Min Sook Lee

{{Short description|Canadian filmmaker and activist (born 1969)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Min Sook Lee | native_name = 이민숙 | native_name_lang = ko | image =  | alt =  | caption = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1969}} | birth_place = South Korea | death_date =  | death_place = | alma_mater = [[York University]] | occupation = {{hlist | Filmmaker | screenwriter | academic | political activist}} | employer = [[OCAD University]] | credits = {{ubl | ''[[Tiger Spirit]]'' (2008) | ''[[She's the Mayor]]'' (2011) | ''[[The Real Inglorious Bastards]]'' (2012)}} | party = [[New Democratic Party]] | spouse =  | partner =  | signature = | signature_alt = }} '''Min Sook Lee''' ({{langx|ko|이민숙}}; born 1969) is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, screenwriter, academic, and political activist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beachmetro.com/2019/06/11/min-sook-lee-to-run-for-ndp-in-toronto-danforth-in-upcoming-federal-election/|title=Min Sook Lee to run for NDP in Toronto-Danforth in upcoming federal election|date=2019-06-11|website=Beach Metro Community News|language=en-US|accessdate=2019-09-23}}</ref>

==Early life== Lee was born in South Korea and immigrated to Canada with her family at the age of three, growing up in [[downtown Toronto]], where her family owned a [[convenience store]].<ref name="CI">{{cite news |last1=Jetelina |first1=Margaret |title=Immigrant Women of Inspiration 2017: the creative journeys of five female artists |url=https://canadianimmigrant.ca/living/women/immigrant-women-of-inspiration-2017-the-creative-journeys-of-five-female-artists |accessdate=May 13, 2019 |work=Canadian Immigrant |date=February 9, 2017}}</ref> Lee and her sisters worked long hours behind the counters, often translating for their parents, who did not speak English.<ref name=CI/><ref name="BeachMetro">{{cite web|url=https://www.beachmetro.com/2019/06/11/min-sook-lee-to-run-for-ndp-in-toronto-danforth-in-upcoming-federal-election/|title=Min Sook Lee to run for NDP in Toronto-Danforth in upcoming federal election|first=Alan|last=Shackleton|date=11 June 2019|work=Beach Metro Community News}}</ref>

As a teenager, Lee joined the anti-[[apartheid]] movement in Toronto, which she credits with introducing her to political activism.<ref name=BeachMetro/>

== Film career == Lee is a self-taught documentary filmmaker who has directed eight feature documentaries, often focusing on labour, migration, and social justice issues.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://povmagazine.com/articles/view/pov-profile-min-sook-lee|title=POV Profile: Min Sook Lee |last=Jacobs|first=Jonas|date=May 1, 2016|journal=[[Point of View (magazine)|Point of View]]}}</ref>

Early in her career, Lee was news director at community radio station [[CKLN-FM]] from 1996 to 1998,<ref name=posner>[[Michael Posner (journalist)|Michael Posner]], "Better than Inglourious Basterds - and true". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 8, 2012.</ref> an assistant to documentary filmmaker [[Sylvia Sweeney]],<ref name=posner/> and a news reporter at television station [[CKXT-DT#Toronto 1: licensing and launch|Toronto 1]] from 2004 to 2005.<ref>"Pols hit the big screen". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', April 2, 2004.</ref>

Lee's first feature film, ''[[El Contrato]]'' (2003), showed migrant farm workers from Central Mexico facing harsh working conditions in [[Leamington, Ontario]]. In response, Leamington farmers issued a [[SLAPP]] suit which delayed the film's release by a year.<ref>Sharon Hill, "Film angers greenhouse operators". ''[[Windsor Star]]'', September 25, 2003.</ref> Lee was awarded the [[Cesar E. Chavez]] Black Eagle Award for the film, which was also a nominee for the [[Donald Brittain Award]] for Best Social or Political Documentary at the [[20th Gemini Awards]] in 2005.<ref>Alex Strachan, "Two top comedies all but snubbed by Geminis". ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', October 12, 2005.</ref>

Lee's 2005 film ''[[Hogtown: The Politics of Policing]]'' followed a dysfunctional City Hall struggle over the [[Toronto Police Service]]'s budget during a wave of violent gun crimes and police corruption scandals.<ref name=young>Chris Young, "Hogtown puts police board in camera's eye; Filmmaker saw City Hall's rough period But still has faith in Toronto's institutions". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', April 23, 2005.</ref> The film won the [[Hot Docs Award for Best Canadian Feature Documentary|Best Canadian Feature Documentary]] award at the [[Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival]].<ref>"Hogtown muckraker digs up prize at Hot Docs". ''[[National Post]]'', May 2, 2005.</ref>

Her 2008 film ''[[Tiger Spirit]]'' told the story of [[Korea]]n families divided by the [[Korean War]] and the border between [[North Korea]] and [[South Korea]],<ref>Frank Loreto, [https://www.cmreviews.ca/cm/vol16/no40/tigerspirit.html "Tiger Spirit"]. ''Canadian Review of Materials'', June 18, 2010.</ref> and won the Donald Brittain Award at the [[24th Gemini Awards]] in 2009.<ref>"Gemini Award winners". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', November 15, 2009.</ref>

She subsequently directed ''My Toxic Baby'' (2009), about toxins in baby products; ''The Real MASH'' (2010), which tells the story of the real people who inspired the movie and television series ''[[M*A*S*H]]''; ''Badge of Pride'' (2010), about LGBT police officers; and ''[[The Real Inglorious Bastards]]'' (2012), about [[Frederick Mayer (spy)|Frederick Mayer]] and his company of European Jewish refugees.<ref>Michael Korb, "True, glorious 'Inglorious' tale". ''[[Prince George Citizen]]'', November 12, 2012.</ref>

''The Real Inglorious Bastards'' won the [[Canadian Screen Award]] for Best History or Biography Documentary Program or Series at the [[2nd Canadian Screen Awards]] in 2014,<ref>John R. Kennedy, [https://globalnews.ca/news/1187739/continuum-you-gotta-eat-here-early-winners-at-canadian-screen-awards/ "History, Food Network shows win at Canadian Screen Awards"]. [[Global News]], March 5, 2014.</ref> where Lee also received a nomination for Best Direction in a Documentary Program.<ref>Manori Ravindran, [https://realscreen.com/2014/01/13/watermark-my-prairie-home-up-for-canadian-screen-awards/ "“Watermark,” “My Prairie Home” up for Canadian Screen Awards"]. ''[[RealScreen]]'', January 13, 2014.</ref>

Lee was co-creator of the television [[sitcom]] ''[[She's the Mayor]]'', which aired on [[VisionTV]].<ref name=hamilton>{{cite news|url=http://www.thespec.com/article/753892|url-status=dead|title=She's the Mayor finds laughs in Hamilton|work=Hamilton Spectator|date=April 16, 2010|access-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826210235/http://www.thespec.com/article/753892|archive-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref>

In 2016, Lee revisited the theme of migrant workers in Canada in her film ''[[Migrant Dreams]]'', which examined the plight of a group of mostly [[Indonesia]]n migrant workers entering Canada through the [[Temporary foreign worker program in Canada|Temporary Foreign Worker Program]].<ref>Victoria Ahearn, "Plight of Canada's migrant workers profiled in 'Migrant Dreams' documentary". [[Canadian Press]], May 6, 2016.</ref> She was awarded the Canadian Hillman Prize, which honours journalists whose work identifies important social and economic issues in Canada,<ref>Paloma Martinez-Mendez, [https://www.rcinet.ca/fr/2017/03/22/le-documentaire-mingrant-dreams-sur-les-travailleurs-migrants-remporte-le-prix-dexcellence-hillman-2017/ "Le documentaire « Migrant Dreams » sur les travailleurs migrants remporte le Prix d’excellence Hillman 2017"]. [[Radio Canada International]], May 22, 2027.</ref> and the Canadian Association of Journalists Award for Labour Reporting. It also received an honorable mention from the [[Colin Low Award]] jury at the 2016 [[DOXA Documentary Film Festival]],<ref>Daniele Alcinii, [https://realscreen.com/2016/05/16/cameraperson-twelve-landscapes-take-doxa-prizes/ "'Cameraperson,' 'Twelve Landscapes' take DOXA prizes"]. ''[[RealScreen]]'', May 16, 2016.</ref> and was shortlisted for the Donald Brittain Award at the [[6th Canadian Screen Awards]].<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/csa-nominees-2018-1.4489100 "Canadian Screen Awards 2018: Anne has leading 13 nominations"]. [[CBC News]], January 16, 2018.</ref>

Her 2025 film ''[[There Are No Words]]'', a more personal film than her prior work, explored her mother's suicide when Lee was a teenager.<ref>Joan MacDonald, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2025/09/03/min-sook-lees-there-are-no-words-seeks-truth-amid-secrets-and-silence/ "Min Sook Lee’s ‘There Are No Words’ Seeks Truth Amid Secrets And Silence"]. ''[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]]'', September 3, 2025.</ref>

In 2012, the Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts named the Min Sook Lee Labour Arts Award in Lee's honour for her contribution to the cause of migrant workers,<ref name=cfc>{{cite web|url=https://cfccreates.com/alumni/1139|title=Min Sook Lee|publisher=Canadian Film Centre|accessdate=24 September 2019}}</ref> citing her work to "engage non-arts audiences, and that challenges Eurocentric notions of art".<ref name="mayworks">{{cite web|url=http://www.mayworks.ca/home/mw18mlaacall/|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716171157/http://www.mayworks.ca/home/mw18mlaacall/|archivedate=16 July 2019|title=2019 Mayworks Labour Arts Awards Call for Nominations|publisher=Mayworks}}</ref><ref name="storyboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.thestoryboard.ca/mayworks-festival-of-working-people-and-the-arts-recognition-where-it-is-overdue/|title=Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts: Recognition where it is overdue|publisher=Story Board|accessdate=24 September 2019|first=Haseena|last=Manek|date=10 December 2012}}</ref>

Lee is a professor at [[OCAD University]], where her teaching and research focus on the relationship between art and social change. additionally Lee occupies the position of president at OCAD's faculty union, OCADFA. She previously taught documentary filmmaking at [[Ryerson University]]'s School of Image Arts MFA program.<ref name=cfc/><ref name="fcadnews">{{cite web|url=https://www.ryerson.ca/fcad/news-events/latest-news/fcaders-nominated-for-cdn-screen-awds/|title=FCADers Nominated for Canadian Screen Awards|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716160401/https://www.ryerson.ca/fcad/news-events/latest-news/fcaders-nominated-for-cdn-screen-awds/|archivedate=16 July 2019|date=21 January 2014|publisher=Ryerson University}}</ref>

===Filmography=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year ! Title ! Project ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |2001-2002 |''Profiles'' |12-part TV documentary series |Senior producer (3 episodes), director (3 episodes), field producer (1 episode) |- |2003 |''[[El Contrato]]'' |Documentary |Director, writer |- |2005 |''[[Hogtown: The Politics of Policing]]'' |Documentary |Producer, director, writer |- |2008 |''[[Tiger Spirit]]'' |Documentary |Producer, director, writer |- |2009 |''My Toxic Baby'' |Documentary |Director, writer |- |2010 |''Badge of Pride'' |Documentary |Director, writer |- |2010 |''The Real M*A*S*H'' |TV documentary |Director, writer |- |2011 |''[[She's the Mayor]]'' |Television sitcom series |Co-creator, executive producer (12 episodes), writer (1 episode) |- |2012 |''[[The Real Inglorious Bastards]]'' |TV documentary |Director, writer |- |2016 |''[[Migrant Dreams]]'' |Documentary |Producer, director, writer |- |2025 |''[[There Are No Words]]'' |Documentary |Director, writer |}

== Political activity == Lee was the [[New Democratic Party]] candidate in [[Toronto—Danforth (federal electoral district)|Toronto—Danforth]] for the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 federal election]].<ref name=BeachMetro/> In her campaign, she committed to bring in a one per cent super-wealth tax on households with a net wealth of more than $20 million. The Parliamentary Budget Office has estimated that this measure could bring in $70 billion in new revenue.

On election night, Lee finished in second with 33.2 per cent of the vote to incumbent [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] MP [[Julie Dabrusin]].<ref>Katie Daubs, "Liberal wins over new NDP hopeful". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', October 22, 2019.</ref>

===Electoral record=== {{2019 Canadian federal election/Toronto—Danforth}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Min Sook}} [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Canadian film educators]] [[Category:Canadian documentary film producers]] [[Category:Canadian documentary film directors]] [[Category:Canadian television producers]] [[Category:Academic staff of OCAD University]] [[Category:Canadian television directors]] [[Category:Canadian women screenwriters]] [[Category:Film directors from Toronto]] [[Category:Screenwriters from Toronto]] [[Category:Canadian Film Centre alumni]] [[Category:South Korean emigrants to Canada]] [[Category:Canadian writers of Asian descent]] [[Category:National Film Board of Canada people]] [[Category:Canadian Screen Award winners]] [[Category:Canadian women television directors]] [[Category:Canadian women television producers]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian women writers]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian screenwriters]] [[Category:Canadian women film directors]] [[Category:Canadian women documentary filmmakers]] [[Category:New Democratic Party candidates for the Canadian House of Commons]]