Ann Shin is a South Korean-Canadian filmmaker and documentarian. She is best known for her award-winning films, including The Defector: Escape from North Korea (2014) for which she won a Peabody Award, and My Enemy, My Brother (2015).
Ann Shin was born in South Korea in 1972 and immigrated to Canada with her family when she was nine. She grew up in Vancouver, where she attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a degree in film production.
Ann Shin's filmmaking career began with the short film The Obsession (2002), which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. This was followed by her feature documentary The Defector: Escape from North Korea (2014). This film follows a North Korean defector as he attempts to escape the country and reunite with his family in South Korea. The film won several awards, including a Peabody Award, and was featured at the United Nations General Assembly.
In 2015, Ann Shin released her second feature documentary, My Enemy, My Brother. This film follows two former enemies, a Palestinian and an Iranian, who meet and become friends while residing in Canada. The film has won numerous awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary.
At the same time as making documentaries, Ann Shin has also directed commercials and music videos. She has worked with brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Samsung. In addition, Ann Shin has directed music videos for artists such as David Guetta and will.i.am.
In 2018, Ann Shin directed and produced the short film, The Paper Boat. The film tells the story of a young Korean-Canadian girl who discovers a paper boat in her grandfather's attic. This discovery reveals the story of her grandfather's journey from North Korea to South Korea, and ultimately, to Canada. The film was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Ann Shin continues to make films that explore the human experience, often focusing on stories of migration and identity. Her work has been featured at numerous film festivals around the world, and has won numerous awards. She has become a leader in the documentary film genre and continues to inspire and inform audiences with her work.
