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Photostory #378A: National Film Board Records 25 Years of National Growth: Presenting Canada to the World

Photographers
Ted Grant , Gar Lunney , unattributed
Maker
National Film Board of Canada
Release Date
December 1, 1964
Collection
CMCP fonds
Credit Line
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives
Main Text
Half a century ago, in 1914, as early movie cameras jerkily cranked away to record the Kaiser inspecting spike-helmeted Prussian troops, government film making got away to a modest start in Canada. Twenty-five years later, in 1939, as that scene became a retake, the National Film Board of Canada was formed. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary the NFB averages a production a day in carrying out its purpose of interpreting Canada to Canadians and people around the globe. In village mud huts where the thump of a diesel generator keeps time for the whirring projector, in palatial, air-conditioned theatres in the capitals of the world, on nation-spanning TV networks, in schools, at scientific meetings -- wherever movies are shown, film board productions are an open window for people of many nations to look upon Canada, a mirror in which Canadians can see themselves. Today as Canada takes an increasingly prominent part in world affairs the camera crews of the NFB range wider afield than ever to document the evolving nation. From the high arctic to Greece, the backwaters of Malaysia to downtown Toronto, events of interest in the United States to industrial British Columbia -- wherever the impact of international affairs and world trends are felt, the film units of the NFB are found with their cameras. Acclaimed as a unique government organization, envied its freedom of creativity, applauded for its award-winning work, Canada's National Film Board has made its mark not only on Canadians but among the nations of the modern world.
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