Directing

Ally Pankiw

Born November 14, 1986 · Canada (age 39)

Ally Pankiw is a Canadian writer/director known for directing the full first season of Netflix's "Feel Good," and blocks on TV shows like Hulu's "Shrill" and "The Great." She has also written on "Schitt's Creek" and is developing a new, original series with its star and creator, Dan Levy, for Hulu and 20th Century Fox Animation. Pankiw is also the writer and director of the indie feature film, "I …

Known For

I Used to Be Funny

I Used to Be Funny · 2024

I Used to Be Funny

MovieDramaComedy

Sam, an aspiring stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with PTSD, weighs whether to join the search for Brooke, a missing teenage girl she used to nanny. As she fights to recover from her trauma and return to the stage, memories of her deep bond with Brooke rush back—making it impossible to ignore her disappearance.

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery · 2025

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

MovieDocumentaryMusic

Behind the scenes of Sarah McLachlan’s legendary all-women music festival and features interviews with performers including Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu, Olivia Rodrigo, and Emmylou Harris.

The Inherent Traits of Connor James

The Inherent Traits of Connor James · 2018

The Inherent Traits of Connor James

A dark dramedy that follows Lea and Court Matheson, a happily-married lesbian couple, and their three-year-old son as they return to Lea's hometown to attend the funeral of her best friend from high school. The deceased, Connor James, also happens to be Lea's sperm donor and when his family discovers that the Matheson's little boy is biologically related to them, they decide they'll go to any lengths to keep him in their lives.

Stake

MovieComedyDrama

Stake follows the reunion of Trevor and Vanessa, estranged best friends from high school, ten years after Vanessa ran away to the big city to work for CSIS and left Trevor in their very small hometown.

Black Mirror

Black Mirror · 2011

SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama

Twisted tales run wild in this mind-bending anthology series that reveals humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations and more.

Schitt's Creek

Schitt's Creek · 2015

Formerly filthy rich video store magnate Johnny Rose, his soap star wife Moira, and their two kids, über-hipster son David and socialite daughter Alexis, suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt's Creek, a small depressing town they once bought as a joke.

The Great

The Great · 2020

SeriesDramaComedy

A genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th century Russia following the rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great and her explosive relationship with husband Peter, the emperor of Russia.

PONIES

SeriesDramaCrime

In 1977 Moscow, two "PONIES" ("persons of no interest") become CIA operatives and uncover a Cold War conspiracy their husbands were killed for.

Filmography

Sort

I Used to Be Funny

I Used to Be Funny · 2024

I Used to Be Funny

MovieDramaComedy

Sam, an aspiring stand-up comedian and au pair struggling with PTSD, weighs whether to join the search for Brooke, a missing teenage girl she used to nanny. As she fights to recover from her trauma and return to the stage, memories of her deep bond with Brooke rush back—making it impossible to ignore her disappearance.

Director

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery · 2025

Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

MovieDocumentaryMusic

Behind the scenes of Sarah McLachlan’s legendary all-women music festival and features interviews with performers including Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu, Olivia Rodrigo, and Emmylou Harris.

Director

The Inherent Traits of Connor James

The Inherent Traits of Connor James · 2018

The Inherent Traits of Connor James

A dark dramedy that follows Lea and Court Matheson, a happily-married lesbian couple, and their three-year-old son as they return to Lea's hometown to attend the funeral of her best friend from high school. The deceased, Connor James, also happens to be Lea's sperm donor and when his family discovers that the Matheson's little boy is biologically related to them, they decide they'll go to any lengths to keep him in their lives.

Writer

Stake

MovieComedyDrama

Stake follows the reunion of Trevor and Vanessa, estranged best friends from high school, ten years after Vanessa ran away to the big city to work for CSIS and left Trevor in their very small hometown.

Director

Black Mirror

Black Mirror · 2011

SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama

Twisted tales run wild in this mind-bending anthology series that reveals humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations and more.

Director

Schitt's Creek

Schitt's Creek · 2015

Formerly filthy rich video store magnate Johnny Rose, his soap star wife Moira, and their two kids, über-hipster son David and socialite daughter Alexis, suddenly find themselves broke and forced to live in Schitt's Creek, a small depressing town they once bought as a joke.

Story Editor

The Great

The Great · 2020

SeriesDramaComedy

A genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th century Russia following the rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great and her explosive relationship with husband Peter, the emperor of Russia.

Director

PONIES

SeriesDramaCrime

In 1977 Moscow, two "PONIES" ("persons of no interest") become CIA operatives and uncover a Cold War conspiracy their husbands were killed for.

Director

Feel Good

Feel Good · 2020

SeriesDramaComedy

Recovering addict and comedian Mae tries to control the addictive behaviors and intense romanticism that permeate every facet of their life. Life is further complicated by a new and all-consuming relationship with their new girlfriend George.

Executive Producer

Shrill

SeriesComedyDrama

Annie Easton is a fat young woman who wants to change her life — but not her body. She struggles to make it as a journalist while juggling bad boyfriends, sick parents, and a perfectionist boss, while the world around her deems her unsatisfactory due to her weight. Then, she realizes that she is just as good as anyone else and acts on it.

Director