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About Us
TRANSPARENT FILM
Transparent Film represents the work of award-winning filmmakers Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper. We produce films that entertain, enlighten and offer transformative perspectives on the world we live in through effective and innovative methods of storytelling. We believe in reaching the widest audience possible, connecting movies with movements. We also lead workshops that accompany each film, offering audiences the chances to dive deeper into the subject matter, personalizing and applying the themes to their own lives. Check out our catalog to learn more about our films.
NOVA AMI
NOVA AMI is a Filipino-Canadian filmmaker who creates socially relevant, thought-provoking films that engage, educate, and empower. Her most recent work are the feature documentaries "Incandescence" (NFB, co-directed with Velcrow Ripper) and EMERGENCE: Women in the Storm (A Knowledge Original, co-directed with Velcrow Ripper). Other recent work includes the documentary series "Living With Dying," and the award-winning Metamorphosis (co-directed with Velcrow Ripper), a theatrical feature documentary which explores the theme of change in this time of climate crisis, described as “breathtaking” by the Toronto Star. Previous documentaries include Say I Do: Unveiling the Stories of Mail-Order Brides, and Secrets: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Sexuality which aired on CBC’s The Passionate Eye. She was host, director, and writer on The Leading Edge, a television series about innovation that aired on Knowledge, and was host and segment producer of GVTV, a series about urban issues in metro Vancouver. She has a master’s degree in Media Studies from the New School, NYC.
VELCROW RIPPER
Velcrow Ripper creates powerful, cinematic feature documentaries that deal with the central issues of our times. His films are released widely in movie theatres, streaming, broadcast and community screenings around the world. They have featured luminaries such as bell hooks, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Thich Nhat Hahn, and Alice Walker. He began co-directing with Nova Ami with the award winning feature doc Metamorphosis, the web series Living With Dying, and their latest feature docs, Incandescence (NFB) and Emergence: Women in the Storm (a Knowledge Original). His epic Fierce Light Trilogy began with Scared Sacred, a journey to the Ground Zeroes of the world, winner of the 2005 Genie (Canadian Academy) Award for best feature documentary, continued with Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, and concluded with Occupy Love. His film about elders and the struggle to save the ancient forests, Bones of the Forest (co-directed with Heather Frise) won nine awards. He is well known for his award-winning sound design of such films as The Corporation (Best Sound, Leo Awards) and A Place Called Chiapas (Best Sound, Hot Docs, Leo Awards).