Director · Producer · Business Affairs

Mackenzie Stannard

Latest

New films

Documentary · Telus Originals

Constant Battles

Directed and produced by Mack Stannard

Nyousha Nakhjiri is fighting to become the first Iranian-born woman to box at the Olympics. Her family fled Iran, where her mother Elaheh was imprisoned at 16 for her activism and women are banned from the sport. As Nyousha battles anxiety and the pressure of perfection through national qualifiers, mother and daughter learn that true strength means more than winning.

World premiere, Hot Docs 2026

IMDb ↗

Documentary · CBC Absolutely Canadian

Under the Arbor

Directed by Hayley Morin · Produced and written by Mack Stannard

A film that follows the dancers, singers and families of the powwow trail across Enoch Cree, Tsuut'ina and Samson Cree Nations in Alberta.

Premiered on CBC Gem, August 2025 · Hot Docs Deal Maker selection

CBC Arts feature ↗

Selected work

Documentary

Joe Buffalo

Official trailer

Produced by Mack Stannard · Directed by Amar Chebib · The New Yorker

SXSW Audience Award · IDA Best Short Documentary nominee · DOC NYC Short List · Tribeca

Union Street

Official trailer

Produced by Mack Stannard · Written and directed by Jamila Pomeroy

VIFF 2023 world premiere · Telus Originals

This Ink Runs Deep

Full film

Produced and written by Mack Stannard

TIFF world premiere · CBC Gem

In a New Light

Full film

Written and directed by Mack Stannard · Telus Originals

Whistler Film Festival

Fresh Catch

Trailer

Produced and directed by Mack Stannard · CBC Absolutely Canadian

Streaming on CBC Gem

Precious Leader Woman

Trailer

Produced by Mack Stannard · Telus Originals

Banff Audience Choice Award · Whistler Best BC Director (DGCBC)

All documentary work →

Screened at

SXSW
Hot Docs
TIFF
Tribeca
Doc NYC
Banff
VIFF
Whistler

Made with

ESPN
CBC
Telus Originals
APTN
Knowledge Network
The New Yorker
National Geographic

Business affairs

The paperwork behind the picture

Ten years of making documentaries for Canadian broadcasters taught me the business side as well as the creative. Through Sentio Films I run business affairs for independent producers, so directors can stay focused on the film.

Financing and budgets
Financing structures, budgets and cash flow for documentary features and series.
Funder applications
Applications and reporting for CMF, ISO and provincial programs, from development through production.
Contracts and compliance
Chain of title, director and rights agreements, and the paperwork funders and broadcasters ask for.
Delivery and wrap
Cost reports, final payments and delivery so the last cheque actually arrives.

Get in touch about your project