First Winter is a 1981 Canadian short film, produced by the National Film Board of Canada and directed by John N. Smith. It is about an Irish immigrant family's first winter in Canada in 1830, centring on the hardships experienced by the mother (Kathleen McAuliffe) and children (Sharon O'Neill and Eric Patrick Godfrey) while the father (Kevin Kennedy) is away working at a logging camp.Ian MacLeod, "Roughing it with Valley settlers". Ottawa Citizen, March 22, 1980.
The film was shot in 1980, in and around Algonquin Park.Bonnie Campbell, "Looking back in Alqonquin Park". Ottawa Journal, March 6, 1980. Smith went directly to Ireland to cast the roles of the children, as he needed to find kids who were able to speak Irish Gaelic.
The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 54th Academy Awards in 1982.Bruce Bailey, "Montrealers have high hopes for Oscar gold". Montreal Gazette, March 20, 1982.
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