JJ Neepin is an Indigenous writer & DGC director based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is a member of the Fox Lake Cree Nation, born and raised in the nickel-mining town of Thompson. JJ has written, directed and produced several short films with her company JJNeepinFilms INC alongside her sister and producing partner Justina Neepin. Their films have screened at several film festivals around the world including New Zealand’s MaoriLand, Toronto’s ImagineNative, Hot Docs and at the Big Sky Documentary Festival in USA.

Making documentaries was never in JJ’s plans but she followed the opportunities in front of her and quickly discovered that she has a passion and a knack for it. She has directed for several documentary television shows such as APTN’s Taken about Canada’s MMIW&G the ghost series The Other Side and the music series Amplify. Most recently she has started directing for a new Métis focused series called Michif Country.

Someday soon JJ hopes to transfer her skills for directing scripted television. In between projects JJ is always improving her skills, she has received awards and many fellowships, most recently with the 2021 Berlinale Film Festival Talent Lab and the Women in View 2021: 5 in Focus – Indigenous director development program. JJ has participated with the Women in the Director’s Chair 2019 and won their WIDC/CBC Films Talent Award for her feature script Luminous. She was also part of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s Inaugural Directors Program for Women in 2017.

When JJ is not on set, she is writing, reading about true crime or preparing to teach a documentary workshop to new filmmakers.

Speaking on: Nations to Nations: Canadian Indigenous stories on a global stage