Trevor Anderson is a writer-director whose movies have screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Drumheller Prison, and places between. His feature film BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND premiered at the 2022 Locarno Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America in 2024. Trevor’s short films have screened at many A-list and LGBTQ+ film festivals, including three times at Sundance; three times at SXSW; twice at TIFF; and twice at the Berlinale, where his musical THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY (2012) won the D.A.A.D. Short Film Prize.
photo by Lyle Bell
“The director of this film knows exactly what he’s doing… better, minute for minute, than most of the features at your multiplex.”
— Roger Ebert
“Very accomplished filmmaking.”
— Werner Herzog
Permanent Collections
Sundance Collection at UCLA
Outfest UCLA Legacy Project
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Solo Shows
Gimme Some Truth Documentary Festival presents Fantastic Realities - the Documentary Films of Trevor Anderson - 2016 - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Pleasure Dome presents Dirt City Rock Fantasy: The Films and Music of Trevor Anderson - 2016 - Toronto, Ontario
Queer Streak: Regensburg Queer Film Week presents The Short Films of Trevor Anderson - 2012 - Regensburg, Germany
Outburst: Belfast Queer Arts Festival presents The Short Films of Trevor Anderson - 2012 - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mix Milano presents Trevor Anderson Show - 2012 - Milan, Italy
Selected Press
rogerebert.com, "Short Films in Focus: The Little Deputy", by Collin Souter, April 5, 2016: "It's the best kind of short film, the kind that does not adhere to any familiar narrative trappings, but still conveys something deeply personal that never once feels like an exercise in self-indulgence."
winnipegfilmgroup.com, "Fantastic Realities - the Documentary Films of Trevor Anderson", by Alex Rogalski, November 4, 2016: "Truth and memory form the basis of documentary evidence, yet both prove unreliable under scrutiny. Rather than attempt to reinforce their fragile nature with an austere tone, Anderson joyfully bends them to his creative needs, exposing the possibilities of documentary form set free from contrived conventions."
shortoftheweek.com, "The Little Deputy", by Jason Sondhi, December 30, 2016: "Fresh and liberating. Anderson, with The Little Deputy, continues to prove that he is one of the smartest and most inventive filmmakers in the short form."
pdome.org, “Dirt City Rock Fantasy: The Films and Music of Trevor Anderson”, 2016: “Turning a theatrical eye on his personal narratives, his work is always fresh, self-deprecating, bittersweet, and balls-to-the-wall fun.”
Awards
Best Canadian Short – 2020 – Jesse Jams – Calgary Underground Film Festival
Best Short Film – Docking – 2019 – Calgary International Film Festival
Named one of “25 Influential Alberta Artists” of the last 25 years by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Best Short Documentary (nominated) - The Little Deputy - 2016 - Canadian Screen Awards
Best Personal Film - The Little Deputy - 2015 - Winnipeg Airport Awards
Best Documentary Short - The Little Deputy - 2015 - Scruffy City Film and Music Festival - Knoxville, Tennessee
Best Alberta Doc - The Little Deputy - 2015 - Global Visions Film Festival - Edmonton, Alberta
Best Short Production - The Little Deputy - 2015 - Alberta Film and Television Awards
Outstanding Short Documentary - The Little Deputy - 2015 - FAVA Awards of Excellence - Edmonton, Alberta
Outstanding Documentary Film or Video Under 40 Minutes - The Man That Got Away - 2013 - FAVA Awards of Excellence - Edmonton, Alberta
D.A.A.D. Short Film Prize - The Man That Got Away - 2012 - Berlin International Film Festival - Berlin, Germany
Best Short Film - The Man That Got Away - 2012 - Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival - Honolulu, Hawaii
Alberta Spirit Award for Best Short - The Man That Got Away - 2012 - Calgary International Film Festival - Calgary, Alberta
Edmonton Film Prize - The Man That Got Away - 2012 - Edmonton, Alberta
Outstanding Experimental Film or Video Under 40 Minutes - The High Level Bridge - 2012 - FAVA Awards of Excellence - Edmonton, Alberta
Honorable Mention for Live Action Short Film - The High Level Bridge - 2010 - AFI Fest, American Film Institute - Los Angeles, California
Jury Award for Best Short Film - The Island - 2009 - Pink Apple Film Festival - Zürich, Switzerland
Honourable Mention for Experimental Film - Rock Pockets - 2008 - Iris Prize Festival - Cardiff, Wales
Audience Award for Best Short Film - DINX - Fairy Tales: Calgary International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - 2008 - Calgary, Alberta
Lindalee Tracey Award - Rock Pockets - 2007 - Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival - Toronto, Ontario
30th Anniversary Award - Saskatchewan Filmpool Cooperative: Festival 50 / 104 - Rock Pockets - 2007 - Regina, Saskatchewan
Honourable Mention for Innovative Short Film - Rock Pockets - 2007 - Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival - Seattle, Washington
Jury Award for Best Local Short - Rugburn - 2006 - Fairy Tales: Calgary International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - Calgary, Alberta
Best Screenwriter, Drama Under 60 Minutes (nominated) - Rugburn - 2006 - Alberta Film and Television Awards
Alberta Centennial Award for Best Alberta Film (shortlisted) - Rugburn - 2005 - Calgary International Film Festival - Calgary, Alberta