PeterRaymont

Peter Raymont

Provocative Documentary Filmmaker

Award-winning filmmaker, journalist and writer Peter Raymont has produced and directed over 100 documentary films and series during a 34-year career. Raymont's films are often provocative investigations of "hidden worlds" in politics, media, and big business. He is the creator of the critically acclaimed films, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire and Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould. Raymont speaks about the role of an individual in social change, the world of independent filmmaking, international affairs, and his unbelievable experiences that have come from filming his politically and culturally charged films.


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Filmmaker, journalist and writer Peter Raymont has produced and directed over 100 documentary films and series during a 34-year career. Raymont's films are often provocative investigations of "hidden worlds" in politics, media, and big business. Informed with a passion for human rights and social justice, Raymont’s films are regularly broadcast on private and public TV networks worldwide.

Raymont’s career began at age 21 at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal. From 1971-78, he worked as an editor, director and producer, while also teaching film and video production in the Canadian Arctic. In 1979, Raymont moved to Toronto and established his independent film and television production company, Investigative Productions, which now operates as White Pine Pictures. He co-partnered the company for many years with his late wife, award-winning filmmaker and author, Lindalee Tracey.

Raymont is the recipient of 35 international awards including a Genie Award, four Gemini Awards, several Gold and Silver Hugos, The Sesterce d'Argent, and other international honours. His documentary feature, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire, was honoured with the 2005 Audience Award for World Cinema Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival, and it received the 2007 Emmy Award for Best Documentary.

His most recent work, Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould, co-directed with long-time collaborator Michèle Hozer, premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival and has theatrical release in Canada, Australia and USA. Additionally, Raymont is also the Executive Producer of The Border, the new dramatic series on CBC television.

Raymont speaks about the role of an individual in social change, the world of independent filmmaking, international affairs, and his unbelievable experiences that have come from filming his politically and culturally charged films.

  • 5. Borders: International Affairs as They Relate to Geographical and Ethical Borders

  • 4. To Change the World: Filmmaking as a Tool for Social Change

    The use of documentary and dramatic films in movements for social change - both evolutionary and revolutionary - employing case studies/examples from Canada, Europe, and Latin America.

     

  • 3. A Passport to the World: from the High Arctic to Ethiopia to Nagano

    Raymont discusses his 34 years of independent documentary filmmaking, including secrets to the art and craft of documentary filmmaking.

  • 2. Documenting Evil, Finding Hope: The Making of Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire

    Drawing on his experiences of producing and directing this award-winning feature-length documentary, Raymont discusses the fascinating stories of how this film came to be.

  • 1. Making a Difference: The Role of the Individual in Social Change

    Using examples of charismatic, "change-makers", Raymont debunks the common belief among many people that individuals today are powerless amid the enormous international power of corporations and governments. Raymont has worked with social change activists, such as General Roméo Dallaire, James Orbinski, etc.

  • Our entire School viewed his documentary film "Shake Hands with the Devil" and there was much anticipation for his lecture and question period later that same evening. He did not disappoint. Our faculty and students were riveted to his "story". Peter captured the attention of a diverse audience immediately; he riveted them to their seats; and then opened their hearts and minds to both the tragedy in Rwanda and the intense internal turmoil, and greatness, of Romeo Dallaire. ...Peter is a fascinating man with a powerful story to tell. He changed the mood, tone and level of activism in our School community. One of my colleagues said that in the last twenty years, he was the most effective and powerful speaker we have had at TCS.

    Trinity College School
  • What a delight your visit was! Throughout the day, students and colleagues that attended your talk and film have been stopping to tell me how much they enjoyed both events and how much they learned.

    University of Indiana - Fort Wayne
  • Mr. Raymont did a wonderful job. ...The people who attended the lecture did enjoy it and many questions were asked to Mr. Raymont during his lecture which made I&I feel like the audience was intrigued and interested.

     

    University of Georgia