BRENDA TERNING Editor
I began my career as a filmmaker, writing and directing drama, winning residencies at the National Screen Institute, The Praxis Centre for Screenwriting and The Canadian Film Centre before being drawn to the intimacy of documentary.
My love of editing is in the power of the cut to create meaning beyond words, and when the magic happens reveal unexpected truths that cut us to the heart.
I have had the great good fortune to edit many Gemini, Canadian Screen Award and Emmy nominated documentaries.
CV
Brenda Terning is a CCE award-winning documentary editor, her body of work includes multiple internationally broadcast documentaries. Recent films have included; Equus; Origins (8x CSA nominated Series) , Vital Bonds (Winner Canadian Cinema Editor Award, Jackson Hole SMASH special jury prize), Wolverine Ghost of the Northern Forest (Nominee Canadian Cinema Editor Award) and three-part series; Equus, and The Great Human Odyssey (Winner, Best Science Nature Series, Canadian Screen Awards, 2017 Emmy Nomination).
Her Past body of work includes Gemini Nominated documentaries; Tipping Point, The Age of Oil Sands, The Perfect Runner and Lost Years. Brenda has edited ten episodes of The Nature of Things. She is a three-time winner of the AMPIA Award for “Best Editor” as well as garnering 12 nominations as an editor.
E D U C A T I O N
Director’s Residency The Canadian Film Centre 1996
Writing Fellowship Praxis Centre for Screenwriting 2002
S E L E C T E D E D I T I N G C R E D I T S
HER LAST PROJECT 2019
ID Productions
EQUUS, ORIGINS 2018
EQUUS Productions, CBC The Nature of Things, PBS Nature
VITAL BONDS 2016
ID Productions & The National Film Board
Winner 2017 Canadian Cinema Editor Award
CBC The Nature of Things and PBS NOVA
WOLVERINE GHOSTS OF THE NORTHERN FOREST 2016
Compass Media, CBC The Nature of Things, Aired NAT GEO
Nominated 2017 Canadian Cinema Editor Award: best editing short documentary
CAPTURING BEAUTY 2015
CBC Documentary, Company of Women on the Screen, Nominated Golden Sheaf
THE GREAT HUMAN ODYSSEY 2014
Clearwater Documentary, 3 Part Series for The Nature of Things, CBC, PBS NOVA, Broadcast: 10 countries internationally. Winner Best Documentary Series, The Canadian Screen Awards, Best Science and Technology, Emmy Nominated 2017 best Science and Nature Series.
THE MCDADES 2012
Feature length Music Documentary, Yvonne Dubourdieu and Ray Harper
AMPIA nomination Best Feature Length Documentary, AMPIA nomination, Best Editor
THE PERFECT RUNNER 2012
CLEAR WATER MEDIA, CBC The Nature of Things, Broadcast: CBC/ARTE, FRANCE
7 AMPIA nominations, 7 Awards including: Best Documentary and Best Editor.
3 Nominations Canadian Screen Awards: Best Science Documentary, Best Cinematography,
Best Writing
LOST YEARS 2012
LOST YEARS PRODUCTIONS broadcast CBC, Feature length documentary
Best Documentary (History & Culture), Guangzhou International Documentary Film Festival
Official Selection of the 38th Seattle International Film Festival, Park City Film Music Festival
Nominated for 6 Alberta Motion Picture Industry Awards. Named one of the top films of the past decade, Guangzhou International Documentary Festival. Nominated Canadian Screen Awards
TIPPING POINT 2011
Clearwater Documentary
Two hour special CBC The Nature of Things, Aired NHK JAPAN, Al JAZEERA
Gemini Nomination, The Donald Brittan Award, Best Social/Political Documentary,
Nomination Best Environmental Documentary, Banff World Media Awards
6 AMPIA nominations, 3 Awards including Best Editor Non-Fiction over 30 minutes
SYLVAIN VOYER 2010
Network1 Productions, Feature Length Documentary
3 AMPIA Nominations including Best Editor
INUIT ODYSSEY2010
Clearwater Documentary, CBC The Nature of Things
Winner Best Popular Science Program, Banff International Television Festival
6 AMPIA nominations, 2 wins including; Best Editor, Non-Fiction over 30 minutes
Nominated Most Innovative Documentary, History Makers Film Festival, New York
LEGACY PETE STANDING ALONE 2010
NFB, Nominated Best Documentary under 30 minutes AMPIA
CARE OF THE ELDERLY 2010
NFB, Nominated Best Educational AMPIA
THE BEAR 2010
Company of Women on the Screen, Nominated Best Music Video AMPIA, Edmonton International Film Festival, Audience Favourite
GETTING OUT STAYING SAFE 2008
Company of Women on the Screen
AMPIA Award, Best Motivational, AMPIA nomination Best Director & Best Writer Non-Fiction
DOG GONE ADDICTION 2007
Wild Soul Creations, Feature Length Documentary
Winner Best Adventure Sports Film, Taos Mountain Film Festival
Runner-Up People’s Choice Award, Wanaka Mountain Film Festival
, New Zealand
Best Adventure Film, Explorer’s Club Film Festival, New York
Audience Favorite, Best Impact of Music in a Documentary, Park City Film and Music Festival
My Healing Journey 1998
NFB/CBC-Witness
Gemini Award Best Science, Technology, Nature, Gemini Award Best Direction in a documentary, nominated best writing. Golden Sheaf Award: best documentary.