Studio D Films from the 1970s (Ages 12-14)
In 1974 the NFB established Studio D, the first publicly funded feminist film-production unit in the world. Studio D would eventually become home to six staff directors and a number of producers and support staff. About half the studio’s films were to be directed by independent women filmmakers from across the country. The next two decades were marked by enormous success for Studio D, including three Academy Award® wins. We pay tribute to this visionary studio with this selection of films produced by women, for women.
In 1974 the NFB established Studio D, the first publicly funded feminist film-production unit in the world. Studio D would eventually become home to six staff directors and a number of producers and support staff. About half the studio’s films were to be directed by independent women filmmakers from across the country.
The next two decades were marked by enormous success for Studio D, including three Academy Award® wins. We pay tribute to this visionary studio with this selection of films produced by women, for women.
Playlist
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I'll Find a WayBeverly Shaffer 1977 25 minThis Oscar®-winning documentary presents Nadia, a 9-year-old girl with spina bifida. Her dream is to attend a regular school, even though she knows other kids will tease her. Wise for her young age, Nadia simply decides that she'll "find a way to deal with it." Despite having to overcome many obstacles, Nadia's got spunk and makes it clear she's not looking for sympathy. This film is part of the Children of Canada series.
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Patricia's Moving PictureBonnie Sherr Klein 1978 25 min
This short documentary tells the true story of Patricia Garner, a woman reluctantly approaching middle age sandwiched between changing social values and the loss of her family role. Illustrating her struggles and successes, this film about newly found courage will inspire everyone.
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Maud Lewis: A World Without ShadowsDiane Beaudry 1976 10 min
Set against a background of her paintings and the Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, landscapes they depict, this short documentary is a portrait of the life and work of one of Canada's foremost primitive painters, Maud Lewis. Emerging from her youth crippled with arthritis, Lewis escaped into her painting at the age of 30. She had never seen a work of art and had never attended an art class but her paintings captured the simple strength, beauty and happiness of the world she saw - a world without shadows.
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Great Grand MotherAnne Wheeler & Lorna Rasmussen 1975 28 min
This short film is an ode to the women who settled the Prairies, from the days of early immigration to 1916 - when Manitobans became the first women in Canada to receive the provincial vote - and beyond. Recollections of women are complemented by a series of quotations drawn from letters, diaries, and newspapers of the day, which are spoken over re-enacted scenes and archival photographs.
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Some American FeministsLuce Guilbeault , Nicole Brossard , … 1977 55 min
This documentary is composed of a series of interviews, combined with newsreel footage, that place the American feminist moment in historical perspective. Six of the movement's founding women, including Betty Friedan and Kate Millett, discuss the issues that most concern them. A film that remains relevant, even today.
