media.[4]

Biography

She is a graduate of the University of Windsor from where she earned a master's degree in 1991.[5] She also holds a master's in film production from York University.[6]

Alison started her career in 1996 as a producer and worked for several organizations including CHUM Television.[4]

In 2001, her first feature film, Raisin' Kane, was released.[6]

In 2018, she founded Oya Media with some fellow artists.[4]

In 2024 she received two Canadian Screen Award nominations, for Best Direction in a Documentary or Factual Series and Best Writing in a Documentary or Factual Series, at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards for her work on the television series Black Community Mixtapes.[7] She was also named the recipient of the Don Haig Award at the 2024 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.[8]

Filmography

• Raisin' Kane (2001)[6]
• A Deathly Silence (2003)[6]
• Mr. Jane and Finch (2019)[9][10]
• Promise Me (2019)[6][11]
• Bam Bam: The Story of Sister Nancy (2021)[12]
• 21 Black Futures: The Prescription (2021)[13]
• Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024)
• A Mother Apart (2024)

Award and recognition

• Donald Brittain Award (2020)[14][15]
• Mentorship Award presented at the Women in Film & Television-Toronto (WIFT)[4]

References

1. "Toronto filmmakers to watch at Reelworld Film Festival". The Toronto Star. 13 October 2020.
2. "The Power of Women Conversation Series". CBC. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
3. "17 for '17: These are the great Canadian filmmakers of the future". CBC. 20 July 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
4. "Mentorship is at the heart of Alison Duke's artistic career". 22 January 2020.
5. Duke, Alison (January 1, 1991). "Women's basketball coaches' perceptions of factors influencing decisions to call timeout". Electronic Theses and Dissertations.
6. "Mentorship is at the heart of Alison Duke's artistic career". Ron Fanfair. 22 January 2020.
7. Pat Mullen, "Canadian Screen Award Nominees in Documentary and Factual Categories". Point of View, March 6, 2024.
8. Brendan Christie, "Alison Duke to receive Hot Docs’ 2024 Don Haig Award". Playback, April 30, 2024.
9. "Absolutely Canadian brings local films and documentaries to your screen". Cbc.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
10. Rankin, Jim (December 19, 2020). "We know police can't solve the root causes of Toronto gun violence. What's stopping us from doing what can?". Toronto Star.
11. "OYA Media Group Introduces Award Winning Film Promise Me". Vision Newspaper. News Room. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
12. Barraclough, Leo (April 14, 2021). "Hot Docs Deal Maker Selects 36 Projects to Pitch to More Than 90 Decision Makers". Variety.com.
13. "WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF BLACKNESS?". Cbc.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
14. "CSAs '20: "We Will Stand Up" wins Best Feature Length doc". Realscreen.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
15. "The National, The Accountant of Auschwitz lead first night of Canadian Screen Awards". Cbc.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2022.