Canadian filmmaker, editor and producer (1933–2002)
Don Haig (22 July 1933 — 2 March 2002) was a Canadian filmmaker, editor, and producer.
Haig's work in film and television spanned nearly five decades. Over the course of his career, he won Academy, Genie, and Gemini awards, and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.
Haig 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.
Career.
Haig left high school after grade 9 and took a job repairing films at the Winnipeg distribution offices of MGM. In 1956, he moved to Toronto and was hired by the CBC film department, splicing commercials into "The Ed Sullivan Show". After moving through the ranks and establishing a reputation as a superb editor, he left the CBC in 1962 and travelled to Europe, where he met Canadian producer/director Allan King. Back in Toronto, they joined with producer/director Beryl Fox to form their own company, Film Arts (aka Haig-King Film Arts). The CBC contracted Film Arts to edit and/or co-produce segments for "This Hour Has Seven Days" and "the fifth estate", and CTV did the same for "W5". Haig was editor on the Beryl Fox documentaries "Fields of Endless Day", "The Single Woman and the Double Standard", "Summer in Mississippi" and "", which won Film of the Year at the 18th Canadian Film Awards in 1966.
In 1970, Haig co-founded the (now-defunct) Canadian Film Editors Guild. He was chairman of the Canadian Film and Television Association in 1972.
Among the films he helped produce was "", 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 the 1992 sale of Film Arts to Film House, Haig joined the National Film Board of Canada and became head of English documentary production. He was noted for aiding young talent with funding, guidance, and editing. He retired in 1998.
Personal life.
Haig died of cancer at his home in Toronto in 2002, at age 68. His life partner was Bill Schultz, who is now the co-chair of the Don Haig Foundation.
The Don Haig Foundation.
In 2003, The Don Haig Foundation was established to support and recognize young filmmakers. In 2006, the foundation began a partnership with the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival to ensure a home for the Don Haig Award, a monetary award which is presented to a filmmaker with a feature-length entry at the festival. The Don Haig Award is presented annually to an outstanding Canadian independent producer, with the recipient selected by a jury of independent filmmakers. The award recognizes creative vision and entrepreneurship, as reflected in the recipient's body of work, as well as a track record of mentoring emerging Canadian filmmakers.
Filmography.
Film Arts
National Film Board of Canada
References.
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