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Colin Low

Directing 89 (deceased) years old Cardston, Alberta, Canada ★ 0.3
Born: July 24, 1926
Died: February 24, 2016

Biography

Colin Archibald Low CM RCA (July 24, 1926 – February 24, 2016) was a Canadian animation and documentary filmmaker with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). He was known as a pioneer, one of Canada's most important filmmakers, and was regularly referred to as "the gentleman genius". His numerous honors include five BAFTA awards, eight Cannes Film Festival awards, and six Academy Award nominations.

Low was born and raised in Cardston, Alberta, to Gerald and Marion Low, ranchers who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The town borders the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe), which later became the subject of two of his films; his 1960 film Circle of the Sun marked the first time the Kainai Nation's sacred Sun Dance was filmed.

Low studied graphic design and animation at the Banff School of Fine Arts and then the Calgary Institute of Technology. In 1946, while he was at the latter, the National Film Board of Canada was hiring and put out a call for student submissions; one of Low's teachers suggested that he send in his portfolio and, a week later, he was hired by the prominent NFB filmmaker Norman McLaren. McLaren placed Low under the tutelage of George Dunning, who would act as his mentor for five years. To hone his animation skills, he was also put to work with NFB animator Evelyn Lambart.

Low was recognized as a filmmaker in 1949. In 1950, he was appointed Head of the Animation Unit. From 1972 to 1976, he was an executive producer for the NFB's Studio C; in 1976, he became Director of Regional Production. He would stay with the NFB for the rest of his life, making 203 films and acting as a researcher and advisor on many others. He officially retired in 1997, but continued to write about animation and large-format film, and to work on film projects.

Filmography

Directing Credits (51)

Moving Pictures
Moving Pictures Director 2000
Momentum
Momentum Director 1992
Emergency
Emergency Director 1988
Transitions
Transitions Director 1986
The Contour Connection
The Contour Connection Director 1983
Standing Alone
Standing Alone Director 1982
A Pinto for the Prince
A Pinto for the Prince Director 1979
When I Go - That's It!
When I Go - That's It! Director 1972
The Winds of Fogo
The Winds of Fogo Director 1970
Introduction to Fogo Island
Introduction to Fogo Island Director 1968
Andrew Britt at Shoal Bay
Andrew Britt at Shoal Bay Director 1967
In the Labyrinth
In the Labyrinth Director 1967
The Children of Fogo Island
The Children of Fogo Island Director 1967
A Wedding and Party
A Wedding and Party Director 1967
The Mercer Family
The Mercer Family Director 1967
A Woman's Place
A Woman's Place Director 1967
Billy Crane Moves Away
Billy Crane Moves Away Director 1967
The Merchant and the Teacher
The Merchant and the Teacher Director 1967
The Founding of the Co-operatives
The Founding of the Co-operatives Director 1967
McGraths at Home and Fishing
McGraths at Home and Fishing Director 1967
Jim Decker Builds a Longliner
Jim Decker Builds a Longliner Director 1967
The Songs of Chris Cobb
The Songs of Chris Cobb Director 1967
Citizen Discussions
Citizen Discussions Director 1967
Thoughts on Fogo and Norway
Thoughts on Fogo and Norway Director 1967
The Story of the Up Top
The Story of the Up Top Director 1967
Some Problems of Fogo
Some Problems of Fogo Director 1967
Dan Roberts on Fishing
Dan Roberts on Fishing Director 1967
Joe Kinsella on Education
Joe Kinsella on Education Director 1967
William Wells Talks About The Island
William Wells Talks About The Island Director 1967
Fishermen's Meeting
Fishermen's Meeting Director 1967
Brian Earle on Merchants and Welfare
Brian Earle on Merchants and Welfare Director 1967
Tom Best on Co-operatives
Tom Best on Co-operatives Director 1967
The Fogo Island Improvement Committee
The Fogo Island Improvement Committee Director 1967
Fogo's Expatriates
Fogo's Expatriates Director 1967
Discussion on Welfare
Discussion on Welfare Director 1967
Jim Decker's Party
Jim Decker's Party Director 1967
The Hutterites
The Hutterites Director 1964
Seven Surprizes
Seven Surprizes Director 1963
Circle of the Sun
Circle of the Sun Director 1961
The Days of Whisky Gap
The Days of Whisky Gap Director 1961
Universe
Universe Director 1960
City Out of Time
City Out of Time Director 1959
City of Gold
City of Gold Director 1957
Gold
Gold Director 1955
The Jolifou Inn
The Jolifou Inn Director 1955
Riches of the Earth
Riches of the Earth Director 1954
Corral
Corral Director 1954
Age of the Beaver
Age of the Beaver Director 1952
The Romance of Transportation in Canada
The Romance of Transportation in Canada Director 1952
Teamwork - Past and Present
Teamwork - Past and Present Director 1950
Time and Terrain
Time and Terrain Director 1948

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