Ten years is 10 years too many to look for a missing child.
Nov. 28 marks the 10th anniversary when Shelley Fillipoff’s daughter Emma went missing from Victoria, B.C. Emma was 26 at the time.
There has been little to go on, even though Shelley still gets the occasional tip.
This year, on the anniversary date of Emma’s disappearance, there will be a new docuseries preview dropped by Bayberry Films. The full documentary, “Barefoot in the Night,” is set to be released in 2023. It includes, among many others, an interview with a witness named William, who came forward six years after Emma’s disappearance to say he had given Emma a ride that night in 2012.
“I have no doubt it was Emma,” Shelley said.
When asked if William could have anything to do with Emma’s disappearance, Shelley said she wasn’t sure. “Who knows, really?”
Shelley Fillipoff is not giving up hope that someone knows something about the disappearance of her daughter, Emma. | Kimberley Bordage
It’s Shelley’s hope the new docuseries will shed some light on her daughter’s disappearance and that information will be forthcoming on Emma’s whereabouts.
“I hope that it stirs things up,” she said. “At this point, it’s going to take someone coming forward. Tips are few and far between — the detectives don’t keep me apprised. I still get some on Emma’s Facebook page. We get people sending pictures.”
She said one such tip came from a woman who had become homeless, who included an older photo and a recent one of herself. The caption suggested Emma’s appearance could be much different now.
“She’s right — depending on what is happening to Emma, she could very well not look anything like herself. Her appearance could be altered significantly.”
An age-progression drawing will be released soon by the Victoria police department. (There has been no response for a comment at the time of publication). The police artist has been working with several photos provided by Shelley.
“In many photographs, Emma’s smiling, but it’s so hinged on what has happened to her. If she’s on the streets, she’s not going to look like the Emma we know,” Shelley said.
Shelley worked with Kimberly Bordage, an independent filmmaker, on the documentary. A videographer came to Shelley’s house to record several hours of footage while she was being interviewed via Zoom.
“I feel a really strong connection to Kim,” Shelley said. “I thank my lucky stars that she messaged me seven years ago to say she was there and supported me with Emma.”
If you haven’t listened to the latest 20-minute podcast, Bordage encouraged to do so. “Shelley talks about her thoughts, feelings, hopes, fears.”
Bordage said the search for Emma “never stops as we work to make this documentary series.”
Making the documentary independently with Shelley, Bordage said she is wearing many hats to keep the cost next to nothing.
“What makes it different from ‘Dateline, Disappeared’ or ‘The Fifth Estate,’ is it’s produced, directed and edited by someone who has been searching for Emma and researching the case for seven years now,” Bordage said. “We have a six-episode series in the works, so as you can imagine, it’s way more in-depth than anything that’s been created before about Emma’s disappearance.”
It is the hope of Kimberley Bordage, independent filmmaker, that a new documentary will help “shake the tree” in the disappearance of Emma Fillipoff. | Help Find Emma Fillipoff
By working with an independent filmmaker rather than dealing with a production house and producers, who tend to focus on run time and money, Shelley will have more control over the project, Bordage explained.
“Our goal is to shake the tree in the search and see what falls. It’s another step forward in the search; not to sensationalize the story or regurgitate the same old narratives out there. Essentially ‘Barefoot in the Night’ is a six-hour movie, and that takes time to make under usual conditions, but especially when working with a very minimal crew with jobs and families. I’m editing this alone.”
People are so used to production houses drilling out series episodes, but this isn’t that here, Bordage said.
“Independently made documentaries take time. Distribution can also take time to figure out. So, we have a nine-minute preview of the series to share on Nov. 28, in the hopes that it will keep people engaged and interested in the docuseries, and I think it will give people a sense of the project that will delve into Emma’s life and disappearance and is also very much about a mother’s strength and determination, and our continued search for Emma that never stops.”
Shelley said she’s not doing anything special to mark the anniversary date. “It’s going to be a difficult day,” she said. “The 10th anniversary is no different than the nine-year and 11-month anniversary. In my heart, it’s just one more day of not having answers or what may have happened to her.”
Bordage suggested to light a candle for Emma and share photos to the Help Find Emma Fillipoff Facebook page.
“It’s a lovely idea,” Shelley said. “When the podcast went out, I got so many kind, loving and supportive messages. People have been following Emma’s disappearance since day one.”
Whether Emma is still with us or not, Shelley said she’s confident there is information out there.
“Someone has that information that I so desperately need,” she said. “Somebody has to have had some role in something.”
Maybe someone is with Emma and is not aware she’s missing, Shelley said. People from around the world have reached out to her saying this is the first they’ve heard about Emma’s story.
“I think Kim and I and many others have been pretty good about putting the information out there, so it always surprises me that someone hasn’t heard about Emma’s story.”
At last count, there are more than 50 podcasts about Emma, not to mention the myriad of news stories.
Shelley said she dreams of picking up the phone when she sees a number she doesn’t recognize and having it be her daughter on the other end of the line.
“What I wouldn’t give to hear Emma say, ‘Hi Mom. It’s me.’”
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