BEST DOCUMENTARY - Peabody Awards | ROGERS BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY - Toronto Film Critics Association | BEST DOCUMENTARY - Doc'n Roll Film Festival
Transgender People • Black Women • 2SLGBTQ+ Musicians • Blues • Cultural Diversity • Sexual Minorities • Music • Singers • Nashville
Date of Completion: 2024 | Run Time: 99 minutes | Language: English | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript | Directors: Michael Mabbott & Lucah Rosenberg-Lee | Producers: Amanda Burt, Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Michael Mabbott, Justine Pimlott, Chanda Chevannes, Anita Lee, Elliot Page & Matt Jordan Smith
ANY OTHER WAY: THE JACKIE SHANE STORY chronicles the extraordinary life of Black trans soul singer Jackie Shane, whose commanding stage presence rivaled legends like Etta James and Little Richard. After disappearing from public view for nearly 40 years, Shane’s groundbreaking career is finally celebrated in this documentary by Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, executive produced by Elliot Page.
In a time when voices like hers were marginalized, Jackie rose from Nashville to dominate Toronto’s 1960s nightclub scene and climb the charts. With few surviving recordings, the film vividly resurrects her legacy through never-before-heard phone conversations, striking rotoscope animation, and a powerful soundtrack that includes a newly released song.
The film traces an epic journey marked by love, loss, family secrets, and fearless authenticity — from confronting the mob to defying Ed Sullivan. Living boldly and truthfully, Jackie Shane emerges as one of the greatest soul performers of the 20th century, finally receiving the recognition she always deserved.
Variety | Dennis Harvey
"Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee’s documentary “Any Other Way” combines archival materials, interviews and animated reenactments into a compelling investigation of an elusive life, as well as a talent so striking you’ll be amazed it remained forgotten for so long."
Toronto Film Critics Association | Marriska Fernandes
Any Other Way celebrates Jackie Shane's courage to be authentic
The Queer Review | Chad Armstrong
"Shane was an undeniable talent and Mabbott and Rosenberg-Lee’s film is a beautiful tribute to that."
POV Magazine | Pat Mullen
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story Wins Rogers Best Canadian Documentary from Toronto Critics
The Hollywood Reporter | Etan Vlessing
"[A]n uncompromising message of self-love and acceptance from a trailblazing queer icon and performer."
AWARDS
Best Documentary | Peabody Awards
Audience Award - Best Documentary Feature | Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
Audience Award - Best Music Documentary Feature | Nashville Film Festival
Best Doc Award | Doc'n Roll Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature | Edmonton International Film Festival
DGC Special Jury Prize - Canadian Feature Documentary | Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival
Jury Award Best Documentary Film | OUTshine Film Festival
Out in the Silence Award | Frameline International LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Pamela Segger Canadian Documentary Award | Lunenburg Doc Fest
Rogers Best Canadian Documentary Award | Toronto Film Critics Association
Nominee, Best Music Documentary | International Documentary Awards
Nominee, Best Canadian Documentary Award | Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Top 3 Audience Award - Best Documentary | Hamburg International Queer Film Festival
Top 10 Audience Favourite | Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival
Honourable Mention Best Doc | OUTshine Film Festival
Special Mention | Knowlton Film Festival
Nominee, Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary | Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Awards
Nominee, Best Picture Editing – Documentary | Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) Awards
Nominee, WIFF Prize in Canadian Film | Windsor Film Festival
Nominee, Youth Jury Award | Sheffield International Documentary Festival
FESTIVALS
Official Selections – U.S.A.
SXSW - South by Southwest Film & TV Festival (World Premiere)
Doc NYC
Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival
CinemaQ Film Festival
Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Maryland Film Festival
New Orleans Film Festival
QDoc Film Festival
Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ Film Festival
Twisted Arts Film Fest
Wicked Queer: Boston’s LGBTQ Film Festival
Official Selections – Canada
Atlantic International Film Festival
Belleville Downtown Doc Fest
DOXA Documentary Film Festival
Gimli International Film Festival
Image+Nation LGBT2S Queer Film Festival
ReFrame Film Festival
TIFF Canada’s Top Ten Festival
Official Selections – International
Film Fest Gent
FIPADOC
IN-EDIT Barcelona
Jecheon International Music and Film Festival
Leeds Queer Film Festival
Melbourne Queer Film Festival (Opening Night Film)
Queer Screen’s Mardi Gras Film Festival
Sonisk Musikkfilmfestival Trondheim
STROBE Film Festival
Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival