Paul Haggis
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 AwardWinner
- 1997Founder's AwardWinner
- 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 AwardWinner
- 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 PrizeWinner
- 2005Screen International AwardNominated
- 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 AwardWinner
- 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 DirectionNominated
- 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 FilmNominated
- 2007Edgar - Best Motion Picture Screen Play:Nominated
- 2007Golden Lion - Best Film:Nominated
- 2007SIGNIS AwardWinner
- 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