Agora Films    International

The Canadian Film Celebration, held in Calgary March 12 to 17 in 1991, brought the film industry together with its fans in an unique gathering yet to be duplicated. Over 380 Canadian films were selected by Flemming Neilsen and Matt Palmer -- premieres, features, shorts, animation, restored, documentaries -- were shown on 30 screens throughout the downtown. Industry trade show, workshops, premiere galas, award luncheons and dinners, Canadian Animation Festival, as well as a live shoot at the base of the Calgary Tower gave the general public a look into the world of Canadian filmmaking.

Over 250 volunteers, patrons, governors, advisors and participants gather at this reunion event which had brought so many individuals into the film industry.

Traditionally film festivals limit themselves to the showing of motion pictures. The public is invited to view and perhaps cast ballots for their favourite films.  The Canadian Film Celebration opened up the process of film production by inviting the public to view and participate in the actual shooting of a scene, experiencing the excitement of seeing the actors, technicians and various specialists at work, learning what a key grip, a gaffer or a stunt double does, and then seeing the resulting footage, first in the form of rushes, then in a rough edition form. Calgary’s film guilds, unions and service companies came together volunteering their services and members for this Celebration event.

The rich history of Canada’s filmmaking tradition was on view in exhibits at place like Glenbow Museum, Fort Calgary, public libraries and shopping centres, as were institutions involved such as the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, The National Archives of Canada, the National Film Board of Canada, Cinematheque Canada and other depositories of movie memorabilia in bringing their collections to Calgary for public display.

Working with the boards of education and post secondary educational institutions, the Celebration developed curriculum material and study guides for use by students in classrooms projects and by people interested in learning more about Canada’s rich tradition of filmmaking.

Through seminars and 12 workshops the general public had the opportunity to learn, to participate and to experience the many facets of filmmaking first hard. This greater understanding of the process in turn enhanced the enjoyment and appreciation of film as an art form. It is great to find out that many Celebration volunteers and staff have gone on to make their names in the film industries here in Calgary and in Toronto, London, Los Angeles and Vancouver..

For people interested in exploring employment opportunities in film production and its associated fields, the Celebration offered several opportunities to meet the experts from the various crafts and services involved in the business.

The Celebration offered a resource centre at the base of the Calgary Tower and in the Calgary Public Building with meeting rooms, library and information centre. You can spot the bright red jackets and other souvenirs from the Celebration around the city.

Master of Ceremonies for the six-day Celebration was Alberta’s Fred Keating. Calgary Cable (now Shaw Cable) cablecasted daily from the lobby of Fairmont Palliser Hotel with hosts Shirlee Gordon and Lillian Lynn..

Honourees: Colin Low; Faye Wray; Pierre DesRoches; Clyde Gilmour; Anne Wheeler; Gerald Pratley; and, David Hartford’s Back to God’s Country produced in 1919 by Calgary-based Canadian Photoplays Ltd. and starring Nell Shipman -- beautifully restored film by National Archives and Canadian Film Celebration, shot in Alberta;

Founding Governors: Flemming Nielsen, Brian Jones, David Parker, Edmund A. Oliverio.

Patrons: Denys Arcand, David Cronenberg, Beryl Fox, Gratten Gelinas, Norman Jewison, Douglas Leiterman, Hon. Flora MacDonald, Kate Reid, Anne Wheeler.

Officers: Don Haig, president; Helen Hammond, vice president; Brian W. Jones, secretary; C. Bob Macdonald, treasurer.

Governors: Christian Bruyere, Neil Campbell, Susan Clark, Rock Demers, Michael Donovan, Andrew Emilio, Arnold Edinborough, Claude Forest, Roger Frappier, Veronica Gamracy, Gayle Helfrick, Arthur Hiller, Samuel C. Jephcott, Andre Link, Glenn Ludlow, Derek McGillivray, David Novek, Edmund A. Oliverio, David Parker, Thomas Peacock, Joan Pennefather, Flemming Nielsen, Jan Rofekamp, Larry R. Shaben, Michael Skewes, Jana Veverka, Al Waxman, Helene B. White

President’s Advisory Council: David Allen, Joanne Levy, Wendy Hill-Tout, Frank Kettner, Wendell Wilks, Patrick Reilly, Doug Smith, Fred Keating, John Ridge, Maria Topalovich, Jean Claude-Mahe, Doug Macleod, Bob Gibbins, Douglas Rae, Dr. Glen Ingalls, David Winning, Ian Reid, Bill Marsden, Lorne Macpherson, Gerald Pratley, Patricia Thompson.

Founding Sponsorship Council: Hal Wyatt, chair of Royal Bank of Canada, Council chairman. Air Canada, enRoute Inc., Cantel, Canon Canada Inc., Molson Breweries, Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts, Calgary Tower, Alberta Motion Picture Development Corporation, Western Economic Development Canada, National Film Board of Canada, Alberta Vocational College (Bow Valley College), Calgary Economic Development Authority, Cinemascope Calgary Magazine, Cineplex-Odeon Corporation, Ernst & Young, Edgewear, City of Calgary, Fluor Daniel Canada Inc., Intergold Jewellery, McKim Advertising Ltd., Metrographics, Pacific Western Airlines, Reel West Magazine, Royal Canadian Legion, Shuter-Springhurst Communications Ltd., Sky’s Rotisseries & Wine Bar, Telefilm Canada, 2&7 Television, QR77 Radio, CFCN Television, Calgary Sun, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Calgary Cable TV/FM, Rogers Cable, Canadian Film & Television Production Association, Alberta Culture & Multiculturalism, Whitt & Company, Topline Printing, Ernst & Young, Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Viacom, Kodak Canada, Motion Picture Guarantor, Alliance Releasing, Astral Films, Roscoe Laboratories, Warner Bros. Pictures, United Artists Films, Calgary Board of Education, Glenbow Museum, Quickdraw Animation Society, UofC Computer Animation Group, Greyhound Canada, Famous Players, Panavision Canada, IATSE 212, Landmark Cinemas, Communications Canada, Calgary Multicultural Centre, Protek Computers Inc, Human Resources Canada.

Administration: Edmund A. Oliverio, executive director; James M. Currie, C.A., director of finance; Flemming Nielsen, program director/festival; Peter Horn, program director/ showcase; Jason Young, program co-ordinator/community; Christine Clarke, program director/seminars; Matt Palmer, program co-ordinator/festival; Nancy MacDonald, media relations director; Nancy Todd, administrative co-ordinator; Mirna Moscoso, secretarial; Helen McPhaden, hosting; Douglas Rae, Fundraising Chairman; Dr. Glen Ingalls, community involvement; John Ridge, electronic media; Brad Betts, transportation co-ordinator; Stan Jespersen and Jeannie Morice, program advertising; Peter Gurr and Ray Ansell, security managers.

Volunteers: Frank Kettner, Gordon Samber, Dr. Glen Ingalls, Chris McMann, David White, Donald Osborne, Roy Freeman, Drew Campbell, Cliff Christian, Josh Bryne, Jane Evans, Aaron Eselek, Daryl Anderson, Brad Betts, Sheila Stinson, James Dickson, Laurie Johnson, George Roberts, Ellie Tims, Chat St. Louis, Craig St. Louis, Jane Glover, James O’Donnell, Doris Ostergaard, Ruth Manning, Marg Proc, Judy O’Brien, Annette Tyson, Joanne Levy, Krish Champakesa, Wendy Hill-Tout, Lisa Johnston, Ian Reid, Carol Stokes, Lynn Leduc, Gordon Gamber, Gail Anderson, Patrick Wynn, Derrick Kubiak, Robert Bailly, Maggie Thompson, George Trotteer, Sam Mitsugi, Susan Pickard, Christopher LeGeyt, Sandie Bartel, Kent Slater, Gail Blackhall, Kevin Currie, Lee Brodie, Jody Currie, Donna Pashak, Shawn Emsley, Kay McDougall, Helen Hazzard, Gillian Ilsley, Carol MacDonald, Isabel Carter, Dean Mitchell, Jill Kieffer, Annalisa Taylor, Cindy Locke, Matt Sanderson, Sandy Denolf, Ron MacDonald, Samantha Hawes, Tim Baker, Margaret Exton, Fe Wills, JoAnne Buckner, Stephanie Savage, Lois Epp, Omkar Channan, Bill Wolton, Sharon Bloomcrist, Steve Merchant, Allan Jobson, Kate Reynolds, Kim Bush, Kathleen Specht, Michael Sheppard, Blaim Milligan, Andrew Penner, Lance Waldon, Trevor Seiltz, Margaret Naden, Martin Petersen, Cam Grierson, Greg Achtem, Frank Laratta, Robin Swiderski, Cheryl Kroeker, Amanda Alexander, Myrna Hopkins, Rietta Peters, Lynn Henderson, Al Locke, Brenda Baker, Dona Bird, Keith Carson, Adele Gautier, Charles Johnston, Beth Mercer, Margaret Noden, Michele Patsula, Karen Partridge, Andrew Sparke, Susan VanBoyen, Doug Harkness, Mary Locke, David Winning, Bruce Harvey, Jean Wilkinson.

© 2006 Agora Films International Inc.