CL
Colin Low
Producer, Director, Writer, Editor, Additional Credits
Born July 24, 1926Died February 24, 2016 (89 years)
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.
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.
Known For
Filmography
| 1996 | |
| 1985 | Explorer (TV Series) · as Executive Producer |
| 1979 | The Biosphere · as Executive Producer |
| 1977 | Path of the Paddle: Solo Whitewater · as Executive Producer |
| 1977 | High Grass Circus · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | The Mad Canadian · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | Blackwood · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | The Sword of the Lord · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | |
| 1976 | A Great White Bird · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | Potatoes · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | No Way They Want to Slow Down · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | The Great Clean-up · as Executive Producer |
| 1976 | Coaches · as Executive Producer |
| 1975 | The Lady and the Owl · as Executive Producer |
| 1975 | Cold Journey · as Executive Producer |
| 1975 | Lumsden · as Executive Producer |
| 1975 | |
| 1975 | |
| 1975 | Musicanada · as Executive Producer |
| 1974 | King of the Hill · as Executive Producer |
| 1974 | Another Side of the Forest · as Executive Producer |
| 1974 | In Search of the Bowhead Whale · as Executive Producer |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | Bate's Car: Sweet as a Nut · as Executive Producer |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | |
| 1974 | Freshwater World · as Executive Producer |
| 1974 | Rock-A-Bye · as Executive Producer |
| 1973 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1972 | |
| 1964 | |
| 1964 | |
| 1964 | |
| 1963 | |
| 1962 | |
| 1962 | |
| 1962 | |
| 1961 | |
| 1960 | |
| 1960 | |
| 1959 | |
| 1957 | |
| 1954 |