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Ben Proudfoot

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Ben Proudfoot
BornOctober 29, 1990
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
OccupationFilmmaker

Ben Proudfoot (born October 29, 1990) is a Canadian filmmaker. He directed The Queen of Basketball, winner of the 2021 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject;[1][2] as well as codirector with Kris Bowers of the short documentary film A Concerto Is a Conversation, which was an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021.[3][4][5][6][7][8] He and Bowers were also winners of the 2024 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for The Last Repair Shop.[9][10]

Life and career

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Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Proudfoot is of Scottish heritage. He was active as a sleight-of-hand magician in his youth, winning several international magic competitions, before attending film school at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[11] He launched his own film production company, Breakwater Studios, in 2012, and has directed a number of other short films including Dinner with Fred (2011), ink&paper, Life's Work: Six Conversations with Makers and That's My Jazz.[11]

On July 27, 2021, The New York Times website published a 16-minute film by Proudfoot about the life of astronomer Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Entitled "The Silent Pulse of the Universe," the film shows her instrumental role in the research on the discovery of pulsars and how she did not receive recognition for her work in the attribution of the Nobel Prize received by Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle. Bell Burnell also describes the extreme prejudice she faced at school, at university and in her career as a woman scientist.

On August 24, 2021, the Times website published another 16-minute film by Proudfoot. "Almost Famous: The First Report" profiles Jason Berry, the Louisiana reporter who broke the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal in the 1980s — in large part, before the story was able to gain traction. In 2002 The Boston Globe covered the story, this time garnering a Pulitizer Prize and inspiring the Academy Award-winning feature film Spotlight. Berry spent ten years trying to gain traction for his documented stories of the church protecting and enabling pedophile priests.

His 2023 documentary short The Last Repair Shop won the award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival.[12] and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject in 2024.

ESPN Films acquired the short documentary film "MOTORCYCLE MARY", produced by Proudfoot's company Breakwater Studios. It was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7, 2024 in New York. The film was directed by Haley Watson. Rachel Greenwald was the producer, while Proudfoot and seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton served as executive producers.[13]

Accolades

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The Queen of Basketball, Proudfoot's film about women's basketball legend Lusia Harris, won the 2021 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject);[14][2][15] Shaquille O'Neal and Steph Curry served as executive producers.[4][2]

The Last Repair Shop, Proudfoot's and Kris Bowers' film about the repair of musical instruments for Los Angeles public school students, won the 2024 Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).[10]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Halifax director Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for 'The Queen of Basketball'". Global News. Canadian Press. March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "NBA greats O'Neal, Curry win Oscar for documentary on basketball legend Lusia Harris". CBC Sports. The Associated Press. March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Stephen Cooke, "Halifax filmmaker Ben Proudfoot earns Oscar nod for documentary short film". Halifax Chronicle-Herald, March 15, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Canadian director's Oscar-nominated film shines a light on 'Queen of Basketball' Lusia Harris". Day 6. CBC Radio. March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Victoria Ahearn, "Canada’s Ben Proudfoot up for Oscar for short doc ‘A Concerto is a Conversation’". Toronto Star, March 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "The full list of 2021 Oscars nominations". The Guardian. March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "Colette" Wins Best Documentary Short Subject | 93rd Oscars
  8. ^ 2021|Oscars.org
  9. ^ 2024|Oscars.org
  10. ^ a b "'Absolutely incredible': Nova Scotia's Ben Proudfoot wins Oscar for short documentary". CTV News Atlantic. The Canadian Press. March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Susan Bradley, "Ben Proudfoot wins best director for short film at Raindance Film Festival". CBC News Nova Scotia, September 28, 2015.
  12. ^ Aryn Toombs, "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled". LiveWire Calgary, September 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Cowan, Garrett (May 30, 2024). "ESPN Films Acquires "MOTORCYCLE MARY", a Thrilling New Short Documentary on the Life of Motorsports Pioneer Mary McGee". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  14. ^ 2022|Oscars.org
  15. ^ 'The Queen of Basketball' Wins Best Documentary Short Subject|94th Oscars
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