Celebrating the art, style, and history of the men and women that recorded our nation's cinematic past.

History - Page 2

Rosemary Bergeron – Canadian Film History Pioneer

It is with a very sad and heavy heart to announce the passing of a much loved, and respected friend of the Canadian Film Archival community; Rosemary Bergeron, January 9th,…

January 10, 2023

Films·History·People

The Loon’s Necklace summary by James Forrester

Entry for Masterworks 2001 by James Forrester for AV Preservation Trust of Canada web site (now defunct). Reposted here with permission of the author, and the current rights holder for the AV Preservation Trust of Canada: Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Academy.ca). The…

September 24, 2022

History·People

A Brief Personal History of the Canadian Film Institute (CFI) (1935-1975) By James Forrester

Reprinted here with permission: ELAN (Ex Libris Association Newsletter), Number 68/Fall 2020 At Christmas of 1972, I arrived at 1762 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, to work as a “Stills Librarian” for…

August 25, 2022

History·NFB·Resources

National Film Board of Canada fonds, ca. 1900-1992

The creation of the National Film Board had its beginnings in 1938...…

January 17, 2022

History

The Origin of Motion Picture Production in Canada

Introduction When people are asked to define Canadian film-making, or give an example of a distinctive Canadian style, many cite the work of the National Film Board. Peter Morris has…

January 10, 2022

History·People·Pioneers

George H. Valiquette, Pioneer Canadian Newsreel Cinematographer

George H. Valiquette, pioneer Canadian newsreel cinematographer, risked his life to get footage of the flooding Ottawa River in April 1922. At the time he was the cameraman for the…

January 7, 2022

Books·History·People

The Movie Years: Trenton, Ontario, 1917-1934

One wonders what life in Trenton, Ontario might have been like today had predictions made in the early part of the 20th century come true. For Trenton was to be…

September 29, 2021

Animation·History

Before McLaren: Canadian Animation in the Silent Film Era (1910 – 1927)

"Fryer envisioned Shadowlaughs in the ancient traditions of Chinese shadow play and the contemporary traditions of European filmmakers like Sarg and Lotte Reiniger. The two-part film Follow the Swallow was…

August 19, 2021

History·Pioneers

The Perfect Order of a Canadian Crowd: Cinema in Ottawa, 1894-1896

When projected moving pictures appeared for the first time in Ottawa during the summer of 1896, they were not greeted with the sort of uncomprehending astonishment suggested by some historical…

April 18, 2017