Albert Shin is a Canadian filmmaker, best known for his critically acclaimed Canadian Screen Award-nominated films In Her Place (2014) and Disappearance at Clifton Hill (2019). He works frequently with collaborator Igor Drljaca.
Early life Shin was born in Canada and raised in Newmarket, Ontario. His parents are of South Korean descent. Shin later studied film production at York University, where he created several short films.
Career Before making the leap into features, Shin directed the short film Kai's Place, and the short-run television series In Counseling.
His feature directorial debut, Point Traverse, was released in 2009. The microbudget film screened at several film festivals, including the Wisconsin Film Festival.
In Her Place His second feature film was released in 2014; it was acclaimed by critics and screened at festivals around the world. For his work on In Her Place, Shin won several awards, and garnered several Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 3rd Canadian Screen Awards, including nominations in the categories of Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
The film received positive reviews from critics upon release and holds an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Jay Weissberg wrote, in his Variety review, "an acutely observed psychodrama from sophomore helmer Albert Shin, powered by three sterling performances." NOW Magazine called it "an expertly plotted drama that packs a paralyzing emotional gut punch." The Globe and Mail praised it as "thematically ambitious, and blunt in its portrayal of the bloody-minded demands of domestic bliss."
Disappearance at Clifton Hill Five years later, Shin co-wrote and directed the 2019 thriller Disappearance at Clifton Hill, starring Tuppence Middleton, Hannah Gross, Marie-Josée Croze, Eric Johnson and the Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg. The film, originally titled Clifton Hill, was partially inspired by the motel Shin's parents owned in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and was released theatrically in the U.S. and Canada on February 28, 2020.
Timelapse Pictures Shin founded the Toronto-based production company Timelapse Pictures with producing partner Igor Drljaca.
Filmography
YearFilmTypeDirectorWriterProducerNotes 2008 Kai's Place Short film 2009 Point Traverse Feature film 2012 Krivina Feature film Directed by Igor Drljaca 2014 In Her Place Feature film 2015 The Waiting Room Feature film Directed by Igor Drljaca 2017 Lira's Forest Short film Directed by Connor Jessup 2018 The Stone Speakers Documentary Directed by Igor Drljaca 2019 Disappearance at Clifton Hill Feature film 2020 The Archivists Short film 2021 Together Short film 2023 The King Tide Feature film Directed by Christian Sparkes 2025 Violence Feature film Directed by Connor Marsden
Shin has also edited his first two features, as well as Drljaca's Krivina (2012) and Jessup's Boy (2015).
Awards Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2014 Toronto Film Critics Association Award Jay Scott Prize In Her Place 2015 Canadian Screen Award Best Motion Picture Best Director Best Screenplay Best Editing 2016 Wildflower Film Award Best Director (Narrative Films)
References
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