Filmmaker’s Lancaster documentary nominated for Canadian Screen Award
Dundas filmmaker Morgan Elliott has been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for “Reunion of Giants,” her documentary on the 2014 flight of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s Avro Lancaster to England to meet the only other surviving Lancaster in the world.
“Reunion of Giants,” which was broadcast on CBC’s Documentary Channel, received a nomination for best history documentary program, along with three other films — “Newfoundland at Armageddon” (CBC), “The Pass System” (APTN), and “War Story: Afghanistan” (History).
The winner will be announced by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television at a gala ceremony in Toronto on March 7.
Elliott, owner of Dundas-based Suddenly SeeMore Productions Inc., was producer, executive producer and director of “Reunion of Giants,” leading a team that included Carla Jones, Adam Ivers and Mark Krupka.
“It is so exciting to be nominated for a Canadian Screen Award because it means we are being recognized by our peers,” Elliott said.
The 83-minute film chronicles the flight of the 70-year-old Hamilton-based warplane, known as “Vera,” across the Atlantic to meet its only surviving counterpart, “Thumper,” at its home base in England. The event marked the first time in 50 years that two Avro Lancasters had flown side-by-side.
“We worked very closely with the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum,” Elliott said. “They allowed us full access, unfiltered. At the end of the day, we were able to tell this amazing story.”
Elliott described the self-financed project as a labour of love.
“To meet all the veterans was amazing,” she said. “I think the youngest was 94 and the oldest 102. That made it hit home why this film was important.”
“Reunion of Giants,” first aired on television last spring, but also played to sold-out audiences on Remembrance Day in 23 Cineplex theatres across the country.
As well, thousands of people have purchased DVDs of the documentary through the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum gift shop in Mount Hope.
Among Suddenly SeeMore’s other current productions is the game show “Spin Off,” which appears on CHCH-TV.
Elliott, a Burlington native, has been working in film since 1993, specializing in reality adventure television.
Suddenly SeeMore has produced more than a dozen TV series and more than a dozen one-hour documentaries, receiving two Gemini awards for the 2012 variety special “Season of Song — The Canadian Tenors & Friends.”
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morgan January 21, 2017 Uncategorized