Documentary backdrop image for Someone Lives Here (2023)

202375 minPGdocumentary

7.7/ 10(6 ratings)• TMDB

Homelessness Pandemic Response

Deep Dive

Someone Lives Here

202375 minPGdocumentary

7.7/ 10(6 ratings)• TMDB

Go deeper

Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter in Toronto, constructs small shelters for homeless individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic while facing opposition from city officials.

“The house that built Khaleel.”

Homelessness Pandemic Response

Genres

Culture

Director

Zachary Russell

Watch later

Synopsis

Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter in Toronto, constructs small shelters for homeless individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic while facing opposition from city officials.

Go deeper

People

View all →

Zachary Russelldirector

Khaleel Seivwrightcast

Takacast

Denzil Minnan-Wongcast

Babiecast

Synopsis

Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter in Toronto, builds small shelters for homeless individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. His project faces significant challenges from city government officials. "Someone Lives Here," directed by Zack Russell, runs for 75 minutes and premiered at the 2023 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, where it won the Rogers Audience Award. The film received further recognition with nominations for several awards, including the Allan King Award for Best Documentary Film.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Khaleel Seivwright, a carpenter making a difference.
See the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness in Toronto.
Find out how city bureaucracy affects housing solutions.

Did You Know

The film won the Rogers Audience Award at the 2023 Hot Docs festival.
It was named to Canada's Top Ten list for 2023 by the Toronto International Film Festival.
Someone Lives Here won the Best Canadian Documentary Film at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival.
The film is directed by Zack Russell, a first-time documentary filmmaker.

Perfect For

Social justice advocatesDocumentary film enthusiastsUrban development followers

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed the documentary Someone Lives Here?

Zack Russell directed the documentary Someone Lives Here.

What award did Someone Lives Here win at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival?

It won the award for Best Canadian Documentary Film at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival.

How long is the documentary Someone Lives Here?

The documentary has a duration of 75 minutes.

Awards & Festivals

View all →

Directors Guild of Canada Awards

2023 • Official selection

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

2023 • Official selection

Toronto International Film Festival

2023 • Official selection

DOC NYC

2023 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

29m

Our House: the homeless man, the hippy and the property developer

2018•29m

80 people find shelter in a Liverpool building as a property developer confronts the city's homelessness crisis amid a luxury property boom.

Our House: the homeless man, the hippy and the property developer

2018

57m

Invisible People Documentary: Helping USA's Homeless with Mark Horvath

2022•57m

Mark Horvath travels the country, empowering homeless individuals to share their stories through a platform he created called invisiblepeople.tv.

Invisible People Documentary: Helping USA's Homeless with Mark Horvath

2022

56m

Homeless People Tell Their Stories (Breadline Documentary)

2018•56m

A young woman spends her 18th birthday homeless on the streets, living under an overturned couch in America.

Homeless People Tell Their Stories (Breadline Documentary)

2018

55m

Inside the American Homeless Crisis - Poor and Forgotten on the Streets

2024•55m

Six years is how long Rick has lived in and out of tunnels in Las Vegas, relying on odd jobs and panhandling to survive.

Inside the American Homeless Crisis - Poor and Forgotten on the Streets

2024

1h26m

Shelter

2021•1h26m•★1.0TMDB

A young person prepares to travel from Chicago to New Orleans, advised to keep their bus ticket hidden and avoid talking to strangers.

Shelter

2021

59m

The Families Forced Into Homelessness: No Place To Call Home (Poverty Documentary)

2019•59m

Over 80,000 children in the UK live in temporary housing, with many facing eviction and homelessness amid a severe housing crisis.

The Families Forced Into Homelessness: No Place To Call Home (Poverty Documentary)

2019

52m

31 Days in the Ghetto: Homeless Social Experiment

2018•52m

One out of every three homeless people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has AIDS, revealing the stark realities of urban homelessness in Canada.

31 Days in the Ghetto: Homeless Social Experiment

2018

27m

Outsiders: The Faces of Homelessness

2023•27m

Las Vegas, often seen as a symbol of wealth, contrasts sharply with the homelessness crisis highlighted by Senator José Peralta, who warns that anyone can face this reality.

Outsiders: The Faces of Homelessness

2023

2h30m

Poverty in the USA: A Chronicle

2023•2h30m

Around 30 people sleep overnight in their cars in a San Diego parking lot, struggling to maintain a semblance of normal life amid rising costs.

Poverty in the USA: A Chronicle

2023

1h15m

Under The Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness (2017)

2022•1h15m

More than 20 years of homeless encampments in Indianapolis face police intervention and city efforts to clear the area under a bridge.

Under The Bridge: The Criminalization of Homelessness (2017)

2022

Chicago at the Crossroad (Poverty Documentary)

2021•1h

Over 3,000 people have been shot in Chicago in a single year, reflecting the city's deep issues with violence and poverty.

Chicago at the Crossroad (Poverty Documentary)

2021

47m

Forgotten Voices: Working-Class Struggles Unveiled by Professor Green

2023•47m

Professor Green highlights the contrasting lives of Lewis, an aspiring Cambridge student, and David, a resident of a homeless hostel, to illustrate working-class struggles.

Forgotten Voices: Working-Class Struggles Unveiled by Professor Green

2023

Explore Someone Lives Here

Trailer Cast & Crew Awards Deep Dive Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

1h10m

Homeless in Los Angeles

2011•1h10m•★10.0TMDB

In Los Angeles, individuals experiencing homelessness share their personal stories and highlight the systemic issues contributing to their plight.

Homeless in Los Angeles

2011

1h26m

Winter Buoy

2015•1h26m•★7.4TMDB

A group of nurses in Toronto assists pregnant women facing homelessness, drug addiction, and violent relationships during the harsh winter months.

Winter Buoy

2015

1h28m

I Am Thalente

2015•1h28m•★7.3TMDB

Since the age of nine, Thalente Biyela has experienced homelessness while pursuing his dream of becoming a professional skateboarder in the United States.

I Am Thalente

2015

1h32m

Home is a Hotel

2023•1h32m•★10.0TMDB

Two ex-addicts co-parent their son in a cramped single room occupancy unit in San Francisco, a city grappling with a severe housing crisis.

Home is a Hotel

2023

1h5m

Streets of Plenty

2010•1h5m•★3.5TMDB

A man attempts to survive for 31 days in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with only a pair of underwear during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Streets of Plenty

2010

21m

Urban Rashomon

2013•21m•★7.3TMDB

Khalik Allah captures the stark realities of addiction and homelessness in Harlem through his friendship with a homeless addict.

Urban Rashomon

2013

1h35m

Struggle Street

2015•1h35m•★5.8TMDB

High unemployment and drug use characterize the public housing areas of Western Sydney, where residents confront daily challenges and systemic obstacles.

Struggle Street

2015

1h20m

Skid Row

2007•1h20m•★5.2TMDB

Pras Michel survives on just one dollar a day during his nine-day experience living as a homeless man in downtown Los Angeles.

Skid Row

2007

Browse more like this

59m

The Families Forced Into Homelessness: No Place To Call Home (Poverty Documentary)

2019•59m

Over 80,000 children in the UK live in temporary housing, with many facing eviction and homelessness amid a severe housing crisis.

The Families Forced Into Homelessness: No Place To Call Home (Poverty Documentary)

2019

No digital watch option in your country

2h30m

Poverty in the USA: A Chronicle

2023•2h30m

Around 30 people sleep overnight in their cars in a San Diego parking lot, struggling to maintain a semblance of normal life amid rising costs.

Poverty in the USA: A Chronicle

2023

No digital watch option in your country

47m

Forgotten Voices: Working-Class Struggles Unveiled by Professor Green

2023•47m

Professor Green highlights the contrasting lives of Lewis, an aspiring Cambridge student, and David, a resident of a homeless hostel, to illustrate working-class struggles.

Forgotten Voices: Working-Class Struggles Unveiled by Professor Green

2023

No digital watch option in your country

58m

Promises to Keep

1988•58m•★6.3TMDB

Mitch Snyder leads the Community for Creative Non-Violence in Washington D.C., advocating for homeless rights and demanding government accountability for shelter promises.

Promises to Keep

1988