Jeffrey St. Jules is a Canadian film director and screenwriter noted for his work in both short‑form and feature‑length cinema. He received the Claude Jutra Award in 2015 for his debut feature film Bang Bang Baby, which also won the award for Best Canadian First Feature Film at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Early life and education
St. Jules was born in Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada. He pursued studies in creative writing and film at Concordia University in Montreal.
Career
Short films
Prior to his feature‑film debut, St. Jules created a number of short works that garnered festival attention and awards, including:
- The Sadness of Johnson Joe Jangles (2004) – earned the Jackson‑Triggs Award for Best Emerging Canadian Filmmaker at the CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (2005).
- The Tragic Story of Nling (2006) – nominated for a Genie Award for Best Live Action Short Drama.
- Let the Daylight Into the Swamp (2012) – shortlisted for Best Short Documentary at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards.
He was also the first Canadian director selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s residency program for emerging filmmakers in 2005.
Feature films
- Bang Bang Baby (2014) – A surreal musical starring Jane Levy. The film premiered at TIFF, winning Best Canadian First Feature Film and earning St. Jules the Claude Jutra Award the following year.
- Cinema of Sleep (2021) – Released to critical attention; St. Jules received a nomination from the Directors Guild of Canada for Best Direction in a Feature Film.
- The Silent Planet (2024) – A science‑fiction thriller that screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
Awards and recognition
- Claude Jutra Award (2015) – for Bang Bang Baby.
- Jackson‑Triggs Award for Best Emerging Canadian Filmmaker (2005).
- Multiple nominations from the Genie Awards, Canadian Screen Awards, and Directors Guild of Canada.
Filmography (selected)
| Year | Title | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Sadness of Johnson Joe Jangles | Short film |
| 2006 | The Tragic Story of Nling | Short film |
| 2012 | Let the Daylight Into the Swamp | Short documentary |
| 2014 | Bang Bang Baby | Feature film |
| 2021 | Cinema of Sleep | Feature film |
| 2024 | The Silent Planet | Feature film |
Professional activities
In addition to directing and writing, St. Jules has taught film courses at the Toronto Film School and is involved in mentoring emerging filmmakers.
References – Information compiled from publicly available sources including Wikipedia, IMDb, and press coverage of festival awards.
