Tony Ianzelo
Encyclopedia
Tony Ianuzielo, CM
, RCA
(born June 13, 1935) is a Canadian documentary director and cinematographer
.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
and attended Toronto’s Ryerson Polytechnical School (now Ryerson University
). His career at the National Film Board of Canada
was characterized by an empathic portrayal of his subjects, and he gained a reputation for compassion and honesty through sensitive films and unobtrusive cinematography.
He joined the NFB in 1960 as a camera assistant and in 1966 made his first film, Antonio
. This short piece, which uses his own father as a subject to explore the themes of family, immigration and alienation, was shown in schools and institutions for three decades after its release. A prolific and innovative artist, he retired in the late 1990s with over one hundred film credits.
Best known for his quiet empathy and unobtrusive camera-work, he worked with the NFB program Challenge for Change
, where he used his skills on such films as Cree Hunters of Mistassini
with Boyce Richardson
, and other projects in Canada's Far North. One of the first cinematographers nominated to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
, he received numerous awards and commendations, including two Academy Award nominations (both for Best Documentary Short, for Blackwood
in 1976 and High Grass Circus
in 1977), as well as the Order of Canada
in 2003 for his lifetime contribution to world documentary cinema.
In 1986, with Colin Low
, he co-directed Transitions
, the first 3D
IMAX
film, which was shown at the World's Fair
in Vancouver
.
He is currently retired and living in Montreal.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, RCA
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts is a Canadian arts-related institution founded in 1880, under the patronage of the Governor General of Canada, Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, the Marquess of Lorne. Canadian landscape painter Homer Watson was a member and president of the Academy...
(born June 13, 1935) is a Canadian documentary director and cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and attended Toronto’s Ryerson Polytechnical School (now Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
). His career at the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
was characterized by an empathic portrayal of his subjects, and he gained a reputation for compassion and honesty through sensitive films and unobtrusive cinematography.
He joined the NFB in 1960 as a camera assistant and in 1966 made his first film, Antonio
Antonio
Antonio is a Greek, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish first name. In the English language it is translated as Anthony, and has some female derivatives: Antonia, Antónia, Antonieta, Antonietta, and Antonella...
. This short piece, which uses his own father as a subject to explore the themes of family, immigration and alienation, was shown in schools and institutions for three decades after its release. A prolific and innovative artist, he retired in the late 1990s with over one hundred film credits.
Best known for his quiet empathy and unobtrusive camera-work, he worked with the NFB program Challenge for Change
Challenge for Change
Challenge for Change was a participatory film and video project created by the National Film Board of Canada in 1967, the Canadian Centennial...
, where he used his skills on such films as Cree Hunters of Mistassini
Cree Hunters of Mistassini
Cree Hunters of Mistassini is a 1974 documentary film co-directed by Boyce Richardson and Tony Ianzelo, chronicling a group of three Cree families from the Mistassini region of Quebec, as they set up a winter hunting camp near James Bay and Ungava Bay...
with Boyce Richardson
Boyce Richardson
Boyce Richardson, CM is a Canadian journalist, author and filmmaker. While he was just a boy his family moved to Invercargill, a city noted for its feisty, independent characters like Burt Munro, The World's Fastest Indian and its current Mayor Tim Shadbolt.It was here that Richardson began his...
, and other projects in Canada's Far North. One of the first cinematographers nominated to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts is a Canadian arts-related institution founded in 1880, under the patronage of the Governor General of Canada, Sir John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, the Marquess of Lorne. Canadian landscape painter Homer Watson was a member and president of the Academy...
, he received numerous awards and commendations, including two Academy Award nominations (both for Best Documentary Short, for Blackwood
Blackwood (film)
Blackwood is a 1976 Canadian short documentary film about Canadian artist David Blackwood, directed by Tony Ianzelo and Andy Thomson. Narration is provided by Gordon Pinsent. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short....
in 1976 and High Grass Circus
High Grass Circus
High Grass Circus is a 1976 Canadian documentary film co-directed by Tony Ianzelo and Torben Schioler, exploring 24 hours in the life of the Royal Brothers' traveling circus. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature....
in 1977), as well as the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 2003 for his lifetime contribution to world documentary cinema.
In 1986, with Colin Low
Colin Low (filmmaker)
Colin Archibald Low, CM, RCA is a Canadian animation and documentary filmmaker.Born in Cardston, Alberta, Low attended the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Calgary Institute of Technology, now known as the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology...
, he co-directed Transitions
Transitions (film)
Transitions was the world's first IMAX film in 3D. It was created for Expo 86 in Vancouver. The film was co-directed by Colin Low and Tony Ianzelo and produced by the National Film Board of Canada.-External links:*...
, the first 3D
3-D film
A 3-D film or S3D film is a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception...
IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
film, which was shown at the World's Fair
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
He is currently retired and living in Montreal.