Julien Élie


Julien Élie is a Canadian documentary filmmaker from Quebec, most noted for his films Dark Suns and The White Guard .
He began his career with a supporting role as Pierre in the 1984 film The Dog Who Stopped the War , but later worked as a boom operator on films rather than continuing an acting career.
He released his first documentary film, The One Who Knew , in 2001. The film centred on the investigation into the assassination of Rwandan politician Seth Sendashonga. He followed up with The Last Meal , about prisoners on death row in Texas, in 2003.
Dark Suns and The White Guard both focused on the issue of violent crime in Mexico.
His newest film, Shifting Baselines, premiered at the 2025 edition of the Visions du Réel documentary film festival.

Filmography

Awards

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResult
DOXA Documentary Film Festival2019Colin Low AwardDark Suns
Filmfest Hamburg2019Sichtwechsel Film AwardDark Suns Won
Montreal International Documentary Festival2018Grand Prize, National FeatureDark Suns Won
Montreal International Documentary Festival2023Magnus Isacsson AwardThe White Guard Won
Montreal International Documentary Festival2023Student Jury AwardThe White Guard Won
Prix Iris2020Best Documentary FilmDark Suns Nomitated