Ally Pankiw

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Ally Pankiw is a Canadian film and television writer and director from Toronto, Ontario, [1] whose debut feature film I Used to Be Funny premiered in 2023. [2]

Contents

Career

Pankiw began her career with Partizan Midi-Minuit, directing music videos for artists such as Kira Isabella, Ralph, Muna, Janelle Monáe and Arkells, [1] as well as making short films. Beginning in 2017 she directed the comedy web series Terrific Women for CBC Gem, [3] as well as becoming a story editor on the television sitcom Schitt's Creek . [1]

She subsequently directed the entire first season of Mae Martin's semi-autobiographical comedy series Feel Good , [4] as well as episodes of Shrill and The Great . [5]

In 2022, she was announced as co-creator with Dan Levy of Standing By, an animated comedy series about a group of disgruntled guardian angels, for Hulu. [5] [6]

I Used to Be Funny premiered at the 2023 South by Southwest festival, [7] and had its Canadian premiere at the 2023 Inside Out Film and Video Festival. [2] She also directed "Joan Is Awful", a 2023 episode of the anthology series Black Mirror which starred Annie Murphy and Salma Hayek. [8]

Awards

She received a Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Best Direction in a Web Series at the 18th Canadian Comedy Awards in 2018, for Terrific Women.

At Inside Out, I Used to Be Funny won the Audience Award for best narrative feature film. [9]

Personal life

Pankiw was in a relationship with Naomi McPherson of the band Muna. [10] [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Lyndsey Havens, "How Pitching ‘Weirder, More Queer Stuff’ Helped Ally Pankiw Direct MUNA’s ‘Silk Chiffon’ & More". Billboard , June 3, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Rachel Ho, "Inside Out 2023: 'I Used to Be Funny' Signals the Arrival of Canada's Next Filmmaker to Watch". Exclaim! , May 31, 2023.
  3. Jordan Pinto, "Aircraft eyes an older demo with new digital series". Playback , July 13, 2017.
  4. Norman Wilner, [https://nowtoronto.com/movies/mae-martin-feel-good-netflix/ "TV review: Feel Good is one of the year’s best shows". Now , March 14, 2020.
  5. 1 2 BreAnna Bell, "Dan Levy, Ally Pankiw Set Adult Animated Comedy ‘Standing By’ at Hulu". Variety , December 15, 2022.
  6. Bergenson, Samantha (2023-03-08). "28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch in 2023". Indie Wire. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  7. Jason Bailey, "‘I Used To Be Funny’ Review: Rachel Sennott Shines In A Narratively Tricky Seriocomic Drama (SXSW)". The Playlist, March 14, 2023.
  8. Abbey White, "Annie Murphy and ‘Black Mirror’ Director on “Joan Is Awful’s” Feminist Themes and “Spookily Timely” AI Story". The Hollywood Reporter , June 19, 2023.
  9. Valerie Complex, "InsideOut 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Announces 2023 Award Winners". Deadline Hollywood , June 6, 2023.
  10. Walker, Sophie L. "MUNA on the genesis and success of "Silk Chiffon" | Interview". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  11. "Muna Are Holding Space For All Your Gay Feelings". MTV. Retrieved 2023-09-27.