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- calendar_today October 22, 2026
Introduction: Canadian Roots Behind a Hit Documentary
You Can See Everything, a documentary directed by Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder, is generating worldwide buzz. Focusing on Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, the film’s unconventional approach and its impressive team of Canadian filmmakers are helping it vie for top honors at the Oscars. This marks another chapter in the tradition of strong Canadian contributions to documentary filmmaking.
Nathan Fielder’s Journey to Critical Acclaim
Nathan Fielder, known for his show Nathan for You, brings a signature blend of investigative rigor and comedic absurdity to his latest project. Raised in Vancouver and a graduate of the University of Victoria’s business program, Fielder’s early career included work with CBC’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes before creating television known for challenging the nature of truth. His persistent interest in the complex boundaries between fiction and reality now informs You Can See Everything, which premiered at the 64th New York Film Festival on September 30, 2026.
A Collaborative Effort: Canadian Creatives at the Core
Fielder is joined by co-director Lance Oppenheim, who was drawn to Fielder after watching his earlier work. From there, several Canadian collaborators were brought on board. Adam Locke-Norton, an editor with whom Fielder first worked on early YouTube shorts, contributed his expertise. Ottawa-born producer Tatiana Bears quickly joined the project when Oppenheim called, flying out to begin shooting within a day. Director of photography David Bolen, a Toronto native, shaped the film’s distinctive visual style—an element fueling much of its Oscars buzz.
Saskatchewan’s Katina Danabassis handled costuming, bringing experience from other A24 projects such as Celine Song’s Materialists and Past Lives. Ontario’s Stephen Coleman also participated as second assistant director, with credits including The Drama and the upcoming Jesse Eisenberg film The Debut. Collectively, these Canadian talents are featured in A24’s official Oscars campaign for categories like best costume design, cinematography, editing, and best director.
Oscars Ambitions: A First for the Best Picture Category?
A24 is promoting You Can See Everything for Oscar consideration in documentary categories and possibly best picture—a nomination that would be historic, as no documentary has previously earned a best picture nod. Canadian documentaries have had a strong record at the Academy: wins for The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1976), Just Another Missing Kid (1983), and Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got (1987), as well as frequent nominations in both feature and short documentary fields.
Recent Canadian entries include Julian Brave NoiseCat’s Sugarcane and Nisha Pahuja’s To Kill a Tiger. Other notable documentaries such as Daniel Roher’s Navalny and Michael Donovan’s co-produced Bowling for Columbine have further established Canada’s presence in this genre. However, a wholly Canadian-crafted film has yet to secure a best picture nomination or win at the Oscars.
A24 and the Rise of Canadian Talent
Distribution studio A24, known for experimental works including Everything Everywhere All at Once and Moonlight, has become a hub for Canadian talent. Following projects like the Toronto-shot horror film Undertone by Montreal director Ian Tuason and Matt Johnson’s Anthony Bourdain biopic Tony, A24’s strategy reflects both trust in creative vision and a growing partnership with Canadian filmmakers. While the studio has faced some criticism, including controversy over film distribution practices, its faith in directors like Fielder remains evident.
Canada’s Historic Ties to Documentary Filmmaking
Canada’s roots in documentary production run deep—critic John Grierson, creator of the National Film Board, coined the term “documentary” in 1926. The 1922 Quebec-set film Nanook of the North is often cited as the first feature-length documentary, setting a standard for innovation. While Canadians have frequently won or been nominated for documentary Oscars, only directors like James Cameron and Paul Haggis have taken home best picture awards—never for wholly Canadian productions. Denys Arcand remains the only Canadian to win in the international film category in 2004.
Conclusion
With You Can See Everything, Nathan Fielder and a cohort of Canadian creatives are gaining recognition on the world stage, highlighting not only individual talent but a national legacy in documentary filmmaking. As the Oscars campaign progresses, all eyes are on whether this groundbreaking film can achieve a historic nomination in the coveted best picture category.
Source: cbc.ca.
