Indictment

Synopsis

Co-directed with Shane Belcourt.

A riveting true story about the crimes of Shelly Chartier, a reclusive young woman from a small Manitoba First Nation who captivated the press and made international headlines. Sensationalized in the media as a high profile catfishing case involving an NBA superstar and an aspiring model, Shelly was portrayed as a master manipulator who used social media as her weapon. Through the sensitive and intelligent lens of directors Lisa Jackson and Shane Belcourt, the sensationalism is swept aside to reveal a much more compelling – and complex – story of a young woman caught in historical circumstances beyond her control and how she struggles to rebuild her life after incarceration. With in-depth access to Shelly, Indictment unpacks the crime and raises important questions about our justice system.

One of CBC’s top watched documentaries
Teachers Guide, Hot Docs “Docs for Schools”

Press

CBC Radio The Current, “The Untold Story of Shelly Chartier”

CBC.ca Director’s Blog, “When it Comes to Indigenous People, Canadian Justice is Not Blind”

Flare Magazine, “This CBC True-Crime Doc Shows Viewers Why a Manitoban Woman Catfished an NBA Star”

Toronto Star, “Film Aims to Tell the Whole Story of Woman Who ‘Catfished’ the Birdman”