Shant Joshi
REELWORLD'S
2021 TRAILBLAZER
RECIPIENT
Producer
TRAILBLAZER
AWARDS
REELWORLD
2022 TRAILBLAZER
RECIPIENTS
Trailblazer
Awards
Shant Joshi
Producer
Shant Joshi is a queer Indo-Canadian producer based in Los Angeles and Toronto. His credits include the films Framing Agnes (Sundance, NEXT Audience Award, NEXT Innovator Award), International Dawn Chorus Day (Berlin, TEDDY Award Winner), Porcupine Lake (Toronto), and Noor & Layla (BlackStar); the hit web series Teenagers (CSAs); and the Dekkoo original series, I’m Fine (Outfest). Shant co-founded the Future of Film Showcase as a launchpad for emerging Canadian filmmakers, and he previously worked at the United Talent Agency, Buchwald, and Lit Entertainment Group (fka Madhouse Entertainment). He is an alum of the Producers Lab at the Canadian Film Centre, holds a Certificate in Entertainment Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, and was named to York University’s inaugural Top 30 Changemakers under 30.
Shant is currently Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors at BIPOC TV & Film, a sitting member of the Restructuring, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Action Committee at the Canadian Media Producers Association, and sits on the Advisory Board at the Future of Film Showcase.
Meet the Trailblazer
Motivation
The magic of being able to work in an audiovisual sandbox to tell the most human and entertaining stories.
Work
All the project I work on demand the questioning of our society is formed. These stories lend themselves to be imaginations of what possibilities the human spirit can breed.
Success
While I can definitely attribute my tenacity, perseverance and willpower to my success, I do also have to say that there does seem to be some other force at play whether luck or divine intervention somethings just play our to our benefit
I was the receptionist at a talent agency in Los Angles and had the opportunity to read the script of Remi Weekes’ HIS HOUSE to identify cast members that the agency could submit for certain characters. When I finished the script, I knew that it was going to be a hit: a horror film following to Somali refugees suffering racism and their past in the United Kingdom! I shared the script with our literary department, letting them know that Remi didn’t have representation in the United States and this could be a great client to add to the agency’s roster of British clients.. I was shrugged off and not taken seriously. The film subsequently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and sold to Netflix. Remi Weekes is now represented by the Creative Artists Agency.
Experience
Impact
In my circle, Ingrid Veninger and John Greyson were tremendously instrumental people in forming my career. Beyond my circle, I look to entrepreneurial producers like Jennifer Kawjaa, Charles D. King and Aron and Brenda Gilbert as inspirational forces.
Collaboration
A combination of luck and talent recognition found me working with Abdul Malik, Lindsay Blair Goeldner and Lauren Saarimaki at Fae Pictures. Abdul and I went to film school together, and we reconnected as his writing career was just kicking off and he was looking to write stories that I was producing. Lindsay and I met at the Canadian Film Centre and shared similar sentiments for the stories we wanted to tell. Lauren was making a move into producing and has been following Fae Pictures for a while. Everyone on my team are tremendously talented and while we have different tastes, we do enjoy telling a great story.
Challenges
I really couldn’t afford to think like that. There were definitely moments where I questioned my position in the industry. But more than anything, I know that I have something to say, it’s only been recently when people have started to listen.
Advice
Find your moments of joy in this industry and strive to make every day joyful. The awards and glory are not worth it if you were unhappy striving to achieve them.