Welcome to Shebandowan Films

Established in 1996 to ensure the representation of Northwestern Ontario in the Canadian film industry, Shebandowan Films (a.k.a. Shebafilms) has developed into the leading film and video production company in the region.  Kelly Saxberg has worked on more than 50 films since she started in the industry. Ron Harpelle teaches history for a living, but he also produces and directs films. Together Kelly and Ron have filmed around the world and they have developed a solid body of work. We produce documentaries, dramas, music videos, commercials, corporate videos, and educational films. Whatever your production needs, talk to Shebandowan Films first because we understand that when it comes to film and video production, experience is everything.

Shebandowan Films has produced a number of successful film projects. Seeking Bimaadiziiwin (2007) is Kelly Saxberg's debut as a fiction director on a 30 minute drama that tackles  depression and suicide among First Nations youth; she is a Co-director/Co-producer with David Clement. The film has won numerous awards, including "Best Live Action Short Film" at the American Indian Film Festival. In addition to Seeking Bimaadiziiwin, Kelly and Dave also directed Sharing Tebwewin (2008), a 30 minute documentary to help health care workers relate to First Nations people. More information about these films can be found on the First Nations Initiative website.

Among our most successful documentary films are Dorothea Mitchell: A Reel Pioneer, (2006) a documentary film about Canada's first female amateur filmmaker and Banana Split, (2002) winner of the 2004 Deborah Fletcher Award for Excellence in International Development Filmmaking and the "Best Documentary" award at the Latin American Environmental Media Festival in 2005. In addition to our documentaries, Shebandowan Films also developed The Fatal Flower Project which won the 2003 Burrit/Thompson Award and which resulted in, the finishing of The Fatal Flower. This project was supported by and award from the Audio-Visual Preservation Trust.

A few of our most recent projects are, Turning Points for Teens, a 14 part video series about body image among young women. This project was funded by the Ontario Ministry for Health and Long-Term Care and is now being used throughout the province. Shebandowan Films also produced Bottoms Up!, a short comedy about the Finnish Labour Temple in Thunder Bay starring Ivanka, the "Slobjevian Polyester Princess." This little film was our contribution to a fundraising campaign that will see the century-old building soon restored to its former glory.

Shebandowan Films has also been active in producing music videos in Thunder Bay. You can see the results of some of our music video production by clicking here. Catch Finnish guitar legend Jukka Tolonen and his band, Cool Train as they back up some of the best talent in Northwestern Ontario. Also take a look at A Night of World Guitars featuring virtuoso, Jason Carter performing with Ari Lahdekorpi and Esteban Figueroa. For a real treat listen to the promo video we put together for Flamenco Caravan and check out the Finnish Reggae band, Conga Se Mene live at the Finnish Labour Temple.

In addition to producing films of our own, the filmmakers at Shebandowan Films also direct, edit and fill key positions on films produced by others. Kelly Saxberg, directed the Gemini nomimated documentary, Letters From Karelia, (2004) and Rosies of the North (1999) for the National Film Board of Canada. Kelly has directed two recent films for Les Productions Rivard, Le printemps des voyageurs: La genèse (produced in English as Voyageur Legacy: Our Story) and Hinge of an Empire (in HD). Kelly's extesive editing credits include L’Ange de Budapest a one hour documentary directed by Marcel Collet, and Le printemps des Voyageurs, two, one hour Docu-dramas in HD directed by Jean Bourbonnais. This experience guarantees the quality of Shebandowan Films' productions and makes us the first choice in filmmaking in Northwestern Ontario.