Kalli Paakspuu earned a doctorate from the University of Toronto for her research on Amerindian use of early photography. Her shorts, Going to Beyond, Kui Tume and Awakening – as told by Roman Toi are touring festivals worldwide. She is completing a feature documentary, Maestro Roman Toi – Beautiful songs dedicated to you, based on composer-conductor Roman Toi’s autobiography. She teaches in the Animation, Arts and Design programme at Sheridan College and programmes film festivals.
Awards & Nominations
Going to Beyond
2018 Semi-finalist: Columbus International Film Festival, AltFF, Alternative Film Festival, Toronto.
2018 Semi-Finalist, Sensus Film Festival, St. Petersburg
Awakening – as told by Roman Toi
2018 Gold Remi, WorldFest Houston, Award of Commendation, Canada Shorts Film Festival, Audience Award and Honourable Mention, EstDocs Short Film Competition, Finalist, Miami Springs International Film Festival.
Shchedryk
2014 Best Shorts Film Competition Award, Experimental; Remixes and Mashups.
2014 Best International Experimental Short-Short, Wendy’s Shorts Awards.
2014 Best International Experimental Short-Short, Texas Ultimate Shorts.
2014 Semi-finalist for music video award, Selby International Short Film Festival, U.K..
2014 Nomination for Eisenstein award for experimental film, BLOW-UP, Chicago International Arthouse Film Festival,
2014 Nomination for Best Experimental Film, Female Eye Film Festival.
2006, 2007 Nomination for International Peace Prize by the United Cultural Convention of the USA.
2005, 2006 Nomination for Woman of the Year by the American Biographical Institute.
When East Meets East
1997 Bronze Plaque, Arts, Columbus International Film and Video Festival,
1997 Bronze Worldmedal, Multicultural Education, New York Festivals,
1997 Certificate of Creative Excellence, US International Film and Video Festival, College and Higher Education,
1997 Best Arts Documentary Nomination, Hot Docs! Toronto,
1997 Nomination for Multicultural/Race Relations, Golden Sheaf Awards, Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival.
1992 Best Mixed Media, Scarborough Arts Council.
Goodbye Two Day Weekend
1986 Certificate of Merit, Herland Film and Video Festival, Oswego, New York.
Maypole Carving
1981 Certificate of Creative Excellence, U.S. Industrial Film Festival.
1981 Certificate of Merit, Herland Film and Video Festival, Oswego, New York .
I Need a Man Like You to Make My Dreams Come True
1986 Genie Award, Best Dramatic Live Action Short ,
1986 Gold Hugo Nomination, Best Short Film, Chicago International Film Festival
October Alms
1978 Bronze Award, Drama, International Film and Television Festival, New York.
WIDC Award Winner