Peter Raymont is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker and producer and the president of White Pine Pictures, an independent film, television and new media production company based in Toronto. Among his films are the 2009 feature documentary "Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould" and "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire

Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire

Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire is a documentary film about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It was directed by Peter Raymont and inspired by the book Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda , by now-retired Canadian Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire...

" (2005), both of which he co-directed with Michèle Hozer. Other significant films include "A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman" (2007), "The World Stopped Watching" (2003) and "The World Is Watching" (1988). Raymont is Executive Producer of the television

Television

Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...

 drama series, The Border

The Border (TV series)

The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by...

, which he co-created with Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole. The Border's 3 seasons have been broadcast in more than 25 countries.

Raymont has produced and directed over 100 documentary films and television programmes (Drama and Documentary) during his 40-year career. His films have taken him to Ethiopia, Nicaragua, India, Rwanda, Chile, the High Arctic and throughout North America and Europe.

Raymont is the recipient of 35 international awards including an Emmy, The Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, a Canadian Genie, 5 Gemini Awards, several Gold and Silver Hugos, The Sesterce d'Argent and other international honours.

Raymont's films are often provocative investigations of "hidden worlds" in politics, media and big business. His films are informed with a passion for human rights and social justice and are regularly broadcast on private and public TV networks worldwide.

His documentary feature, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire

Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire

Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire is a documentary film about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. It was directed by Peter Raymont and inspired by the book Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda , by now-retired Canadian Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire...

 was honoured with the 2005 Audience Award for World Cinema Documentaries at Sundance Film Festival and the 2007 Emmy Award for Best Documentary.

"A Promise To The Dead" was short-listed for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and was honoured with the Donald Brittain Award for Best Social-Political Documentary by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

"Genius Within" premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, followed by invitational presentations at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA) and several other festivals worldwide (Full Frame, Vancouver, Seattle, Sydney, Melbourne, Hawaii, Bermuda). The film opened theatrically across Canada, USA and Australia in 2010, playing in over 50 US cities. A two-hour version of the film was broadcast on the PBS series "American Masters" in December, 2010. "Genius Within" won the 2010 Gemini Award for Best Biography Documentary presented by the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television.

Education & Training

Raymont attended Crighton Street School, Rockcliffe Park Public School and Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa. He graduated from Trinity College School in Port Hope in 1968.
At Queen's University

Queen's University

Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...

 in Kingston, Ontario he was honoured with the Tricolour Award for contribution to the university community. Raymont graduated from Queen's University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science and Film Studies.
Raymont is a graduate of The Canadian Centre for Advanced Film Studies in North York, Ontario (First Year, 1988), now The Canadian Film Centre
He was a co-founder of the Canadian Independent Film Caucus, now The Documentary Organization of Canada and is a member of The Directors' Guild of Canada and The Canadian Media Producers' Association.

Early career

Peter Raymont's career began at age 21 at the National Film Board of Canada in Montreal. From 1971-78, he worked at the NFB as an editor, director and producer. While at the NFB, Raymont also taught film and video production in the Canadian Arctic. In 1978, Raymont moved to Toronto and established his independent film and television production company, Investigative Productions now operating as White Pine Pictures. He co-partnered the company for many years with his late wife, award-winning filmmaker and author, Lindalee Tracey.

Filmography as Director

1. Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009)
2. Radical Dreamer: The Passionate Journey of Graham Spry (2008)
3. A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman (2007)
4. Bhopal: The Search for Justice (2004)
5. Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire (2004)
6. Arctic Dreamer: The Lonely Quest of Vilhjalmur Stefansson (2003)
7. The World Stopped Watching (2003)
8. Into the Light (2003)
9. King of Hearts (A Scattering of Seeds Series) (TV) (2002)
10. The Undefended Border (TV) (3 episodes) (2002)
11. Graveyard Shift (TV) (2001) (1 episode)
12. Rwanda: In Search of Hope (1999)
13. The New Ice Age: A Year in the Life of the NHL (TV) (1997–1998) 6 Episodes
14. The Skeptic's Journey (1995)
15. Hearts of Hate: The Battle for Young Minds (1994)
16. Chasing the Dream (1993)
17. Voices from the Shadows (1992)
18. Only the News That Fits (1989)
19. The World Is Watching (1988)
20. The Brokers (1987)
21. The Politics of Aid (1987)
22. At the Brink: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1986)
23. With Our Own Two Hands (1985)
24. Prisoners of Debt: Inside the Global Banking Crisis (1983)
25. On To The Polar Sea: A Yukon Adventure (1983)
26. Arctic Spirits (1982)
27. Falasha: Agony of the Black Jews (1982)
28. Magic in the Sky (1981)
29. History on the Run: The Media and the '79 Election (1979)
30. The Art of the Possible (1978)
31. Reflections on a Leadership Convention (1978)
32. Flora: Scenes from a Leadership Convention (1977)
33. River: Planet Earth (1977)
34. The Forest Watchers (1975)
35. Lumsden (1975)
36. Sikusilarmiut (1975)
37. Have You Ever Been North of Princess Street? (1971)
38. Blue (1970)

Filmography as Producer

1. Prosecutor (2010)
2. The Team (2010)
3. Winds of Heaven: Emily Carr, Carvers and the Spirit of the Forest (2010)
4. The Experimental Eskimos (2010)
5. Pets on Prozac (2010)
6. Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009)
7. CitySonic (2009) 20 Webisodes
8. The Border - 38 X 1 hr Episodes (2007–2009)
9. Triage: Dr. James Orbinski's Humanitarian Dilemma (2008)
10. Radical Dreamer: The Passionate Journey of Graham Spry (2008)
11. Tar Sands: Canada for Sale? (2008)
12. A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman (2007)
13. I Nuligak: An Inuvialuit History of First Contact (2008)
14. World's Collide (2008)
15. Tsepong: A Clinic Called Hope (2007)
16. The Idealist (2005)
17. Toronto: City of Dreams (2005) - 3 X 1 hr Episodes
18. The Killer Cure (2004)
19. Bhopal: The Search for Justice (2004)
20. Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire (2004)
21. The Anatomy of Burlesque (2003) 2 X 1 hr Episodes
22. The Hero's Hero: The Forgotten Life of William Barker (2003)
23. Arctic Dreamer: The Lonely Quest of Vilhjalmur Stefansson (2003)
24. The World Stopped Watching (2003)
25. Into the Light (2003)
26. Toronto: City of Dreams (2000) 3 X 1 hr Episodes
27. A Scattering of Seeds (TV Series)- 52 X 1/2 hr Episodes (1998–2002)
28. The Undefended Border (TV Series) - 3 X 1 hr Episodes (2002)
29. Graveyard Shift (TV Series) - 6 X 1/2 hr Episodes (2001)
30. Rwanda: In Search of Hope (1999)
31. The New Ice Age: A Year in the Life of the NHL (TV Series) - 6 X 1 hr Episodes (1997–1998)
32. Passing The Flame: The Legacy of Women's College Hospital (1997)
33. Invisible Nation: Policing The Underground (1997)
34. Abby, I Hardly Knew Ya (1995)
35. Hearts of Hate: The Battle for Young Minds (1994)
36. Chasing the Dream (1993)
37. Voices from the Shadows (1992)
38. Between Two Worlds (1990)
39. As Long As the Rivers Flow (TV series, 1990) - 5 X 1 hr Episodes
40. Only The News That Fits (1989)
41. The World Is Watching (1988)
42. The Brokers (1987)
43. With Our Own Two Hands (1985)
44. Prisoners of Debt: Inside the Global Banking Crisis (1983)
45. On To The Polar Sea: A Yukon Adventure (1983)
46. Arctic Spirits (1982)
47. Magic in the Sky (1981)
48. History on the Run: The Media and the '79 Election (1979)
49. Whale Hunting (NFB 1997)
50. The Hunters (NFB 1997)
51. Sikusilarmiut (NFB 1975)
52. The Coldspring Project (NFB 1974)
53. The Innocent Door (NFB 1973)
54. Have You Ever Been North of Princess Street? (1971)
55. Blue (1970)

Awards

Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

NEWS AND DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARD - Best Documentary 2007



Academy of Canadian Film and Television

GENIE AWARD

Best Short Documentary Film 1989


GEMINI AWARD

Best Sports Program or Series 1999

Best History-Biography Documentary, 2004

Best Direction of a Documentary, 2004

Best Biography Documentary, 2010

Canadian Film and Television Awards

Best Documentary 1983

Sundance Film Festival

AUDIENCE AWARD - World Cinema Documentary, 2005

Philadelphia Film Festival

JURY AWARD - Best Documentary, 2005

Chicago International Film Festival

SILVER HUGO - Best Social/Political Documentary 1991

GOLD HUGO - Best Social/Political Documentary 1988

GOLD PLAQUE - Social/Political Documentary 1983

American Film Festival, New York City

Blue Ribbon, Best Social/Political Documentary 1976

Red Ribbon Social/Political Documentary 1983

Nyon International Documentary Film Festival, Switzerland

Sesterce d'Argent, 1990

Ecumenical Prize and Second Public Jury Prize, 1988

Leipzig International Film Festival

Best Short Documentary 1976

International Jury Award, 1991

Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels (FIPA), Biarritz, France

Special Jury Mention, 2004

Honourable Mention, 2004

Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists, ACTRA Awards

Top Ten Award, 1999

Best Writing, TV Documentary 1984

(nominated, Best TV Documentary 1986)

(nominated, Best Radio Documentary 1984)

Yorkton International Film Festival, Canada

Best Documentary, Sports/Recreation and Best Cinematography 1985

Best Broadcast Documentary 1991

Best Documentary 2010

Alberta Film and Television (AMPIA)

Best Documentary 1986

International Arctic Film Festival (Rovaniemi, Finland)

Special Award, Television 1986

23rd International Festival of Short Films (Cracow, Poland)

Polish National Peace Committee Prize, 1986

National Film and Video Association, Oakland, California

Bronze Apple 1990, Gold Apple 1991, Bronze Apple 1994, Gold Apple 1995

Worldfest Houston

Gold, Special Jury Prize, 2001

Gold Award for Documentary Series 2000

Special Jury Prize, 2000

Gold Award for Sports Documentary 1999

Gold Medal for Best Documentary Television Series 1998

Silver Award 1992, Certificate of Merit-Finalist 1995

Academy Awards, Los Angeles, USA

Honourable Mention, Documentary category, 1983

Berlin Film Festival

Honourable Mention, Peace Prize Committee 1989

Family

Peter Charles Raymont is the eldest son of Colonel Robert Lewis Raymont (1908–2005) and Mary Ward Raymont (b. 1917).
He has an older sister, Elizabeth Mary Heatherington (b. 1947) and a younger brother, David John Raymont (b. 1955).
Peter Raymont married Lindalee Tracey in 1989.
She passed away from breast cancer in 2006.
Their son, Liam Robert Tracey-Raymont, was born in 1990.

External links

• White Pine Pictures site
• Watch films by Peter Raymont at NFB.ca