Top 10 Audience Favourite, Hot Docs

A star is reborn. With an outsize stage presence that eclipsed R&B greats like Etta James and Little Richard, Black trans soul singer Jackie Shane was the real deal. After mysteriously vanishing from public view for almost 40 years, this little-known icon is given her ultimate due in Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee’s remarkable documentary portrait, executive produced by Elliot Page.  Jackie blazed an incandescent trail from her native Nashville to the top of the charts in 1960s Toronto, where she ruled the nightclub scene. With few recordings of her legendary performances, this film brings Jackie to life in her own words through never-before-heard phone conversations, dazzling rotoscope animation and a newly released song, part of an incredible soundtrack that seals Jackie’s place as one of the greatest soul performers of the 20th century.

“ … a compelling investigation of an elusive life, as well as a talent so striking you’ll be amazed it remained forgotten for so long.”–Variety