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Paul Haggis Biography

Birth Name:Paul Edward Haggis

Birth Place:London, Ontario, Canada

Profession Writer, Producer, Director, Actor, Soundtrack, Assistant director, Script department

Fast Facts

Founder of the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice
Was the first screenwriter to work on best film Oscar-winning movies two years in a row, for 2004's "Million Dollar Baby" and 2005's "Crash"
Graduated from Fanshawe College with a degree in cinematography
Believes that watching the 1966 film "Blowup" changed his life and helped set the course for him becoming a professional storyteller
After moving to Los Angeles in 1975, he began working as a writer for numerous television serials, including one of the biggest hits of the 1990s, "Walker, Texas Ranger․"
Quote: "Artists need to be outsiders in order to really view what's going on․ That little bit of detachment has been great for me․"
Quote: "As artists, we have to be brave․ If we aren't brave, we aren't artists․"
His first foray into feature films came in the early 2000s with "Million Dollar Baby," a critical success that opened the door to his future career as a director

Awards

1988Humanitas Prize-60 Minute Category: winner
1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: winner
1988Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Drama Series: winner
1989WGA Award (TV)-Episodic Drama: nominated
1995Gemini-Best Dramatic Series: winner
1995Gemini-Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series: nominated
1995Gemini-Best Writing in a Dramatic Series: winner
1995Gemini-Best TV Movie: winner
1996Gemini-Best Writing in a Dramatic Series: winner
1996Gemini-Best Writing in a Dramatic Series: nominated
1996Gemini-Best Dramatic Series: winner
1996Canada's Choice Award-: winner
1997Founder's Award-: winner
2004ACCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2004ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
2004Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2005Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2005Oscar-Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2005Discover Screenwriting Award-: winner
2005ACCA-Best Original Screenplay: winner
2005ACCA-Best Motion Picture: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Motion Picture: winner
2005BSFC Award-Best New Filmmaker: nominated
2005DFWFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
2005Grand Special Prize-: winner
2005Screen International Award-: nominated
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2005Golden Schmoes-Best Screenplay of the Year: winner
2005Hollywood Breakthrough Award-Breakthrough Directing: winner
2005INOCA-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2005IOMA-Best Adapted Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura non originale): winner
2005IOMA-Best Picture (Miglior film): nominated
2005Sierra Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2005NYFCO Award-Best Debut as Director: winner
2005NYFCO Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2005OFTA Film Award-Best Picture: nominated
2005OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
2005OFCS Award-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2005PFCS Award-Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: winner
2005PFCS Award-Breakout Performance - Behind the Camera: winner
2005Satellite Award-Outstanding Screenplay, Original: nominated
2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: winner
2005SEFCA Award-Best Original Screenplay: winner
2005SLFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
2005USC Scripter Award-: winner
2005WAFCA Award-Best Screenplay - Original: winner
2005WGA Award (Screen)-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2006Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: winner
2006Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
2006Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: winner
2006AFCA Award-Best Director: winner
2006David Lean Award for Direction-: nominated
2006BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Original: winner
2006Black Reel-Best Film: winner
2006CFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
2006Critics Choice Award-Best Director: nominated
2006Critics Choice Award-Best Writer: winner
2006Robert-Best American Film (Årets amerikanske film): nominated
2006David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): winner
2006DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
2006Edgar-Best Motion Picture Screenplay: nominated
2006Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
2006Gold Derby Film Award-Original Screenplay: winner
2006Gold Derby Film Award-Motion Picture: nominated
2006Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
2006Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: winner
2006INOCA-Best Original Screenplay: winner
2006IOMA-Best Original Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura originale): nominated
2006ALFS Award-Director of the Year: nominated
2006ALFS Award-Screenwriter of the Year: winner
2006OFTA Film Award-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
2006OFCS Award-Best Breakthrough Filmmaker: winner
2006OFCS Award-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
2006PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
2006Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Adapted: nominated
2006WGA Award (Screen)-Best Original Screenplay: winner
2007Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: winner
2007Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
2007Saturn Award-Best Writing: nominated
2007BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay - Adapted: nominated
2007Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film-: nominated
2007Edgar-Best Motion Picture Screen Play: nominated
2007Golden Lion-Best Film: nominated
2007SIGNIS Award-: winner
2008Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated
2008Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2008Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Award for The Most Valuable Film of the Year: nominated
2008David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
2008IOMA-Best Original Screenplay (Miglior sceneggiatura originale): nominated
2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Director: nominated
2011Movies for Grownups Award-Best Screenwriter: nominated
2014Tiantan Award-Best Picture: nominated
2016DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series: nominated
2019Audience Award-Documentary Feature: nominated
2020Audience Award-Docs: nominated
2020GLAAD Media Award-Outstanding Documentary: nominated