Paisley Smith is a filmmaker known for creating imaginative, impactful work at the intersection of story and technology. Paisley’s award-winning projects span narrative cinema, documentary, and room-scale virtual reality.
Homestay, co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada Digital Studio, is an interactive VR film exploring mental health and family, and received the Best XR for Change Award at Games for Change Festival.
Unceded Territories (Tribeca 2019), created in collaboration with acclaimed artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, confronts climate change and colonization through a world built from Yuxweluptun’s bold art style. The project was supported by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the Sundance Institute, and Creative BC’s Interactive Fund.
Alongside her filmmaking, Paisley has spent the past decade supporting artists and innovators in emerging storytelling communities, from grassroots networks like Women in VR/AR to global initiatives at institutions such as the Sundance Institute and Unity Technologies, where they led the international social impact program Unity for Humanity. Paisley frequently speaks about her creative process, leads worldbuilding workshops, and moderates conversations on storytelling and emerging media.
Her work in children’s media has been recognized by the Fred Rogers Institute and the Television Academy Foundation, reflecting a long-standing commitment to thoughtful storytelling for young audiences.
Paisley received an MFA in Film and Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts as a Fulbright Scholar, and a BA (Honours) in Film and Media Studies and Art History from Queen’s University.
She is a Senior Civic Media Fellow at the USC Annenberg Innovation Lab, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, and contributes to Vancouver’s independent film community through her work with Filmable.
Paisley lives and works in Vancouver on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations.
Work with Paisley
Alongside cinematic collaborations, Paisley is available for public speaking engagements, facilitating workshops, and consulting on film and immersive projects.
For inquiries: hello@paisleysmith.com