Barefoot in the night: Docuseries delving into Emma Fillipoff case releases preview on 10-year anniversary

CHEK

A preview of an upcoming docuseries has been released on the case of Emma Fillipoff, who disappeared in Victoria 10 years ago.

Fillipoff was last seen on the night of Nov. 28, 2012 by two police officers who were called to an area in front of the Empress Hotel on Government Street for a woman who was “acting oddly,” according to Victoria Police.

Following hundreds of tips and countless search efforts, there have yet to be any confirmed sightings of the now 36-year-old woman. Days before the 10th anniversary of her disappearance, VicPD released an age progression sketch of what she may look like now.

A Nova Scotia-based film company has released a preview of its upcoming docuseries examining Fillipoff’s disappearance.

“There were some tough moments. Extensive interviews with me….possibly 18 hours of interview time with me. That was pretty daunting,” said Shelley Fillipoff, Emma’s mother.

Barefoot in the Night, produced by Kimberly Bordage of BayBerry Films, takes a behind-the-scenes look into search efforts for Emma, including a timeline of her disappearance, interviews with investigators and witness accounts.

“I’ve been working with [Kimberly Bordage] for a few years now and we’ve been connected through Emma since 2015, so seven years,” said Shelley.

The six-part, one-hour series, is the production company’s first major project which first began in 2018. Originally set to be a full-length documentary, the filmmaker and advocate brought the idea forward to the mother after realizing the personal connection she had to Shelley’s story.

“I have a little experience with having a missing loved one and in my case it was my mom,” said Bordage in a phone interview with CHEK News.

“I think when I heard Shelley’s story about her search for Emma, I felt a bit of a connection and I felt compelled to write to her.”

Now living in Ottawa, the mother says she hasn’t returned to Victoria since her last visit five years ago. Shelley says she doesn’t have reason to believe that her daughter is still in the area.

“To be honest, I don’t know where to go. I don’t know where to look anymore,” said the mother.

Bordage says production for the docuseries remains underway with no release date announced yet, but more preview trailers will be published in the coming months.

The case has garnered global attention, with various documentaries and podcasts surrounding her disappearance. A website dedicated to her case, along with ways to send in information, can be found at www.helpfindemmafillipoff.com.

VicPD asks that anyone with information on Emma’s whereabouts to contact their non-emergency line at 250-995-7654 or anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Oli Herrera

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