LEO Awards

What a night. What a month. What a team.

I’m beyond proud to share that Saints and Warriors took home three Leo Awards this past weekend at the 2025 gala — including Best Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing. For our whole team, and especially for our Haida community, this recognition means the world.

Saints and Warriors Wins Big at the 2025 Leo Awards

If you’re not familiar, the Leo Awards are British Columbia’s version of the Oscars — honouring the best in film and television across the province. Just being nominated was a huge honour. To actually win three of our four categories? Absolutely surreal.

Here’s the breakdown:

🏆 Best Direction — Patrick Shannon

🏆 Best Editing — Greg Ng & Hart Snider, with Assistant Editor Darian Lung

🏆 Best Cinematography — Michael Bourquin & Sean Stiller

✨ Nominated for Best Feature Documentary — Congrats to Resident Orca on the win!

This was my first feature film as a director, so to be recognized by the Leos with Best Director is something I’ll carry with me forever. It’s not just a personal milestone — it’s a win for our entire crew, for Haida Gwaii, and for all the communities who’ve embraced this story.

A Night to Remember

I had the honour of attending the gala with some of the core people who made this journey possible:

  • Our incredible producer Michael Grand, who’s been in the trenches with me since day one, holding the vision steady and lifting up every part of this production.

  • My partner Jeni, who has been an unwavering pillar of support through the entire post-production and release of the film. I couldn’t have done this final stretch without her strength, heart, and belief in me.

  • And two of the film’s stars — Desi Collinson and Gaagwiis Jason Alsop — who brought this story to life on and off the court, and continue to lead with such deep presence and purpose.

Seeing Saints and Warriors recognized at this level is a reminder that stories from small Indigenous communities do matter, and that with the right team, heart, and vision — they can stand tall on the biggest stages.

Thank you to our whole extended team, to everyone who believed in this story, and to the communities who trusted us with it. We made this together.

More to come.

– Patrick Shannon

Director, Saints and Warriors