Blackwood (1976 film)

Blackwood is a 1976 Canadian short documentary film about Newfoundland artist David Blackwood, directed by Tony Ianzelo and Andy Thomson for the National Film Board of Canada.

The film studies the works of Newfoundland’s David Blackwood (1941-2022), one of Canada’s greatest intaglio printmakers. Blackwood guides viewers through the process of etching, with step-by-step explanations. We see historical images of his home town of Wesleyville, and hear the tales of a seasoned seaman.

Much of Blackwood’s work depicted Newfoundland outport life and industry, and we see some of his images of shipwrecks, seal hunting and iceberg encounters. Narration is in the dulcet tones of Newfoundland native Gordon Pinsent, and the cinematography has fine threads weaving, mingling, separating and disappearing, evoking a sense of history and a way of life long gone.

Awards

 * Festival International du Film sur l'Art, Paris - Grand Prize for the Quality of the Image, 1977
 * Festival of Tourist and Folklore Films, Brussels - Prize of the Principality of Monaco for the Best Film Evocating the Past of a Region by the Means of Art, 1977
 * Yorkton Film Festival, Yorkton, Saskatchewan: Golden Sheaf Award, Best Short Film, 1977
 * Yorkton Film Festival, Yorkton, Saskatchewan: Golden Sheaf Award, Best Sound Editing (to John Knight), 1977
 * 49th Academy Awards, Los Angeles – Nominee, Best Documentary Short Subject