Documentary - Archives - Page 3 of 63 - NFB Blog

Documentary

Explore the world of documentary—including biography, history, social and political issues, global cultures, and aboriginal topics.

Evan’s Drum: Keeping the Inuit Drumbeat Alive

Evan’s Drum: Keeping the Inuit Drumbeat Alive

When I was a child growing up in Labrador, I never heard the sound of traditional Inuit drum dancing. It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I heard the rhythmic beat of the drum and witnessed the fluid movement of the drum dancers.

Blades and Brass: Hockey with a Twist | Curator’s Perspective

Blades and Brass: Hockey with a Twist | Curator’s Perspective

The 1967 short documentary Blades and Brass combines hockey action with Mexican brass music. It was a hit in Canada and all over the world.

Stateless: Protecting the Right to Citizenship for All

Stateless: Protecting the Right to Citizenship for All

As a child, growing up in a Haitian and Latinx household and diaspora communities in North America, I continued to overhear stories about the history of my birthplace relating to race, colour, class, colonialism and human rights.

The Fight: Science Against Cancer | Curator’s Perspective

The Fight: Science Against Cancer | Curator’s Perspective

The story of the making and distribution of the Oscar nominated documentary The Fight: Science Against Cancer.

Magic Molecule: The Trouble with Plastic | Curator’s Perspective

Magic Molecule: The Trouble with Plastic | Curator’s Perspective

The 1964 documentary Magic Molecule on the world of plastics is discussed. The film was released theatrically around the world.

The Silence: Giving A Voice to Victims

The Silence: Giving A Voice to Victims

We made this film because it allowed us to illuminate, from a never-before-seen vantage point, a human drama playing out on an almost global stage.

The NFB Shines a Light on Women in World War 2 | Curator’s Perspective

The NFB Shines a Light on Women in World War 2 | Curator’s Perspective

The role of women in World War 2 on the home front and overseas is seen in five National Film Board documentaries produced during the war.

Last Dance in Baghdad

Last Dance in Baghdad

History goes in cycles, and we need to learn from our past and build bridges that open dialogue. I am an Arab, even if I’m a Jew. Those two are not incompatible. I want people to see Baghdad Twist as a universal story, about a woman, a family, a community

Gilles Groulx at 90 | Curator’s Perspective

Gilles Groulx at 90 | Curator’s Perspective

Filmmaker Gilles Groulx was born in 1931 and would have turned 90 on August 30. The anniversary of his birthday is an opportunity to reflect on the significance of this director and his work.

Luben and Elena: The Love of Art and the Art of Love

Luben and Elena: The Love of Art and the Art of Love

By the time I decided to make this documentary, I had known Luben and Elena for 20 years, and I’d witnessed their growth as artists and human beings.

Atlanticanada: The NFB Turns Its Lens to the East | Curator’s Perspective

Atlanticanada: The NFB Turns Its Lens to the East | Curator’s Perspective

The documentary films of the Atlanticanada series produced by the National Film Board of Canada are highlighted.

Adieu Alouette: Contemporary Quebec… in English | Curator’s Perspective

Adieu Alouette: Contemporary Quebec… in English | Curator’s Perspective

The Adieu Alouette television series produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1973 was a look at the contemporary Quebec of the time.