Colin Low · Queuebrick

Colin Low

Directing·Jul 24, 1926·Cardston, Alberta, Canada

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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.

BAFTA1961
- Best Animated Film
  Universe

Film	Credit
MMoving Pictures2000 · Director	Director
Momentum1992 · Director	Director
EEmergency1988 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
Transitions1986 · Director	Director
TThe Contour Connection1983 · Director	Director
Standing Alone1982 · Director	Director
A Pinto for the Prince1979 · Director	Director
When I Go - That's It!1972 · Director	Director
The Winds of Fogo1970 · Director	Director
Introduction to Fogo Island1968 · Director	Director
AAndrew Britt at Shoal Bay1967 · Director	Director
In the Labyrinth1967 · Director	Director
The Children of Fogo Island1967 · Director	Director
A Wedding and Party1967 · Director	Director
A Woman's Place1967 · Director	Director
The Mercer Family1967 · Director	Director
Billy Crane Moves Away1967 · Director	Director
TThe Founding of the Co-operatives1967 · Director	Director
TThe Merchant and the Teacher1967 · Director	Director
McGraths at Home and Fishing1967 · Director	Director
Jim Decker Builds a Longliner1967 · Director	Director
TThe Songs of Chris Cobb1967 · Director	Director
CCitizen Discussions1967 · Director	Director
TThoughts on Fogo and Norway1967 · Director	Director
TThe Story of the Up Top1967 · Director	Director
SSome Problems of Fogo1967 · Director	Director
DDan Roberts on Fishing1967 · Director	Director
JJoe Kinsella on Education1967 · Director	Director
William Wells Talks About The Island1967 · Director	Director
FFishermen's Meeting1967 · Director	Director
BBrian Earle on Merchants and Welfare1967 · Director	Director
TTom Best on Co-operatives1967 · Director	Director
The Fogo Island Improvement Committee1967 · Director	Director
DDiscussion on Welfare1967 · Director	Director
FFogo's Expatriates1967 · Director	Director
Jim Decker's Party1967 · Director	Director
The Hutterites1964 · Director	Director
SSeven Surprizes1963 · Director	Director
Circle of the Sun1961 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
The Days of Whisky Gap1961 · Director	Director
Universe1960 · Writer, Director	Writer, Director
City Out of Time1959 · Director	Director
City of Gold1957 · Director, Director of Photography	Director, Director of Photography
GGold1955 · Director	Director
The Jolifou Inn1955 · Director	Director
Riches of the Earth1954 · Director	Director
Corral1954 · Director, Writer	Director, Writer
AAge of the Beaver1952 · Director	Director
The Romance of Transportation in Canada1952 · Director	Director
Teamwork - Past and Present1950 · Director	Director
TTime and Terrain1948 · Director	Director