BILLIE MINTZ
Billie's life is a series of wild tales that are mostly true. Among his many talents, he is an ordained minister of deliverance and was trained in shamanism by an old Incan medicine man from Peru. Most notably, he is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who also happened to be rejected from every film school he ever applied to. Serving two seasons as a National Geographic correspondent for the show Explorer and a long-time advocate for social justice, Billie believes in the power of story to raise consciousness and inspire policy change.
HISTORY
Billie Mintz, founder of INNOV8R, is an award winning filmmaker who has produced and directed seven feature length documentaries and several narrative short films.
After two successful seasons with National Geographic both in front and behind camera on their signature series “Explorer”, Billie has just completed his new feature, “Portrayal” with CBC's documentary Channel and has won awards at a number of festivals. His last film, “The Guardians” made its World Premiere at HotDocs 18. He is repped by United Talent Agency (UTA).
His first feature, Surviving The Treatment (60 min, 2008) has been distributed to over 3000 hospitals and cancer care centers. It has been a successful tool in helping young cancer survivors, and their families, return to the life after the treatment. Billie then wrote, produced and directed The Long Journey Home, an animated film that fabled a young cancer survivor’s journey through isolation. His second documentary, The Ponzi Scheme (70 min, 2010) is an investigation into victims of personal financial fraud. It was distributed internationally by Forward Entertainment and premiered on The Sundance Channel. His latest feature documentary, Jesus Town USA (80min, 2014,) executive produced by SKY ATLANTIC, had its world premiere at AMDOCS (The American Documentary Film Festival in Palm Springs) and international premiere at Hot Docs. It aired on Showtime, CBC and Netflix. It can now be seen on Vimeo.
Billie has directed numerous award-winning features, short films, commercials, and social media campaigns that have been screened at over 100 international film festivals. Some of these awards include: Audience Award at Brooklyn International Film Festival, Jurors Award at Detroit International Film Festival, and Best Film at Moondance and Kent Film Festival.
Billie has dedicated his career to social justice, raising public consciousness, and advocating for those who have no voice. His belief in the power of story to inspire policy change is a driving force in his life as a filmmaker.
When not collecting stories of injustices Billie is the singer/songwriter and guitarist of the band, Billie Goats Gruff.