Courtenay Louie is a First Nations’ filmmaker from the small village of Ahousaht, who has always had a passion for photography and filmmaking, a passion she attributes to her parents. In Ahousaht’s culture, the first nail clippings of your new born are attached to something you’d like them to be passionate about; Courtenay’s were taped to her Mother’s 35mm camera. Her culture and upbringing provide a strong foundation for storytelling, as both her final Narrative and Documentary are stories rooted in her culture.

Courtenay would like to focus on factual documentaries, telling people’s stories, drawing parallels between the past and present, but most importantly, bringing First Nations’ stories to a wider, international audience.

Her passion for visual storytelling is not confined to one area or demographic. A keen interest in anthropology, sociology, and storytelling has instilled a love of travel and exploring the cultural beliefs and practices of all nations.