I'm Tim Hamilton, an award-winning film and TV director and screenwriter with decades of experience across features, television, and high-end commercial work. I love storytelling that feels fresh and innovative and I bring that energy to every project, whether I'm directing, writing, or mentoring the next generation. From having a short in official competition at Cannes to directing the Warner Brothers feature Mama’s Boy, starring Diane Keaton and Jeff Daniels to creating and shaping television projects for CBC, NBC, and Shaw, my work spans festivals, awards, and global markets. I'm passionate about collaboration, teaching, and exploring new formats in film and media. I'm also excited about using my skill set in different ways such as training AI models.…

Tim Hamilton

I'm Tim Hamilton, an award-winning film and TV director and screenwriter with decades of experience across features, television, and high-end commercial work. I love storytelling that feels fresh and innovative and I bring that energy to every project, whether I'm directing, writing, or mentoring the next generation. From having a short in official competition at Cannes to directing the Warner Brothers feature Mama’s Boy, starring Diane Keaton and Jeff Daniels to creating and shaping television projects for CBC, NBC, and Shaw, my work spans festivals, awards, and global markets. I'm passionate about collaboration, teaching, and exploring new formats in film and media. I'm also excited about using my skill set in different ways such as training AI models.…

Available to hire

I’m Tim Hamilton, an award-winning film and TV director and screenwriter with decades of experience across features, television, and high-end commercial work. I love storytelling that feels fresh and innovative and I bring that energy to every project, whether I’m directing, writing, or mentoring the next generation.

From having a short in official competition at Cannes to directing the Warner Brothers feature Mama’s Boy, starring Diane Keaton and Jeff Daniels to creating and shaping television projects for CBC, NBC, and Shaw, my work spans festivals, awards, and global markets. I’m passionate about collaboration, teaching, and exploring new formats in film and media. I’m also excited about using my skill set in different ways such as training AI models.

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Work Experience

Commercial Director at Tim Hamilton Films; Circle Productions; Go East Films
January 1, 1993 - Present
Directed hundreds of high-end television commercials for markets around the world; reels available.
Film Director at Warner Brothers
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Directed Mama's Boy (2008), a feature film starring Diane Keaton, Jeff Daniels, Jon Heder, Anna Faris, and Eli Wallach.
Writer / Executive Producer at The Catsitter (Short Film) – Independent
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Writer and Executive Producer; short film played at TIFF and other festivals; streamed on Air Canada flights; broadcast on CBC's Reflections.
Writer at The Reel Truth
January 1, 2002 - December 31, 2002
Co-Writer; Short Film; commissioned for the Cannes Lion Advertising Festival.
Writer at Truth in Advertising
January 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000
Co-Writer; Short Film; appeared at Cannes Film Festival in Official Competition.
Writer / Executive Producer at Shrink
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998
Short Film; played at TIFF and CBC Reflections.
Television Director at Perverts Anonymous
January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017
Award-winning proof of concept.
Television Director at The Second City Project (Shaw)
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Sketch comedy special.
Television Director at The Downer Channel
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
Six half-hour sketch comedy episodes for NBC; Steve Martin was Executive Producer.
Television Director at Our Hero
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001
The Japanese Issue; half-hour comedy-drama for CBC.
Television Director at Ear to the Ground
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1993
Junkhouse; half-hour documentary for CBC.
Video Editor at Stone Film
January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1995
Edited music videos and other works; early career in editing.
Video Director at Various Artists (Barenaked Ladies, Crash Test Dummies, Organized Rhyme, Ron Sexsmith, Rheostatics, Colin James, Bruce Cockburn)
January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1995
Directed multiple music videos for various artists.
AI Experience Intelligence Writing Analyst at MERCOR / XAI
October 1, 2025 - Present
Trained AI model 'Grok' with a focus on screenwriting and fiction prompts and output analysis.
Commercial Director
January 1, 1993 - Present
Directed hundreds of high-end television commercials for markets around the world, garnering many awards.
Film Director
January 1, 1998 - Present
Film directing highlights include Mama’s Boy (2008) and The Catsitter (2008); Also worked on multiple shorts and TV projects.
Television Director
January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2012
Television directing highlights including Perverts Anonymous (2017) and The Second City Project (2015); The Downer Channel (2001).
Screenwriter
January 1, 1994 - Present
Wrote scripts and concepts such as Truth in Advertising (2000) and Echoes (CBC Writers’ Showcase).
Intelligence Writing Analyst at MERCOR / XAI
October 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025
Trained AI model 'Grok' with a focus on screenwriting and fiction prompts and output analysis.
Commercial Director at Circle Productions
January 1, 1993 - Present
Directed hundreds of high-end television commercials for markets around the world; award-winning; expert proposal writer.
Commercial Director at Go East Films
January 1, 1993 - Present
Directed TV commercials servicing Eastern Europe and Asia; worldwide market experience.
Film Director at Mama’s Boy
January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2008
Feature film directed for Warner Brothers; cast included Diane Keaton, Jeff Daniels, Jon Heder, Anna Faris, and Eli Wallach.
Film Director at The Catsitter
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Short film directed; screened at TIFF and other festivals; streamed on Air Canada flights and CBC Reflections.
Writer at Shrink
January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1998
Short film, writer; played at TIFF and various festivals; CBC Reflections broadcast.
Instructor at Humber College
January 1, 2025 - May 31, 2025
Developed curriculum and taught The Business of Film and TV (FMTV331); covered industry structures, freelancing, pitching, and more.
Industry Liaison at Humber College
January 1, 2022 - Present
Coached film and television post-production students on industry norms, career planning, resumes/cover letters; created educational video modules.
Instructor at Second City, Toronto
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2022
Designed and instructed courses in Comedy Direction and Filmmaking Through a Phone Lens.
Guest Instructor at The Randolph Academy
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2016
Ran mock auditions for acting students and provided feedback and instruction.
Instructor at National Theatre of the World
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Designed and instructed a course on Comedic Acting From A Director’s Perspective.
Mentor at Canada Council
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2007
Mentored an aspiring director, who shadowed my work on a feature film.
Instructor & Curriculum Designer at Winnipeg Film Group
January 1, 1994 - December 31, 1994
Designed and taught a hands-on course in music video direction and production.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and English Literature at Carleton University
January 1, 1983 - January 1, 1987

Qualifications

Austin Film Festival - Dr Jekyll and Mr Poole - runner up in Feature Screenplay Competition
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2024
Clio Awards - Practice Panther - Hoffman, Hoffman, Hoffman, and Hoffman - Bronze
January 6, 2024 - January 6, 2024
Andy Awards - Newt The Gnu - Two Golds
January 6, 2026 - January 6, 2026
UK Webfest - Perverts Anonymous - Winner Best Comedy Award
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017
Award for web series excellence
2017 - Just for Laughs - Perverts Anonymous - selected to be part of the official pitch seminar at in Montreal
January 6, 2017 - January 6, 2017
Marketing Awards - Harlequin - Make A Date With Harlequin - Gold for Digital
January 6, 2017 - January 6, 2017
Canadian Screen Awards - Second City Project – Nominated for best direction in a Sketch Comedy Variety Program or Series. Also nominated for Best Sketch Comedy or Variety Program or Series and Best Comedic Ensemble
January 6, 2016 - January 6, 2016
Addies — Haverty’s - Campaign Silver, Speed Date - Silver, Interview - Silver
January 6, 2013 - January 6, 2013
Epica — Charal – Ostrich - Silver
January 6, 2026 - January 6, 2026
Faux Film Festival - Truth in Advertising - Best of Faux
January 6, 2005 - January 6, 2005
The Bessies - AGF - Surveyor- Gold Single, A and P - Fresh Cut Fruit - Gold Single, A and P - Silver Campaign
January 6, 2004 - January 6, 2004
The Bessies - AGF - Surveyor- Gold Single, A and P - Fresh Cut Fruit - Gold Single, A and P - Silver Campaign
Canadian Marketing Awards - AGF - Prison Guard - GoldCanadian Marketing Awards - AGF - Prison Guard - Goldv
January 6, 2004 - January 6, 2004
Cresta Awards - Funai - Glasses / Funai - Comedy - Gold
January 6, 2004 - January 6, 2004
Awards for TV Commercial Excellence
Shift Magazine - Truth in Advertising is feted as one of the six most popular internet films ever
January 6, 2001 - January 6, 2001
Cannes Film Festival - Truth in Advertising - Official Competition
January 6, 2026 - January 6, 2026
A short film directed and co-written by myself was invited to compete at Cannes.
Worldfest Houston - Zellers - Baby Shower - Best of Show, Special Jury Gold - Concerned Children's Advertisers - “House Hippo”, Gold - Export Development Canada - “Pangaea”, Gold, Cantel - “Dancing Darwin” - Gold
January 6, 2000 - January 6, 2000
Awards for TV Commercial Excellence
Golden Marble Awards - Concerned Children’s Advertisers - House Hippo - Gold
January 6, 2000 - January 6, 2000
Awards for TV Commercial Excellence
Yorkton Short Film Festival - Shrink - Best Drama (over 30’)
January 6, 1999 - January 6, 1999
Worldfest Houston - Shrink - Bronze Experimental Drama, Levi’s - Blueprint for the Future
January 6, 2026 - January 6, 2026
MuchMusic Canadian Music Video Awards - Organized Rhyme - Check the OR - Best Rap Video, Barenaked Ladies - Lovers in a Dangerous Time - Best VideoFact Video and People’s Choice Award
January 6, 1992 - January 6, 1992
Awards for videos directed and co-written by Tim Hamilton

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Education