“A Day in the Life” with: Filmmaker Stacey Tenebaum

May 20, 2026 Jocelyne Sobie Arts, Film

Stacey Tenebaum started her career in 1998, working as an archives researcher on the TV series Popular Mechanics for Kids. She was nominated for an International Emmy in 2012 for In Real Life, a kids’ TV series she co-created and produced. Stacey opened H2L Productions in 2014 to produce her own documentary films. Her films give voice to people and things that others might overlook. Stacey’s first documentary, Shiners, followed a day in the life of shoe shiners around the world; her second film, Pipe Dreamsfocused on young organ players competing in the Canadian International Organ Competition. Her third documentary, Scrap, looks at what happens to large objects like planes, ships, and streetcars once they are discarded. Stacey’s current film, Tough Old Broadsfollows 3 trailblazing women who are still active in their older years. Stacey’s films are filled with humour and heart and reflect what she cares about in the world. She is eternally positive and inquisitive, and she loves to travel, meet new people, and laugh. Stacey is also on the Board of the Quebec English-language Production Council (QEPC), where she works tirelessly to promote English-production in the province.

Stacey Tenebaum
Most of my days start with emails just like everybody else. When I am not out filming something, I am sitting at my computer writing or answering emails. Filmmaking is not as glamorous as people think.
Stacey Tenebaum
Out shopping for labels for the networking event I will be attending tonight, and for my hard drives. I have more hard drives than most normal people. The receipt is for my bookkeeper. Everything I buy for my films has to be properly accounted for. Accounting takes up a lot of my life. Also, not very glamorous.
I don’t drive, so I need to walk or take public transit most places. Just trekked across town in the snow from Berri to Verdun for a film screening event at the Douglas Mental Health Institute in partnership with the McGill Research Centre for Studies in Aging.
So excited to see my film title up on a big screen! It’s 1:30, and we are doing a technical check to make sure everything will work for the word-of-mouth screening today. We are doing a bunch of these to get people excited about our Canadian Theatrical Release in Montreal at Cinema du Parc on March 5th.
Even though I hate public speaking, I always find the courage to do Q+As with audiences. It was such an enthusiastic crowd, and they had some great questions for me. Interacting with audiences is one of the best parts of the job. It is great to watch my films with people and see if they laugh in the right spots and where they are moved. One of the best parts of the job by far.
So relieved and tired after my screening. It was a success!
Stacey Tenebaum
Rushed back across town in the snow to make it to a panel and networking event for Black History Month hosted by the Quebec English-language Production Council (QEPC). We had a great talk about the challenges faced by Black filmmakers in Quebec and then gathered for drinks, Caribbean food, and some networking. A wonderful event!
Stacey Tenebaum
Walking through Parc Lafontaine in the snow. A great way to end a very long day.
Happy but completely exhausted. Many of my days are 12+ hours long.

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What do you do

I make documentary films. I own my own production company (H2L Productions), and I research, write, produce and direct my own films. I do all the work from A-Z. I come up with ideas for films, get them financed, go out and film with a crew, and then work with an editor to put together the footage. It is a ton of work. I do the jobs of about 6 people. I am also on the board of the Quebec English-language Production Council (QEPC), we do research about the state of English film and TV production in Quebec, lobby for our members, and mentor the next generation of filmmakers. I also moderate a Facebook group for film and TV production workers across Canada in my spare time. The group currently has over 74K members. I am a really busy person!

What are you currently working on?

I am releasing my new documentary, Tough Old Broads, a film about 3 incredible, trailblazing women. The film premiered at the Santa Barbara Film Festival this Feb and had a Canadian Premiere at Cinema du Parc on March 5. The documentary will be in cinemas across Canada and on Yes TV in May.

I am also in production on The Doppelganger Project, a documentary about portrait photographer François Brunelle, an artist in Montreal, who has been taking photos of people who look alike but are not related, for the past 25 years. He has photographed over 250 look-alike pairs. That film will come out in 2027 or 2028, depending on how things go with the filming and editing.

Where can we find your work?

For updates on cinema Screenings of Tough Old Broads, follow us on our social media for the most up-to-date news on screenings. Follow my company, H2L Productions. Watch Pipe Dreams and Scrap on CBC Gem.

 

About Jocelyne Sobie 7 Articles
Jocelyne loves street art photography, traveling, discovering different cultures, and trying foods she can barely pronounce. Spirituality and giving back matter deeply to her, leading her to volunteer both locally and abroad, experiences she will never forget. She’s drawn to books and documentaries that explore how society works and how people think, especially real-life stories that don’t always make the headlines. That curiosity led her to this work, where she creates space for creative, hardworking people to share their stories and inspire others.

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