Barbara Doran

Production

Barbara Doran

Newfoundland, Canada

Barbara Doran is based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and has been writing, directing, and producing international films and television for the past thirty-five years. She is internationally recognized for specializing in documentary and drama productions, including the Gemini winning mini-series “Random Passage” and most recently the box office hit, “The Grand Seduction”, starring Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch now in worldwide distribution.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

The Grand Seduction poster
6.7

A small fishing village must procure a local doctor to secure a lucrative business contract. When unlikely candidate and big city doctor Paul Lewis lands in their lap for a trial residence, the townsfolk rally together to charm him into staying. As the doctor’s time in the village winds to a close, acting mayor Murray French has no choice but to pull out all the stops and begin The Grand Seduction.

The Grand Seduction

2014

No artwork available
NR

In the fall of 2021 playwright Robert Chafe set out on an interview tour of eastern Newfoundland, asking residents of coastal communities why they live where they live, and how they might see their future. The responses offer a new way to think about the love, risk, and resilience of living on the edge of a changing ocean. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Barbara Doran and Jerry McIntosh, Taking on Water takes the audience through the process of developing the musical-dramatic performance of the same name from local conversations about ocean and coastal change to final performances on the stage.

Taking on Water

2024

No artwork available
NR

In the fall of 2021 playwright Robert Chafe set out on an interview tour of eastern Newfoundland, asking residents of coastal communities why they live where they live, and how they might see their future. The responses offer a new way to think about the love, risk, and resilience of living on the edge of a changing ocean. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Barbara Doran and Jerry McIntosh, Taking on Water takes the audience through the process of developing the musical-dramatic performance of the same name from local conversations about ocean and coastal change to final performances on the stage.

Taking on Water

2024

No artwork available
NR

In the fall of 2021 playwright Robert Chafe set out on an interview tour of eastern Newfoundland, asking residents of coastal communities why they live where they live, and how they might see their future. The responses offer a new way to think about the love, risk, and resilience of living on the edge of a changing ocean. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Barbara Doran and Jerry McIntosh, Taking on Water takes the audience through the process of developing the musical-dramatic performance of the same name from local conversations about ocean and coastal change to final performances on the stage.

Taking on Water

2024

White Wolves: Ghosts of the Arctic poster
9.0

We follow a pack of wolves on Ellesmere Island, in Canada’s far north, as they struggle to raise their pups in the brief arctic summer. Hidden in her den, the alpha female of the pack gives birth to a new generation. Time is of the essence: her pups need to grow quickly and they have much to learn if they are to survive the merciless winter ahead.

White Wolves: Ghosts of the Arctic

2017

No artwork available
NR

What would make an ordinary woman kill her husband? This powerful documentary is about three battered women who, after years of violence, kill their abusers. These women killed when they felt they had no other options: the police and the courts did not protect them, and society failed to take them seriously. When Women Kill challenges the legal system to confront the systemic and widespread violence that men inflict daily on the home front.

When Women Kill

1994

No artwork available
NR

What would make an ordinary woman kill her husband? This powerful documentary is about three battered women who, after years of violence, kill their abusers. These women killed when they felt they had no other options: the police and the courts did not protect them, and society failed to take them seriously. When Women Kill challenges the legal system to confront the systemic and widespread violence that men inflict daily on the home front.

When Women Kill

1994

Random Passage poster
NR

This award winning miniseries traces the difficult passage of young Mary Keane (Aoife McMahon) from servitude in Ireland to the squalor of rough-and-tumble Newfoundland in the early 1800s. Escaping attempted rape and abuse, Mary moves on with her infant daughter to find shelter at a remote fishing station run by Thomas Hutchings (Colm Meaney). In a time and place where life and death are a hair's breadth apart, Mary joins the community's struggle for survival against sickness and starvation. All of the Cape's people are fugitives of one kind or another, but by pulling together through hardships and tragedies, they forge a new life of hope - and even love.

Random Passage

2002

Boundaries poster
5.8

Emily Price tries to balance family life and leading crunch negotiations between a Canadian politician and the president of a country whose natural resources are being exploited.

Boundaries

2016

Away from Everywhere poster
3.3

A struggling writer emerges from rehab and reunites with his estranged brother, but soon descends into a tragic love triangle and is forced to confront a devastating reality.

Away from Everywhere

2017

Love & Savagery poster
4.5

In 1969, a visiting geologist from Newfoundland arouses scandal in a small Irish village when he romances a local girl who’s destined for the convent.

Love & Savagery

2009

Moebius Redux: A Life in Pictures poster
6.6

French artist and author Jean Giraud is one of the most famous and influential comic strip illustrators and authors of all time. He achieved his greatest fame as Moebius - not so much a pseudonym as an alter ego. With his triple-split personality - Jean Giraud, Moebius, Gir - he succeeded in making his work accessible in popular comic strip series like Blueberry, in metaphysical fantasies like John Difool and, not least, to a broad public, with set designs for films such as The Fifth Element. In Moebius Redux - A Life in Pictures an exceptional artist tells his life's and work's story. Extraordinary views on Paris, Los Angeles and the Mexican desert build a visual link between his life and his artistic universe, accompanied by the electronic soundtrack composed by "Kraftwerk" legend Karl Bartos.

Moebius Redux: A Life in Pictures

2007

Still Rowdy After All These Years poster
NR

A documentary retrospective on the prolific career of acclaimed Canadian actor, writer and director Gordon Pinsent.

Still Rowdy After All These Years

2011

Still Rowdy After All These Years poster
NR

A documentary retrospective on the prolific career of acclaimed Canadian actor, writer and director Gordon Pinsent.

Still Rowdy After All These Years

2011

Still Rowdy After All These Years poster
NR

A documentary retrospective on the prolific career of acclaimed Canadian actor, writer and director Gordon Pinsent.

Still Rowdy After All These Years

2011

Playing the Machines poster
NR

Video lottery addiction is a serious problem in Canada, but does the government's need for revenue mean the enormous social costs are being ignored? This is a story about a society hooked on gambling and the people trying to force lottery corporations to come clean and take responsibility for what's happening to people whose lives are being devastated by Playing Machines. Also at the center of the story, a pugnacious Canadian Actor, John Dunsworth (Trailer Park Boys), who's gambling addictions nearly destroyed his career.

Playing the Machines

2009

Playing the Machines poster
NR

Video lottery addiction is a serious problem in Canada, but does the government's need for revenue mean the enormous social costs are being ignored? This is a story about a society hooked on gambling and the people trying to force lottery corporations to come clean and take responsibility for what's happening to people whose lives are being devastated by Playing Machines. Also at the center of the story, a pugnacious Canadian Actor, John Dunsworth (Trailer Park Boys), who's gambling addictions nearly destroyed his career.

Playing the Machines

2009

Keeping Up with Cathy Jones poster
NR

"Keeping Up with Cathy Jones" is a biographical romp through the life and times of this outrageously funny lady of stage, screen and television. From the first celluloid glimpses of "CATHY AT 16", "THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES", her one woman shows and stand-up routines to interview clips with Cathy, her family and friends, this is a highly charged bio-pic; a salute to Newfoundland's comic genius."

Keeping Up with Cathy Jones

2006

Keeping Up with Cathy Jones poster
NR

"Keeping Up with Cathy Jones" is a biographical romp through the life and times of this outrageously funny lady of stage, screen and television. From the first celluloid glimpses of "CATHY AT 16", "THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES", her one woman shows and stand-up routines to interview clips with Cathy, her family and friends, this is a highly charged bio-pic; a salute to Newfoundland's comic genius."

Keeping Up with Cathy Jones

2006

The Man Who Studies Murder poster
NR

Elliott Leyton, the subject of this riveting documentary by filmmaker Barbara Doran, can't help but be fascinating; that's because Leyton, who teaches at the Memorial University in Newfoundland, is also a valuable ally for law enforcement officials who need his expertise in psychology and criminal behavior to catch some of the most heinous criminals: serial killers.

The Man Who Studies Murder

2003

The Man Who Studies Murder poster
NR

Elliott Leyton, the subject of this riveting documentary by filmmaker Barbara Doran, can't help but be fascinating; that's because Leyton, who teaches at the Memorial University in Newfoundland, is also a valuable ally for law enforcement officials who need his expertise in psychology and criminal behavior to catch some of the most heinous criminals: serial killers.

The Man Who Studies Murder

2003

To Dublin with Love poster
NR

Inspired by the late poet Al Pittman's 'March Hare' late winter music and literary celebrations, director Barbara Doran-along with a clutch of her close friends, associates and artistic collaborators from St. John's and the rest of the Rock-travel to Dublin to examine the close cultural relationships between Newfoundland and Ireland in this boisterous documentary film.

To Dublin with Love

2007

To Dublin with Love poster
NR

Inspired by the late poet Al Pittman's 'March Hare' late winter music and literary celebrations, director Barbara Doran-along with a clutch of her close friends, associates and artistic collaborators from St. John's and the rest of the Rock-travel to Dublin to examine the close cultural relationships between Newfoundland and Ireland in this boisterous documentary film.

To Dublin with Love

2007

To Dublin with Love poster
NR

Inspired by the late poet Al Pittman's 'March Hare' late winter music and literary celebrations, director Barbara Doran-along with a clutch of her close friends, associates and artistic collaborators from St. John's and the rest of the Rock-travel to Dublin to examine the close cultural relationships between Newfoundland and Ireland in this boisterous documentary film.

To Dublin with Love

2007