Review of Episode One of Barefoot in the Night: The Search for Emma Fillipoff

A new docuseries, ‘Barefoot in the Night’, delves into the so far 13-year search for the missing Canadian woman Emma Fillipoff.

A new docuseries detailing Fillipoff’s disappearance will launch on Emma’s 40th birthday, January 6th. 

VicPD has handed the case of Emma Fillipoff, last seen walking barefoot near the Fairmont Empress Hotel, to its Historical Case Review Unit.

Thirteen years on, Shelley Fillipoff & advocate-filmmaker Kimberly Bordage discuss the emotional and practical impact of Emma’s case being moved to VicPD’s Historical Missing Persons Unit. Shelley shares a heartfelt reading of her very first poem for Emma - and we announce that Episode 1 of the docuseries will premiere Jan 6, 2026, on Emma’s birthday.

“This investigation needs just one person with the right information to come forward. If you are the person known as, “Green Shirt Guy”, if you know who he is, or if you have any other information related to Emma’s case, contact the Victoria Police Department, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers.” — Det/Cst Bob Illes, Lead Detective / Victoria Police Department

“I thought this was really well done. A very rigorous, thoughtful approach on how to develop a more usable image of what this person may look like, versus the grainy CCTV footage that we’ve relied on thus far.” — Dr. Michael Arntfield, Criminologist

“I hope that when this image is released to the public, through this documentary and hopefully through the media, that someone is going to recognize this man and come forward.” — Hew Morrison, Forensic Artist / Consultant