Sturla Gunnarsson (born August 30, 1951)"Sturla Gunnarsson". The Canadian Encyclopedia. is an Icelandic-Canadian film and television director and producer.
Gunnarsson was born in Reykjavík in 1951. He moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, with his parents when he was seven years old. As he grew up he became interested in filmmaking and went to the University of British Columbia where he completed undergraduate studies in English literature and graduate work in film studies. Part of the graduate program requires the production of a film. His student film, A Day Much Like the Others, went on to win the Norman McLaren Award at the Canadian Student Film Festival,"Vancouver student wins". Regina Leader-Post, September 28, 1977. as well as an award at the European Student Film Festival. It was also screened at New York City's Museum of Modern Art.
With his formal education behind him, Gunnarsson moved to Toronto and worked initially at the National Film Board (NFB). His first NFB project, After the Axe, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.Balkissoon, Denise (July 2008). "History Major: Sturla Gunnarsson tells the true story of a great Canadian tragedy. Finally ", Toronto Life 42 (7): 21. Retrieved September 23, 2010. He has since won a number of awards including Emmy Award, Genie Award and Gemini Awards, a Prix Italia, and the Prix Villes de Cannes.
His documentary about David Suzuki, Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, won the People's Choice Documentary Award at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.Knelman, Martin (September 22, 2010). "Suzuki documentary explores the nature of him", Toronto Star, p. E4.
In 2018, Gunnarsson worked with film and story editor Nick Hector to complete the movie Sharkwater Extinction after the death of Rob Stewart."TIFF 2018: Sharkwater Extinction and the legacy of Rob Stewart". The Globe and Mail, September 6, 2018.
Features and TV movies A Day Much Like the Others (1979) After the Axe (1982-P) Final Offer (TV 1985-P) Where Is Here? (1987-P) Diplomatic Immunity (1991-P) North of 60 (1993) Scales of Justice (1991–95, TV): Episodes "Regina v Stewart", "Regina v Truscott", "Regina v Gamble & Nichols" The Diary of Evelyn Lau (TV 1993) We the Jury (TV 1996) Mother Trucker: The Diana Kilmury Story (TV 1996) Gerrie & Louise (1997) Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way (TV 1997) Such a Long Journey (1998) Dangerous Evidence: The Lori Jackson Story (TV 1999) Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol (TV 1999) Scorn (TV 2000) Rare Birds (2001) The Man Who Saved Christmas (TV 2002) 100 Days in the Jungle (TV 2002) Above and Beyond (TV 2005) Beowulf & Grendel (2005-P) Air India 182 (TV documentary 2008) Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie (2010) Ice Soldiers (2013) Monsoon (2014)
Awards International Emmy Award in 1997, for Gerrie & Louise Genie Award in 1986, for Final Offer Gemini Awards Prix Italia Prix Villes de Cannes Cadillac People's Choice Documentary Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010, for Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie Canada's Top Ten Film Festival People's Choice Award, awarded in January 2015 for Monsoon
References
External links
Watch films by Sturla Gunnarsson at the National Film Board of Canada Sturla Gunnarsson's personal website