Curating Cancon with global appeal

Shaun Alperin's appointment as head of content for Prime Video Canada at the beginning of 2024 was a clear signal of the instrumental role he has played in filling out the Amazon streamer's programming slate with north-of-the-border content. Boarding Amazon MGM Studios in 2020 following stints at Starz, Hulu and ESPN, he has acquired a number of high-profile doc projects on Canadian cultural icons, including Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make Believe, The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal and Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks. Most notably, he took the lead in acquiring the bio-doc I Am: Celine Dion, on the beloved singer's extraordinary career and recent health struggles, which stands as Prime Video's most globally popular documentary thus far. AT

What's your most significant career achievement to date?

"Bringing I Am: Celine Dion to Prime Video this year. Although Celine Dion is a global superstar, working on the Canadian business aspect made this title even more pertinent. After seeing Sony's announcement about its development, I knew securing this film would be a challenge, but the potential reward for our customers was too good to let it go. It was thrilling and vindicating to see a title resonate so powerfully with global audiences, and become a meaningful film for so many people."