John Grierson
Info
John Grierson (1898–1972) was a pioneering Scottish filmmaker and producer who shaped the documentary film movement, earning recognition as the father of British and Canadian documentary cinema. He famously coined the term "documentary" in 1926 and championed the idea that film should serve as a tool for social education and reform. As the driving force behind the British documentary movement, he founded the GPO Film Unit, which produced groundbreaking works like Night Mail (1936), and later played a key role in establishing the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in 1939, turning it into one of the world's most influential documentary institutions. Grierson’s vision and advocacy for documentary as a vehicle for public service and civic engagement left a lasting legacy on global nonfiction filmmaking.
Date of Birth
Apr 26, 1898
Place of Birth
Kilmadock, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK
Date of Death
Feb 19, 1972
Gender
Male
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Credits
Production
20251h 7 min
196526 min
19541h 28 min
19531h 25 min
Acting
Directing
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