Shane Belcourt


Shane Anthony Belcourt is a Métis writer, director, and cinematographer living and working in Canada. He is best known for his feature film Tkaronto, which depicts the life of urban Métis and First Nations people.
The film was reviewed by Jason Anderson at Eye Weekly, who wrote "The quality of writer-director Shane Belcourt's feature debut – named after our city's original Mohawk name – is all the more remarkable when you consider that it was made in six months on a measly budget of $20,000. Based on Belcourt's experience as the son of a Métis father, the movie portrays the crises of Jolene and Ray, two thirtysomethings who can't figure out a way to square up their urban lifestyles and material ambitions with what an elder calls “blood memory.” But for all of Tkaronto's heavy themes, the film has a sense of lightness that makes it one of the year's most appealing local indie features."

Biography

Belcourt was born in Ottawa, Ontario on December 30, 1972 to parents Tony Belcourt and Judith Pierce-Martin. A Métis filmmaker with a deep respect for the traditions and knowledge of Aboriginal people, the majority of his work explores and celebrates Aboriginal issues and culture. His debut feature film, Tkaronto, was chosen as the Closing Night film at the 2007 imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival.
He is the son of Métis leader Tony Belcourt and brother of graphic designer Suzanne Belcourt and painter Christi Belcourt.