| Merit Motion Pictures | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | 1988 |
| Founder: | Merit Jensen Carr |
| Location: | 248 Princess Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1M2 |
| Industry: | Film and television production |
| Products: | Documentary |
Merit Motion Pictures is an independent documentary film and television production company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was founded by Merit Jensen Carr in 1988.[1]
Specializing in factual, multi-platform entertainment, Merit Motion Pictures has regularly produced for CBC's human interest and science/nature documentary strands: Doc Zone, The Nature of Things, and documentary Channel. The company has also collaborated with broadcasters as diverse as ZDF/ARTE, CTV, Shaw, National Geographic, PBS, Smithsonian Channel, TVO and Animal Planet.
In 2009, Merit Motion Pictures' television documentary The Secret World of Shoplifting achieved the highest audience ratings in the history of CBC’s Doc Zone, and the 4 x one-hour series One Ocean won Best Cross-Platform/New Media Program at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. Their 2011 feature documentary TuTuMuch screened in Cineplex Odeon theatres across Canada and around the world.
The company's television documentary Smarty Plants: The Secret World of Plant Behaviour won Best Direction in a Documentary Program or Series at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards, and garnered two more nominations in the categories of Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series, and Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series.
Carr received the Don Haig Award in 2013, presented by the Hot Docs Board of Directors as a celebration of her contributions to Canadian filmmaking,[2] and the lifetime achievement award at the Winnipeg’s Women Entrepreneur of The Year Awards in 2014.
In 2015, Merit Motion Pictures co-produced Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees, a feature-length documentary with Irish-Canadian botanist, medical biochemist and author Diana Beresford-Kroeger as its main subject. Directed, shot, edited and co-produced by Peabody Award-winner Jeff McKay (https://www.jeffmckay.org/, Fat Chance, 40 Years of One Night Stands), the documentary follows Beresford-Kroeger as she visits the world's northern forests, exploring the many benefits of trees in sustaining human and ecological well-being.
Call of the Forest was given the Nature Award at the 2016 Cinema Verde Festival, and has played at other international festivals including Festival Pariscience in 2017, and Wild & Scenic Film Festival in 2018. The film was nominated for the Rob Stewart Award for Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards. It also screened at independent cinemas across Canada including the Winnipeg Cinematheque, where it broke a 30-year box office record for tickets sold. A one-hour version of the film aired on TVO in 2017.
| Film Title | Type | Length | Copyright Year | Primary Broadcaster | Co-producer | Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almost Almost Famous | Feature Documentary | 90 mins | 2018 | documentary Channel | Lank/Beach Productions | NA | |
| Dr. Keri: Prairie Vet [Season 2] | TV series | 10 x 1/2 hr | 2018 | Animal Planet | NA | NA | |
| What Trees Talk About [Int'l title: Secrets in the World's Largest Forest] | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2017 | CBC and PBS | NA | NA | |
| Dr. Keri: Prairie Vet [Season 1] | TV series | 10 x 1/2 hr | 2017 | Animal Planet | NA | Best Direction for Episode 1: Meet Dr. Keri at the 2018 Leo Awards | |
| Polar Bear Town - Summer [Season 2] | TV series | 3 x 1 hr | 2017 | NA | NA | ||
| Beyond the Spectrum: A Family's Year Confronting Autism | Feature Documentary | 90 mins | 2017 | TVO | Orangeville Road Pictures | Audience Choice Award at the 2018 Festival Inclús | |
| Polar Bear Town - Winter [Season 1] | TV series | 6 x 1 hr and 12 x 1/2 hr | 2015 | Smithsonian Channel and OLN | NA | NA | |
| Call of the Forest: The Forgotten Wisdom of Trees | Feature Documentary | 90 mins | 2015 | TVO | Edgeland Films | - Nature Award at the 2016 Cinema Verde Film Festival- Nominations for Best Science Television and Best Conservation Film at the 2017 Pariscience Science Film Festival - Nomination for the Rob Stewart Award for Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards | |
| Vietnam: Canada's Shadow War | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2014 | CBC's Doc Zone | NA | Best History Documentary Program or Series at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards | |
| Slaves to Habit | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2014 | NA | NA | ||
| Decoding Desire | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2014 | NA | Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series at the 2016 Canadian Screen Awards | ||
| Special Ed | Feature Documentary | 110 mins | 2013 | Spellburg Pictures | Official Selection of Hot Docs 2015 | ||
| Faking the Grade [USA: Classroom Cheaters] | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2013 | NA | - Nomination for Best Editing in a Documentary Program or Series at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards - Nominee of the 2013 Yorkton Film Festival | ||
| Ticked Off: The Mystery of Lyme Disease | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2013 | NA | Finalist at the 2014 Medea Awards | ||
| Conspiracy Rising | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2012 | NA | NA | ||
| Surviving:) The Teenage Brain | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2012 | NA | - Winner of Documentary Science/Medicine/Technology at the 2013 Yorkton Film Festival - Finalist in Documentary at the 2013 Writers' Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards - Nominee of the 2013 Yorkton Film Festival - Finalist in Medical Sciences at the 2013 Jackson Hole Science Media Awards | ||
| Smarty Plants [USA: What Plants Talk About] | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2012 | NA | - Best Direction in a Documentary Program or Series at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards - Nomination for Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards - Nomination for the Robert Brooks Award for Documentary Cinematography at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards - Nominee for Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards - Jury Award Winner at the 2013 Life Sciences Film Festival - Biodiversity Award at the 2014 CMS Vatavaran International Environment & Wildlife Film Festival - Nominee of the 2013 Yorkton Film Festival | ||
| Vixens and Virgins and Other Mythological Creatures | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2012 | Thinking Out Loud Productions | NA | ||
| Are We Digital Dummies [International title: Crackberry'd: The Truth About Information Overload] | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2010 | NA | NA | ||
| One Ocean Interactive | Digital Media | NA | 2010 | Tactica Interactive | - Best Website at the 2011 Advertising Association of Winnipeg Signature Awards - Best Cross-Platform/New Media Program at the 2011 Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival - 2011 Games for Change Nominee - Nomination for Best Cross-Platform Project, Non-Fiction at the 2010 Gemini Awards - Best Web-Based Games at the 2010 Canadian New Media Awards - Best in Industry Award for Television: Education and Science at the 2010 New Media Awards | ||
| One Ocean: Mysteries of the Deep | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2010 | NA | - Nomination for Best Science, Technology, Nature or Environment Documentary Program at the 2010 Gemini Awards - Ocean Exploration and Adventure Award at the 2010 Blue Ocean Film Festival - Finalist in The Wave at the 2010 North Sea Film Festival | ||
| One Ocean: The Changing Sea | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2010 | NA | - Best Marine Conservation Message and Merit for Scientific Content at the 2011 International Wildlife Film Festival - Best Marine and Earth Sciences at the 2010 Blue Ocean Film Festival - Finalist in The Wave at the 2010 North Sea Film Festival | ||
| Feature Documentary | 83 mins | 2010 | Vonnie VON HELMOLT Films | - Winner at the 2011 Chicago International Children's Film Festival - Winner at the 2011 China International Children's Film Festival - Canada Perspective Showcase Selection at the 2010 Cannes Marche du Film - Finalist in Best Film for a Teenage Audience at the 2010 Cinemagic - Finalist in Best Documentary at the 2010 Foyle Film Festival | |||
| The Secret World of Shoplifting [International title: The Truth About Shoplifting] | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2009 | NA | Nomination for Best Original Music Score for Documentary Program or Series at the 2010 Gemini Awards | ||
| Ballet High | Feature Documentary | 90 mins | 2009 | Vonnie VON HELMOLT Films | - Nomination for Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary at the 2010 Directors' Guild of Canada Awards - Nomination for Best Direction in a Performing Arts Program at the 2009 Gemini Awards | ||
| The Truth About Liars | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2008 | NA | NA | ||
| 40 Years of One Night Stands | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2008 | Inside Out Productions | - Best Documentary Writing at the 2010 Writers' Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards - People's Choice Awards at the 2010 Bay Street Film Festival - Chris Award Honourable Mention at the 2009 Columbus Film Festival - Golden Sheaf Award for Best Documentary (Arts & Culture) at the 2009 Yorkton Film Festival - Golden Sheaf Award for Best Directing (Non-Fiction) at the 2009 Yorkton Film Festival - Founders Award at the 2009 Yorkton Film Festival | ||
| 41 Years of One Night Stands | Feature Documentary | 90 mins | 2008 | Theatrical | Inside Out Productions | NA | |
| Science of the Senses - Hearing | Television Documentary | 90 mins | 2008 | NA | NA | ||
| Science of the Senses - Touch | Television Documentary | 90 mins | 2008 | NA | - Golden Sheaf Award for Best Science/Medicine Documentary Series at the 2008 Yorkton Film Festival - Golden Sheaf Award for Best Research for a Documentary at the 2008 Yorkton Film Festival | ||
| Recreating Eden - Season 5 | TV Series | 13 x 30 mins | 2008 | NA | NA | ||
| Sabrina's Law | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2007 | Lank/Beach Productions | NA | ||
| Recreating Eden - Season 4 | TV Series | 13 x 30 mins | 2007 | NA | - Best Lifestyle Series at the 2007 Gemini Awards - Best Direction in a Lifestyle Series (Episode 51: The Lost Pears) at the 2007 Gemini Awards - Best Lifestyle Program (Episode 51: The Lost Pears) at the 2007 Gemini Awards | ||
| Ballet Girls | TV Series | 3 x 1 hr | 2006 | Vonnie VON HELMOLT Films | Nomination for Best Children's or Youth Non-Fiction Program or Series at the 2007 Gemini Awards | ||
| Recreating Eden - Season 3 | TV Series | 13 x 30 mins | 2006 | NA | Best Writing in an Information Program or Series (Episode 34: Gardens in the Sky) at the 2007 Gemini Awards | ||
| Recreating Eden - Season 2 | TV Series | 13 x 30 mins | 2005 | NA | - Best Cinematography Overall, Non-Fiction (Episode 26: Touched by Luck) at the 2006 Blizzard Awards - Best Direction in a Lifestyle Program or Series (Episode 16: Garden of the Gods) at the 2004 Gemini Awards | ||
| Haunts of the Black Masseur | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 2004 | Edgeland Films | NA | ||
| Recreating Eden - Season 1 | TV Series | 13 x 30 mins | 2004 | NA | - Golden Sheaf for Best Documentary Series at the 2005 Yorkton Film Fest - Nomination for Best Lifestyle/General Interest Series at the 2004 Gemini Awards - Silver Remi for Best Leisure & Recreation - Film & Video Production at the 2004 WorldFest Houston Awards | ||
| The Pill | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 1999 | NA | - Woman's Health Finalist at the Time Inc. Health Freddie Awards - Chris Award - Bronze Plaque at the Columbus Film Festival - Nomination for Best Science Program at the Gemini Awards | ||
| Smudge | Television Documentary | 30 mins | 1997 | NA | - Humanitas Prize - Executive Producer - Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Television Festival - International Emmy Award Nominee | ||
| Asking Different Questions: Women and Science | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 1996 | NA | NA | ||
| The Mayor of Odessa | TV Drama | 30 mins | 1994 | Riverain Productions | - Best Drama Short at the Blizzard Awards - Gemini Award Nominee | ||
| By Woman's Hand | Television Documentary | 1 hr | 1993 | NA | NA | ||
| Niagara Falls | TV Drama | 30 mins | 1992 | West End Productions | NA |
Programs featuring the Royal Winnipeg Ballet: