Don Haig

Don Haig (22 July 1933 — 2 March 2002) was a Canadian filmmaker, editor, and producer.

His work in film and television spanned nearly five decades. Over the course of his career, he won Academy, Genie,^[1] and Gemini awards, and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.

Don was known as the "godfather of Canadian film" for nurturing young talent and producing many award-winning films. He is recognized by some as "the most important person on the Canadian film scene," helping create over 500 films.^[2]

Career

As a young man, Haig began his career in film distribution in Winnipeg. In the early years, he would travel to small prairie towns with films and a projector, and charge five cents or less to see a movie, as "another pair of eyes doesn't cost much". After the early years repairing film for MGM in Winnipeg, he later moved to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation where he remained until 1962.

In 1963, with the support of filmmakers Allan King and Beryl Fox, he started his company Film Arts. Haig received film editing awards for the Beryl Fox documentaries including Summer in Mississippi and The Mills of the Gods: Viet Nam. He also edited her Fields of Endless Day.

In 1970, Haig co-founded the Canadian Film Editors Guild in 1970. He was chairman of the Canadian Film and Television Association in 1972.

Among the films he helped produce was Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got., which was written and directed by Brigitte Berman in 1985. Oprah Winfrey presented Berman and Haig with an Oscar at the 59th Academy Awards.

After his retirement and sale of Film Arts to Film House, Haig joined the National Film Board of Canada in 1992 and became head of English production. He was noted for aiding young talent with funding, guidance, and editing their films. He retired in 1998 after completing many NFB productions.

He died in 2002 at his home in Toronto. The Don Haig Foundation was established to see his legacy of supporting young filmmakers continue.

In 2004, the Don Haig Foundation began recognizing aspiring documentary filmmakers with an annual award. On February 6, 2006, the award committee began a partnership with the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival to ensure a home for the Don Haig Award.

Personal life

Haig was gay.^[3] His life partner was Bill Schultz.^[3]

Filmography

In addition to the films listed below, there are an estimated 500 films he has contributed as producer or editor, and Library and Archives Canada^[4] has an archival collection of over 800 film reels associated with Haig or his companies including Film Arts Ltd.

Documentary films

• Summer in Mississippi (1964)
• The Mills of the Gods: Viet Nam (1965)

Feature films and telefilms

• 125 Rooms of Comfort (1974)
• Who Has Seen the Film (1977)
• Summer’s Children (1979)
• Silence of the North (1981)
• Alligator Shoes (1981)
• I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987)

Television

• This Hour Has Seven Days (1966)
• W5 (TV series) (1966?-?)
• The Fifth Estate (1975?-?)

National Film Board Documentary films

Haig headed production of English-language film at the National Film Board of Canada. He acted as producer, co-producer, and provided guidance, funding, and editing assistance to many filmmakers while there.

• A Further Glimpse of Joey (1966)
• Fields of Endless Day (1978)
• K.C.I.: Beyond the Three R's (1982)
• Blockade (1994)
• The Voyage of the St. Louis (1995)
• Body Politics (1997)
• The Battle of Vimy Ridge (1997)
• The Double Shift (1997)
• The Gender Tango (1997)
• The Need to Know (1997)
• A Place in the World (1997)
• Postcards from the Future (1997)
• The Power Game (1997)
• The Street: A Film with the Homeless (1997)

Lifetime awards

• At the 1985 Genies, the Air Canada Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Canadian Film Industry
• 1993 Gemini award - the Donald Brittain Award
• 1987 Ontario Film Institute’s Achievement Award
• 1991 City of Toronto Arts Award
• 1993 Haig received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.
• In 1993, Haig received an honorary doctorate (D.Litt) from York University.

References

External links

• National Film Board of Canada film collection
• Canadian Film Encyclopedia
• Don Haig Award at Hot Docs
• The Don Haig Foundation