Norah Shapiro

Norah Shapiro is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Minneapolis, recognized for her work at the intersection of social justice and documentary storytelling. After a decade-long career as a public defender, Shapiro transitioned to documentary filmmaking, focusing on projects that address social justice, examine miscarriages of justice, and challenge cultural perceptions.

Shapiro's first feature film, "Miss Tibet: Beauty in Exile," premiered at DOC NYC Film Festival and was screened at events including the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, where it received the Best Minnesota Made Feature Documentary Award, as well as SF DOCFEST and the Asian American International Film Festival in New York City. She also co-directed "Minnesota 13: From Grain to Glass," which explores the history of moonshine in Minnesota.

Her documentary "Time for Ilhan" chronicles the political rise of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, was broadcast on FuseTV, and is available on streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Peacock. "Time for Ilhan" received multiple audience awards, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best TV Documentary, and earned a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing Special Class. The film also led a grassroots social impact campaign in communities across the United States.

Shapiro's documentary "Magic & Monsters" investigates institutional harm and survivor resilience, focusing on decades of sexual abuse at a prominent children's theater and the ongoing efforts of former student survivors to seek healing and accountability. The film was named a finalist and runner-up for the Library of Congress/Lavine Ken Burns Prize for Film, which honors documentaries that compellingly portray American history.

Shapiro is a two-time McKnight Media Artist Fellow. "Magic & Monsters" received the IDA Enterprise Development and Production Grant, and her work has been supported by organizations such as Tribeca Film Institute, IDA Enterprise Fund, Catapult Film Fund, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and Hot Docs. With a background in criminal defense law and a filmmaking practice grounded in ethics and narrative craft, Shapiro addresses pressing social issues through investigative documentary filmmaking.