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To help you navigate this site, we've invited experts and media personalities to make recommendations and offer insights on NFB films.
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Nature and Wildlife (Ages 9-11)Animals, both wild and domestic, are endlessly fascinating. They amuse us, educate us, and often tug at our heart strings. No matter whether you like dogs, cats, horses, wolves, or whales, there’s an animal documentary just waiting for you. Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici. Films in This Playlist Include Canaries to Clydesdales Caribou of Norther Canada Cry of the Wild Return of the Swift Fox Being Caribou The Great Buffalo Saga In Search of the Bowhead Whale Elk Island Horses of Suffield Where the Bay Becomes the Sea -
The NFB and Jazz (Ages 12-14)This playlist features jazz music that's sure to get you moving... or at least tapping your feet! It makes for an excellent introduction to this genre of music and opens the door to conversations about its origin and historical significance. Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici. Films in This Playlist Include Begone Dull Care Walking Street Musique Boogie Doodle Juke Bar Runaway Hen Hop Le Merle Toronto Jazz Oscar Short and Suite Show Girls Liberty Street Blues -
Welcome to Canada! (Ages 9-11)This playlist was designed to welcome all newcomers to Canada and offer a (sometimes tongue-in-cheek) glimpse of all the country has to offer, from it’s awe-inspiring landscapes to treasured stories that have been passed down for generations. Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici. Films in This Playlist Include The Railrodder The Boy and the Snow Goose Canada Vignettes: The Log Driver’s Waltz Cosmic Zoom A Day in the Pacific Rim Hothouse 8 – Meltdown The Juggler Juke-Bar Marianne’s Theatre Hothouse 8 – Orange The Rink The Ride Zea Sunday Sleeping Betty Islet Loon Dreaming Asthma Tech The Dingles Getting Started The Girl Who Hated Books How Dinosaurs Learned to Fly I Want a Dog Science, Please! Part 1 Science, Please! Part 2 The Underground Movie -
Canada's Role in the World (Ages 15-17)This playlist documents Canada’s role in the world as a military peacekeeping force and highlights other ways in which the country works towards building and supporting democracy. Films in This Playlist Include Good Morning, Kandahar Kosovo: Fragile Peace In God’s Command -
Canada’s Diverse Cultures (Ages 15-17)This playlist is designed to give viewers a glimpse into the immigrant experience in Canada through the eyes of those who lived it, including both the challenges and benefits of integration into mainstream Canadian culture. Films in This Playlist Include Shipbuilder Western Eyes Opre Roma: Gypsies in Canada Ted Baryluk’s Grocery Strangers at the Door Earth to Mouth Speakers for the Dead Bronwen & Yaffa (Moving Towards Tolerance) Canada Vignettes: FacesA selection by Albert Ohayon -
United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Ages 15-17)This playlist brings together films that promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. Films in This Playlist Include Shameless: The ART of Disability John and Michael Bearing Witness: Luke Melchior Citizen Sam Petra’s Poem Toward Intimacy Between the Laughter My Friends Call Me Tony Two Sisters All About Kids A Child Unlike Any Other Acting Blind I’ll Find a WayA selection by Albert Ohayon -
The Role of the English Community in Quebec (Ages 18+)This playlist features some of the most important NFB films about Montreal’s English-speaking community. From documentaries on the history of this community to portraits of its world-renowned artists, these films paint a picture of a thriving culture in constant evolution. -
The Capital ProjectThe Capital Project is a documentary about the inner workings of an eclectic local music scene, that examines the relationship between music, the artist, and the community.
It was inspired by the music scene that has been taking place in the Fredericton, New Brunswick over the last few years. Although small in population, the city is rich in musical talent across a wide range of genres including rock, punk, hip-hop, metal, country, pop, jazz, classical, and everything in-between. -
How Do They...?Everybody loves a good "how-to" film. Here we've assembled a selection of short films demonstrating how to do everything from getting the centres in chocolates to recycling paper. And as an added bonus, we've included the timeless classic, How to Build an Igloo. -
Oscar WinnersHere is a list of Oscar-winning films produced by the NFB. Each of these nine films is remarkable in its own way and you can watch them all online for free.
NFB filmmakers have won a few Academy Awards over the years - 12 to be exact. From the astounding Churchill's Island, a gruelling portrait of the Second World War and winner of the first documentary Oscar® ever, to Flamenco at 5:15, a visual and emotional thriller about the art of Flamenco dancing, to Ryan, Chris Landreth's intimate animated interview with the talented Ryan Larkin. Each of these films breaks down barriers and finds new and exciting ways to tell stories. Watch them now.
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David Bryant (Godspeed You! Black Emperor)In Quiet Zone, David Bryant and Karl Lemieux take us deep into the world of those who suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity. These “wave refugees” settled in West Virginia around the Green Bank observatory, in an area known as the National Radio Quiet Zone. Combining elements of documentary, film essay and experimental film, Quiet Zone defies genres, weaving together an unusual story in which sound and image distort reality to make the distress and suffering of these people palpable.A selection by David Bryant
Through the use of complex imagery and sound, mind-blowing cinematic moments are born – moments of grace during which viewers witness electromagnetic waves take shape in the environment, travel through walls and invade spaces with their powerful vibrations. Known for their work in the musical group Godspeed You! Black Emperor, David Bryant and Karl Lemieux produced a striking piece of sensory genius.
To mark the film's launch on NFB.ca, musician, recordist and sound designer David Bryant shared with us some of his favourite NFB films, along with personal notes explaining his picks. Discover them below. -
The 1976 Olympics: 40 Years LaterJuly 17 will mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. To celebrate this spectacular event, we’ve put together a playlist featuring some of the NFB films produced during these games, including the official Olympic film. From marathon running, gymnastics and cycling to a mammoth security operation involving the Canadian Armed Forces, these films have it all. So, sit back and enjoy a nostalgic view of that wonderful summer 40 years ago.A selection by Albert Ohayon -
Myth BustersIt is said that truth always triumphs, but when it comes to certain hoaxes, long-held false beliefs and urban legends, there’s nothing quite like an illuminating doc to help set the record straight. This week on NFB.ca, we are highlighting 5 films that debunk popular myths. Was Christopher Columbus really the first to set foot in America? Are wolves really the ruthless beasts we make them to be? Watch and see. -
Views from the Top: The NFB and MountaineeringThis playlist features some of the most important NFB films about mountaineering. See you at the top of the mountain. -
The Shortest DayThe NFB joins the Shortest Day Short Film Celebration with this selection of ultra-short films for your viewing pleasure. Don`t blink or you will miss them! -
Grant Munro O.C. (1923-2017)It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of NFB pioneer animator Grant Munro. Born in Winnipeg in 1923, Grant Munro showed talent as a sculptor and flipbook maker while he was still a teenager. He attended the Musgrove School of Art and the Winnipeg School of Art, and earned an honours diploma from the Ontario College of Art in 1944. His teacher, the painter Franklin Carmichael, one of the illustrious Group of Seven, arranged to have Norman McLaren interview Munro’s class for a position in the Animation Unit at the National Film Board. Munro was hired, joining a group that included George Dunning and René Jodoin, both of whom went on to distinguished careers in animation. Quickly establishing himself as a fine animator of paper cut-outs, Munro worked on a number of musical shorts, notably The Three Blind Mice (1946), with Dunning and another neophyte, Bob Verrall. Soon afterward, Jodoin and Munro left the NFB for Mexico with hopes of making films and art there. When film work didn’t pan out, they returned to Ottawa and Munro took a job as a filmstrip artist for Crawley Films. By 1951, Munro was back at the Board, animating instructional films and acting for McLaren on a pixilation project that eventually became the Oscar-winning Neighbours (1952). This film would become arguably the most well-known NFB production of all time, boasting more than 77,000 theatrical bookings worldwide by 1987. In the late 1950s, Munro departed from the NFB again, this time to pursue an animation career in England. After working with Dunning (the future director of Yellow Submarine) for three years at TV Cartoons, Munro rejoined the NFB in 1961. He worked on My Financial Career, a funny take on the Stephen Leacock short story directed by Gerald Potterton (1962). It was nominated for an Oscar, as was Christmas Cracker (1963), a project with Norman McLaren, Jeff Hale and Gerald Potterton that also starred Munro. McLaren and Munro also collaborated on Canon in 1964. Munro made the trick film Toys in 1966 and the anti-smoking comedy Ashes of Doom in 1970, for which he once again played the leading role. He collaborated with McLaren again from 1976 to 1978, on the Animated Motion series, a five-part introduction to basic film animation techniques. He also directed several documentaries, including Boo Hoo (1975) and See You in the Funny Papers (1983). Munro retired from the NFB in 1988 and was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.A selection by Albert Ohayon
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Michael P. Farkas Top Picks from Michael P. FarkasIn recognition of Black History Month, Michael P. Farkas is proud to be guest curator for the NFB and present a selection of our top three favourite films from its Focus on Black Filmmakers channel.
See more from our Black History Month Curators: Top Picks ByBlacks.com Top Picks from Fondation Dynastie Top Picks from Dalton Higgins Top Picks from Ella Cooper -
Ariel Smith (nēhiyaw) National Canadian Film DayIt was a pleasure to curate this programme of Indigenous-made NFB films, with support from the REEL CANADA team, in honour of the ninth annual National Canadian Film Day (NCFD). This year, NCFD is spotlighting films by First Nation, Inuit and Métis filmmakers from Canada. This curated programme includes several NFB titles that you will also find on REEL CANADA’S official 2022 NCFD spotlight list, along with a selection of other NFB films produced between 1968 and 1998, all of which hold historical, artistic and cultural significance in the canon of Indigenous cinema in Canada. These works and the filmmakers behind them forged a path for today's generation of Indigenous filmmakers. Indigenous filmmaking in Canada began at the NFB in 1968 with the formation of the “Indian Film Crew” and the release of Willie Dunn’s Ballad of Crowfoot – often referred to as Canada’s first music video. There are so many great titles to discover here. A personal favourite is the inimitable Clint Alberta’s Deep Inside Clint Star – an unforgettable meditation on sex, life, love, abuse and colonial oppression. These titles also demonstrate the great importance of narrative sovereignty for Indigenous media artists. When Indigenous stories are told by Indigenous filmmakers, the result is authentic, self-determined cultural expression and resonant stories that captivate diverse audiences. Enjoy! -
Adam Symansky Donald Brittain: Writer, filmmaker, storyteller.Working with Brittain Working with Donald Brittain was an adventure. You never knew what each day would bring, and he was a man who believed in the gods of documentary. He knew that on the days when those gods were smiling down on him, magic would happen. But he was also a man who loved to play games. With his love of the military, he would assign rank to his crew and send them off to battle. He recognized the value of games in the creative process. He was a generous filmmaker and was confident enough to accept suggestions from anybody. It's not that he wouldn't be critical, but if you came up with a good idea, he'd use it. And give you full credit. Donald understood that documentary films are made in the cutting room. Every day, he'd go into the editing room and attempt to create structure for his vast amount of footage. And while he was open to suggestions, no one ever knew what direction he planned to take. In those days, all the cutting was done on actual negatives. He'd constantly be going back over his work, and with the most sincere apologies to his cutter, he would insert and remove frames up until the last minute to get the best possible film. Brittain was a diehard Canadian and that coloured all of his work. He knew every stop the CP line made from Montreal to Vancouver. He loved to tackle Canadian history, but only through biography. He wanted to mythologize Canada, and he understood that the best way to do that was through character. He also felt it was his responsibility to punch holes in self-inflated people. So much so that it became a running theme in his films. Writer first, filmmaker second Brittain was a writer first and a filmmaker second. While a shot was being set up, he'd wander off and mumble lines of narration under his breath. He was always trying to work out how to tie everything together, constantly writing the script in his head. He used to spend late nights in the office, working at his typewriter until the words came out just right. And they had to be his words. Heaven forbid he should open a thesaurus. And even though writing didn't always come easily to him, he was good at it. He could paint a scene with words to the extent that you could hear it, smell it. Filmmaking didn't come as naturally to him. In fact, it took 8 or 9 years at the Board before he made a good film. He was hired at the NFB to write the narration for the Canada at War series, and that's where he learned his craft. After that he made Fields of Sacrifice, which is just a brilliant set of poems. Once he got into the groove of making good films, he had a process that was all his own. He would do tons of research, but in the most bizarre way possible. He'd take out books having to do with the period he was filming, but never on the actual subject itself. He was after the surrounding aspects of the story, the historical context in which his story played out. The catch? He rarely did his own research. Rather, he had trusted colleagues and friends do it for him while he read the sports pages… or the comics. Personal favourites One of Brittain's favourite films was Volcano, not only because it got such a big reaction, but because he could identify with Malcolm Lowry. He understood alcoholism. Brittain drank. Sometimes he tried to hide it, but sometimes he was quite open about it. One time, he walked into his hotel room, pointed to a table in the entranceway that housed two bottles of scotch and said, "That's the sign of an alcoholic. You always want to have an unopened bottle, just in case." But while Volcano may have been his favourite, his two most beloved were Paperland and On Guard for Thee, although neither film enjoyed the critical or audience success he had hoped for. Paperland was his way of exacting revenge on an executive producer here at the NFB, while On Guard for Thee, he felt, said something profound about Canada. It was a cautionary tale about loving your police force too much and giving them too much power. As he says in the film, "When everything's secure, no man is safe." And that sentiment pretty much summed up his approach to life. Despite the many years, and many films Brittain directed for the NFB, he never took a job here. He felt if he was tenured, he'd be less creative. He loved baseball, cards and the track too much. He felt that if he had a salary, he would disappear easily into the sidelines of life and never make another film. He had seen it happen to his friends, and he didn't want to follow in that path. So instead, he trudged on and made film after film after film. And as film lovers, we're all the better for it. -
Gil Cardinal The NFB and Indigenous Filmmaking Through The Years (Ages 15-17)Through its singular and long-standing commitment to Indigenous filmmaking, the National Film Board has been instrumental in providing Canadians a rich cultural resource and legacy: a comprehensive body of films inviting us all to share in the Indigenous experience. Films in This Playlist Include Foster Child Circle of the Sun You Are on Indian Land The Other Side of the Ledger: An Indian View of the Hudson’s Bay Company Is the Crown at War with Us? Totem: The Return of the G’psgolox Pole The Ballad of Crowfoot -
Thomas Waugh, Ezra Winton, Michael Baker Challenge for ChangeFor decades, the bulk of the controversial NFB classic film series Challenge for Change/Société nouvelle has been difficult to access. With the launch of the book Challenge for Change: Activist Documentary at the National Film Board of Canada, as well as this continually expanding online playlist, we, the editors of the book, are delighted to connect works such as The Ballad of Crowfoot, The Children of Fogo Island and VTR St-Jacques with literature that examines their artistry and politics. -
Tracy Paulotte The Fondation Dynastie's top picks, a catalyst for talent in black communitiesIn recognition of Black History Month, The Dynastie Foundation is proud to be guest curator for the NFB and present a selection of our top three favourite films from its Focus on Black Filmmakers channel See more from our Black History Month Curators: Top Picks from ByBlacks.com Top Picks from Dalton Higgings Top Picks from Ella Cooper Top Picks from Michael P. Farkas -
ByBlacks .com Top picks from guest curator ByBlacks.comIn recognition of Black History Month, ByBlacks.com is proud to be guest curator for the NFB and present a selection of our top three favourite films from its Focus on Black Filmmakers channel. At ByBlacks.com, we firmly celebrate Black Canadian history all year round, but February is a particularly important time to reach into the archives of our experience to gain perspective on where we’ve come, what’s changed and what’s stayed the same, and where do we go from here.
See more from our Black History Month Curators: Top Picks from Fondation Dynastie Top Picks from Dalton Higgings Top Picks from Ella Cooper Top Picks from Michael P. Farkas -
Ella Cooper Top Picks from Ella CooperIn recognition of Black History Month, Ella Cooper is proud to be guest curator for the NFB and present a selection of our top three favourite films from its Focus on Black Filmmakers channel. Ella Cooper, founder of Black Women Film Canada!
See more from our Black History Month Curators: Top Picks from Fondation Dynastie Top Picks ByBlacks.com Top Picks from Dalton Higgins Top Picks from Michael P. Farkas -
Dalton Higgins Top Picks from Dalton HigginsIn recognition of Black History Month, Dalton Higgins is proud to be guest curator for the NFB and present a selection of his top three favourite films from our Focus on Black Filmmakers channel.
See more from our Black History Month Curators: Top Picks ByBlacks.com Top Picks from Fondation Dynastie Top Picks from Ella Cooper Top Picks from Michael P. Farkas
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Canada’s Diverse Cultures (Ages 15-17)This playlist is designed to give viewers a glimpse into the immigrant experience in Canada through the eyes of those who lived it, including both the challenges and benefits of integration into mainstream Canadian culture. Films in This Playlist Include Shipbuilder Western Eyes Opre Roma: Gypsies in Canada Ted Baryluk’s Grocery Strangers at the Door Earth to Mouth Speakers for the Dead Bronwen & Yaffa (Moving Towards Tolerance) Canada Vignettes: FacesA selection by Albert Ohayon
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The 1960s: An Explosion of CreativityThe 1960s was a period of great change at the National Film Board (NFB). Filmmakers had embraced direct cinema at the end of the previous decade and would continue to make classic films in this style throughout the 1960s. Animated films would start to win prizes around the world, and the NFB would try its hand at producing feature-length fiction for the first time. Television would play an ever increasing role in the broadcast of NFB films. As in the 1950s, many classic direct cinema films would be made for television. The seminal series Candid Eye would end its run in 1961, but the NFB would continue to produce great direct cinema films such as Colin Low’s The Hutterites for television. The production of feature-length fiction in both English and French came about when filmmakers used the techniques learned in shooting documentary and adapted them to dramatizing events of importance to Canadian society. Don Owen’s Nobody Waved Good-bye started off as a documentary on juvenile delinquency but along the way the filmmaker realized that fiction was the best way to tell this story and shot the film in this way. Experimental film and animated productions really came of age during this decade. NFB filmmakers were recognized around the world for unique styles that contrasted with what was available commercially at the time. Following in the footsteps of animation pioneer Norman McLaren, filmmakers such as Ryan Larkin and Arthur Lipsett gained international reputations for work that refused to conform to conventional filmmaking techniques, thus creating a new type of film. These filmmakers would inspire a generation of Hollywood greats such as Stanley Kubrick and George Lucas. The decade would end with the NFB’s filmmakers tackling society’s problems through the use of film in such series as Challenge for Change.A selection by Albert Ohayon -
The 1950s: Television and the Move to MontrealThe National Film Board was affected by two major factors in the 1950s. The first was the advent of television to Canada. The second involved the move of its operational headquarters from Ottawa to Montreal. Both of these events greatly influenced the type of films produced at the NFB. In September 1952, the audiovisual landscape of Canada was greatly changed with the establishment of the first CBC television stations in Toronto and Montreal. The NFB would start to produce content exclusively for this new medium. The On the Spot series would be the NFB’s first foray into TV production. This series would consist of documentaries running 15 minutes on some aspect of life in Canada. The show was eventually expanded to half-an-hour before being replaced by Perspective, which was a mix of documentaries and dramatic productions on contemporary issues in Canada. This series would run until it was replaced by the seminal groundbreaking series of direct cinema documentaries, Candid Eye. Although by 1955, one-half of all production was for television, the NFB continued to make films for its other traditional markets, including documenting the Canadian visit by Princess Elizabeth in 1951 in Royal Journey, which was released to theatres throughout Canada and would eventually be seen by two million people in over 1,200 cinemas across the country. The move from Ottawa to Montreal was not supported by all concerned in the Federal Government. For one thing, one-quarter of the annual program was derived from sponsored films and since the agencies and departments were in Ottawa, it made sense to stay there. Eventually management realized that it made more sense for the NFB to “detach” itself from the ultra conservative public service in Ottawa. They felt that the best way for the NFB to reinvent itself was to remove itself from Ottawa, which would mean, in practical terms, more autonomy. The emergence of direct cinema and the creation of the French Unit and would go a long way in solidifying the NFB’s reputation as a creator of fascinating innovative documentaries.A selection by Albert Ohayon -
Bill Mason: Beyond the wild, beyond the paddleI never met Bill Mason in person. He left the National Film Board shortly after I arrived but I wish I had had the chance to talk to him about his magnificent films. My first contact with his work was the film Cry of the Wild, which I saw over 30 years ago at a movie theatre in Montreal. I remember the word of mouth for it was incredible. There were television ads promoting it, and all the kids in my neighbourhood were dying to see it. The film grossed over $5 million at the North American box office, and Mason would become known as one of the first environmental filmmakers. But Bill Mason is so much more than Cry of the Wild, even though it is the film that he is most often associated with. Born in Winnipeg, Mason worked as a commercial artist before joining the staff of Crawley films in Ottawa, where he contributed to the animated TV series Tales of the Wizard of Oz. In the early 1960s Mason photographed several sequences of an adaptation of Holling C. Holling's children's book Paddle to the Sea. The NFB saw this footage and invited Mason to make a film. The rest, as they say, is history. Mason worked at the NFB for 20 years (he would occasionally take a sabbatical to paint), creating a multitude of films that highlighted his love of the outdoors. These included the Path of the Paddle series, In Search of the Bowhead Whale and Blake. These films often starred himself, his wife and children and his good friend filmmaker Blake James. Mason would go out with his canoe and a portable camera and shoot for several weeks in some inaccessible part of Canada, emerging with spectacular footage. A perfectionist at heart, his films are all meticulously shot, edited and scored. He was not averse to using older footage if it fit his needs. His last film, Waterwalker, includes footage shot over a 12-year period mixed with newer material. Mason also wrote several books about the outdoors including Song of the Paddle to accompany his film of the same name. Anyone who has seen a Mason film can appreciate his ability to convey his great love of nature through his films. You escape the distractions of the city by simply watching one of his films and enjoying the beauty of the wild while being educated at the same time. What a refreshing change from the sterile documentaries of today that barely scratch the surface or seek to shock rather than inform. Mason's films are a celebration of nature devoid of preachy sermons. By the time he made his last film, Mason had decided to devote his energies full-time to his other passion, painting. The fact that his producers were not interested in distributing Waterwalker theatrically must have helped Mason make up his mind. The NFB wanted to sell the film to television, feeling it had a very limited potential in theatres. Mason felt otherwise, explaining that the big screen was the only place to enjoy this type of film. He left the NFB in 1984 and bought the theatrical distribution rights to Waterwalker. He rented a theatre in Ottawa and showed the film to packed houses. It was a huge hit, which led to screenings across the country. Sadly, Mason died of cancer at the young age of 59 on October 29, 1988. His films were such an important part of Canada's culture that Canada Post unveiled a stamp in his honour ten years later. He may be gone, but he lives on through his films, paintings and books.A selection by Albert Ohayon -
10 great films from the last decade that you may not have seenWith the first decade of this century coming to an end, many people have decided to compile top 10 lists of just about everything under the sun. To change things around a bit, I thought it would be interesting to focus on 10 films that, for the most part, people have not heard of or seen. My formula for choosing these films is very unscientific: They are 10 films produced between 2000 and 2009 that I thoroughly enjoyed. Socially Responsible Films This decade has seen the NFB put an emphasis on films about the environment, as well as documenting many unique biographies of Canadians. It is in our mandate to make socially responsible films, something we have never shied away from over the last 70 years. We have produced our fair share of investigative films in which we ask difficult questions about important subjects, such as war, cloning, violence against women and children’s rights. A great example of this is War Hospital, which takes an unflinching look at a field hospital in Kenya treating victims of the bloody civil war in Sudan. There’s no narration, but there are some incredible images of dedicated medical workers who make a difference and restore dignity to people stuck in chaos. Environment Our concern for the environment is not new. We have been producing films on the planet’s delicate ecosystems since the 1940s. We continue to inform and present the facts as they are, while suggesting concrete solutions. We have made films on famous Canadians since the NFB was created, and this tradition continues. But we also create films on everyday Canadians making a difference. Salvation highlights the work of the Salvation Army in Toronto. Earth to Mouth shows the owners of a farm dedicated to growing Asian vegetables for the country’s kitchens. Okanagan Dreams focuses on young Quebeckers who go pick fruit in British Columbia. The Future Hopefully the next 10 years will bring many new and outstanding films that will make you think, that will promote discussion and change, and that will entertain you. Enjoy…A selection by Albert Ohayon -
Grant Munro O.C. (1923-2017)It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of NFB pioneer animator Grant Munro. Born in Winnipeg in 1923, Grant Munro showed talent as a sculptor and flipbook maker while he was still a teenager. He attended the Musgrove School of Art and the Winnipeg School of Art, and earned an honours diploma from the Ontario College of Art in 1944. His teacher, the painter Franklin Carmichael, one of the illustrious Group of Seven, arranged to have Norman McLaren interview Munro’s class for a position in the Animation Unit at the National Film Board. Munro was hired, joining a group that included George Dunning and René Jodoin, both of whom went on to distinguished careers in animation. Quickly establishing himself as a fine animator of paper cut-outs, Munro worked on a number of musical shorts, notably The Three Blind Mice (1946), with Dunning and another neophyte, Bob Verrall. Soon afterward, Jodoin and Munro left the NFB for Mexico with hopes of making films and art there. When film work didn’t pan out, they returned to Ottawa and Munro took a job as a filmstrip artist for Crawley Films. By 1951, Munro was back at the Board, animating instructional films and acting for McLaren on a pixilation project that eventually became the Oscar-winning Neighbours (1952). This film would become arguably the most well-known NFB production of all time, boasting more than 77,000 theatrical bookings worldwide by 1987. In the late 1950s, Munro departed from the NFB again, this time to pursue an animation career in England. After working with Dunning (the future director of Yellow Submarine) for three years at TV Cartoons, Munro rejoined the NFB in 1961. He worked on My Financial Career, a funny take on the Stephen Leacock short story directed by Gerald Potterton (1962). It was nominated for an Oscar, as was Christmas Cracker (1963), a project with Norman McLaren, Jeff Hale and Gerald Potterton that also starred Munro. McLaren and Munro also collaborated on Canon in 1964. Munro made the trick film Toys in 1966 and the anti-smoking comedy Ashes of Doom in 1970, for which he once again played the leading role. He collaborated with McLaren again from 1976 to 1978, on the Animated Motion series, a five-part introduction to basic film animation techniques. He also directed several documentaries, including Boo Hoo (1975) and See You in the Funny Papers (1983). Munro retired from the NFB in 1988 and was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.A selection by Albert Ohayon
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The NFB celebrates pinscreen animationDid you know that the National Film Board currently owns the world’s only working pinscreen? The pinscreen is a vertical screen fitted with retractable pins that, when lit from the side, cast varying shadows depending on their degree of retraction. The results are stunning animated images with the look of engravings or charcoal drawings. Invented by Alexandre Alexeieff and Claire Parker in the 1930s, the rich legacy of the pinscreen was championed by Alexeieff’s daughter, Svetlana Alexeieff Rockwell, who passed away in January of 2015 at the age of 91. In honour of Svetlana Alexeieff Rockwell’s contributions to the veneration of this innovative and intricate animation technology, we are proud to present a selection of films created with the pinscreen from our collection. Covering a wide range of historical periods, the films in this playlist range from a classic Jacques Drouin meditation on symbolism (Mindscape) to the contemporary short animation Here and the Great Elsewhere by Michèle Lemieux, a film about humanity’s eternal quest for meaning. -
A Woman's TouchI love these films. I could invent a unifying thread that binds them together but I love them because they are distinct, each an expression of the unique imagination and artistry of the women who created them. From the meticulously hand-crafted Wild Life by Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, and Soup of the Day by Lynn Smith, to the dark and mysterious My Little Underground by Elise Simard and The End of Pinky by Claire Blanchet, to the hilarious ShowPeace piece Dinner For Two by Janet Perlman and the snappy Orange – done by Sylvie Trouvé in a span of a few weeks as part of the Hothouse mentorship program – they are whimsical and provocative, functional but fun. And they exemplify the kind of filmmaking that is nurtured in the NFB animation studios, where the idea, the medium and the personalities behind the film curl into a singular auteur expression. These filmmakers approach their work with care and courage and a spirit of experimentation that is exciting to witness. Their films are poetry, history, memoire, fable…. …did I mention I love these films? Maral Mohammadian Producer, Animation Studio -
The Shortest DayThe NFB joins the Shortest Day Short Film Celebration with this selection of ultra-short films for your viewing pleasure. Don`t blink or you will miss them!
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Views from the Top: The NFB and MountaineeringThis playlist features some of the most important NFB films about mountaineering. See you at the top of the mountain.
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Myth BustersIt is said that truth always triumphs, but when it comes to certain hoaxes, long-held false beliefs and urban legends, there’s nothing quite like an illuminating doc to help set the record straight. This week on NFB.ca, we are highlighting 5 films that debunk popular myths. Was Christopher Columbus really the first to set foot in America? Are wolves really the ruthless beasts we make them to be? Watch and see.
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The 1976 Olympics: 40 Years LaterJuly 17 will mark the 40th anniversary of the opening of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. To celebrate this spectacular event, we’ve put together a playlist featuring some of the NFB films produced during these games, including the official Olympic film. From marathon running, gymnastics and cycling to a mammoth security operation involving the Canadian Armed Forces, these films have it all. So, sit back and enjoy a nostalgic view of that wonderful summer 40 years ago.A selection by Albert Ohayon
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Curator's ChoiceA selection by Albert Ohayon -
Extraordinary Ordinary PeopleFor Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, the NFB is curating portraits of ordinary Canadians with extraordinary stories to tell. Mabel Robinson is a hairdresser in Hubbards, Nova Scotia. At 90 years old, this hairdressing pioneer is still styling up a storm. Kenojuak Ashevak is an Inuit artist. In stone and on sealskins, she recreates the curious creatures that inhabit her world. Ken Carter is a simple man with an epic dream: building a rocket-powered car to jump across the St. Lawrence River. Discover these extraordinary ordinary Canadians and many more in the following film playlist. -
Annecy WinnersThe Annecy International Animated Film Festival is underway in France, taking place June 12 to 17 this year. NFB films have won many awards at this important event – one of the most prestigious animation festivals in the world. Enjoy this rich playlist of some NFB shorts that have been honoured at Annecy over the years.A selection by Albert Ohayon -
Ottawa International Animation Festival Award WinnersThe Ottawa International Animated Film Festival will take place from September 25th to 29th 2019. Once again, many important NFB productions will be screened there. NFB films have won many awards at this prestigious event – one of the most important animation festivals in the world. Enjoy this rich playlist of some NFB shorts that have been honoured in Ottawa over the years.A selection by Albert Ohayon -
Remembering Pepita Ferrari (1952-2018)The National Film Board of Canada deeply mourns the loss of documentary filmmaker, producer and author Pepita Ferrari, who died on December 30 at her home in Lac Brome, at the age of 66. A past Executive Director and board member with the Documentary Organization of Canada, Pepita combined a lifelong passion for documentary storytelling and a deep interest in exploring the performing arts on film. Working with long-time partner Louis Piché, Pepita co-founded Films Piché Ferrari in 1989—a vital source of independent storytelling in Montreal. Pepita and Louis met at Ciné-Groupe when she worked with its animation department in 1987. By 1994, she would direct and co-produce her first documentary at the NFB, By Woman’s Hand, exploring the Beaver Hall Group of Canadian women painters. Three years later, she would direct another NFB documentary on women trailblazers: her film on 19th-century women travellers, The Petticoat Expeditions. Her final directorial project with the NFB was Source, a 2011 short portrait of Margie Gillis, produced in honour of Gillis’s Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. Her most ambitious work with the NFB began in 2007, when she was asked to direct the landmark web and film project Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary, exploring the creative process of over 30 leading documentary filmmakers, which had its world premiere at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, and was nominated for Best Arts Documentary Program or Series at the Gemini Awards. In addition to her leadership role at DOC, Pepita served as a board member at Cinema Politica, a programming jury member at RIDM, and was one of the founders of the Eastern Townships Film Festival, which had a special focus on bringing docs to Eastern Townships audiences. “Documentary filmmaking and the Quebec film community have lost a dear friend. As a writer, producer and filmmaker—and a generous mentor to emerging filmmakers—Pepita was a true champion of documentary cinema. Many of her works focused on the achievements of strong, pioneering women artists—and that is how we will remember Pepita Ferrari,” said NFB Commissioner Claude Joli-Coeur. Pepita’s landmark interactive doc Capturing Reality - companion to the feature film included in this playlist- is being relaunched online January 15. Visit NFB.ca in the coming days for more details. -
10 Films by Influential WomenIn honour of International Women's Day (March 8), we've put together a selection of 10 films directed by strong, influential women. From politics to the environment to the arts, these films by some of Canada's finest filmmakers address the issues that affect us all. So sit back, enjoy and raise a cheer to the women in your life. -
Work for AllWork for All is a collection of short films and related on-line resources that address racism in the workplace. Created by filmmakers across Canada, the 11 documentary, drama and animated films dealing with direct and systematic racism tell stories that range from the intensely personal to broader social explorations, all designed to provoke thought and discussion. The NFB screening room has a number of related films on racism in the workplace, racism in general and cultural diversity. Search its collection at NFB.ca or view its playlist on anti-racism, created to complement the Work for All series, and its playlist on bridging cultures, launched in collaboration with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO for the 2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. Work For All is produced by the National Film Board of Canada with the participation of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada -
Hockey MoviesHockey and Canada are a natural fit. Hockey is the quintessential winter sport, and while we're fond of saying that not all ALL our films are about hockey, we do have quite a few in our collection. From Just Another Job, which takes a look at the Quebec Nordiques of yesteryear to the classic animated short The Sweater to the unorthodox and completely subjective look at the sport in HA'Aki, we've got something for everyone. -
Winter Sports MoviesFrom hockey, to tobogganing and skiing, and back to hockey again, here are some films to get you into the spirit of cold days, steaming cups of hot cocoa, snowy landscapes and the grand beauty of Canadian winters. Enjoy! -
Tahani Rached, a committed filmmakerThe Hot Docs Festival pays tribute to filmmaker Tahani Rached in its Focus on Retrospective program, which showcases the work of a mid-career Canadian filmmaker. The Egyptian-born director worked at the NFB for more than 20 years and made 11 films. This retrospective revisits her brilliant career and presents a selection of her films.
Discovering film
Tahani Rached was born in Cairo, Egypt. In 1966 she left her native country and settled in Quebec. Wishing to become a painter, she enrolled at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, but very quickly rejected the idea of withdrawing from the world to practice her craft. Life was going on all around her and she wanted to be part of it. She became involved in community action in Montreal's working class neighbourhoods, but felt unable to express the artistic side of her personality. She wanted to be involved in art and creativity, yet also convey a message. Cinema beckoned as the ideal medium of expression.
Beginnings
From 1972 to 1980, Tahani Rached made videos for organizations engaged in international cooperation, including a first feature-length documentary, Les voleurs des jobs, about immigrants in Quebec, and television shows about the Arab community in Quebec. In 1981 she was hired by the NFB as a staff filmmaker. Her first film, La phonie furieuse (1982), a short humorous work about the walkman phenomenon and people's tendency to isolate themselves from the outside world, laid the groundwork for films to come. Ms. Rached had no intention of either turning inwards or asking the audience to isolate itself from the real world.
Looking abroad
In her next films, Tahani Rached tried to expose the problems faced by the third world, its inhabitants and emigrants. Beyrouth! Not Enough Death to Go Round (1983) reveals the conditions in which Lebanese survivors lived in Beirut's refugee camps after the war with Israel. Haïti, Québec (1985) portrays Haitian immigrants grappling with exclusion and racism. She then made two films in chaotic post-Duvalier Haiti, Bam Pay A! Rends-moi mon pays (1986) and Haïti, Nous là! Nou la! (1987). In Four Women of Egypt (1997), she introduces us to four women committed to social battles in their country – a plea for tolerance, friendship and social commitment. Soraida, a Woman of Palestine (2004) tells the story of a woman who lives in Ramallah, in the heart of the occupied territories.
Local themes
Tahani Rached didn't just make films about other countries. She has also been interested in social issues in her adopted land and in people living on the fringes of society. Au chic Resto Pop (1990) paints a warm and captivating portrait of a popular restaurant in Montreal's Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood and of the people working there. A film expressed in music and song, it breathes new life into the social documentary. Doctors with Heart (1993) raises ethical questions about the treatment of AIDS and examines the doctor-patient relationship. Emergency! A Critical Situation (1999) follows the trials and tribulations of a group of nurses in a Montreal emergency room. For a Song (2001) shows the camaraderie and determination of people sharing a common bond, singing together in a choir called Ensemble vocal d'Outremont.
Tahani Rached left the NFB in 2004 and now continues to make films in Egypt. In a career spanning over thirty years, she continues to expose injustice, poverty and suffering.