National Film Board of Canada

The National Film Board (NFB) was created by Act of Parliament in 1939. Its two major purposes were to produce films that taught Canadians about other parts of Canada, and to distribute these films as widely as possible. John Grierson, the founder of the NFB and its first commissioner, was a great documentary filmmaker. To this day, the NFB is world famous for its documentary films.

World War II
Right after its creation, the NFB had to concentrate on contributing to the war effort. Top British filmmakers joined the NFB to make films and to train Canadians in the art of filmmaking. Norman McLaren established the animation division. Two documentary series, "Canada Carries On" and "World in Action," each produced a short film every month. One of these films, Churchill's Island, won an Oscar in 1941. It was the first of hundreds of international awards honouring the NFB.

By arrangement with commercial distributors, NFB films were shown in cinemas around the world. Educational films were shown through what was called "circuit distribution," which meant that they reached the millions of Canadians who could not easily get to cinemas. The shows were very popular. In one northern Alberta circuit, school children helped carry the films and equipment on toboggans when the road was blocked by snow.

By the end of the war, the NFB's staff had grown from 50 to 787, it had made more than 500 films, and it was internationally famous.

1945 to 1955

Grierson and other important experts departed right after the war. The NFB then faced some of its hardest battles. Commercial filmmakers claimed that the NFB was unfair competition. Funds and staff were cut back. The board was accused of being too political and when Igor Gouzenko, the soviet cipher clerk who defected in 1945, claimed there were communists in the NFB, its future was threatened.

Yet the NFB survived to enter one of its most creative periods. The first dramatic and scientific films were made. Unit B, a group of young filmmakers under Tom Daly, spearheaded a new, intimate style and technical polish. In one year alone (1955-56), the NFB won 46 international awards - on a total budget smaller than that of an average Hollywood film.

1955 to the Present

In 1956 the NFB moved to Montreal and, in 1957, Guy Roberge was appointed commissioner. These events encouraged great creativity among Quebec filmmakers, who had long resented English domination of the NFB. Claude JUTRA, Michel BRAULT, and Gilles Groulx were the first wave of great French directors at the NFB. In 1964 the need to allow English and French films to develop independently was recognized by creating separate production divisions.

In the 1970s, Studio D was established to produce women's perspectives on social issues. Another program encouraged filmmakers across the country to reflect the regional characteristics of Canada.

In 1989, in celebration of its 50th anniversary, the National Film Board of Canada was awarded an honorary Oscar in recognition of its record of filmmaking excellence. In 2002, under Jacques Bensimon, a new film commissioner, the NFB redefined its purpose. Its new mandate emphasized digital production and distribution, expanded the NFB's partnership with commercial producers, and made a new commitment to being involved in the community. The new mandate also made it important to help young filmmakers; about one-half of all NFB work is now by filmmakers who are becoming prominent. The NFB is also making more use of the Internet.

Although the NFB no longer dominates film production in Canada, it remains a valuable contributor to our culture. It continues to develop talented young filmmakers, to make high quality films, and to be a model for other countries.

Related Articles: John GRIERSON; FILM; Norman MCLAREN.