Download 5 NFB Docs for Only $0.99 Each!

What’s better than 5 NFB docs? 5 NFB docs that you can download for just $0.99 each!

For a limited time, download these short films, on a variety of subjects from football to organic food to Emily Carr, all for under a buck!

The sale ends September 5!

Grassroots in Dry Lands

Follow three unconventional social workers from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Israel who are coming together to build a more just and civil society.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/grassroots_in_dry_lands/

Download the film.

Finding Macpherson

This feature doc tells the story of the improbable friendship between acclaimed Quebec singer Félix Leclerc and the intriguing Frank Randolph Macpherson.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/finding_macpherson/

Download the film.

Donald Brittain: Filmmaker

Take a close look at one of the best documentary filmmakers in the world, Donald Brittain.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/donald_brittain_filmmaker/

Download the film.

One Man

One reporter risks it all—his marriage, his job, and his family’s safety—to save innocent children from the devastating effects of industrial pollution.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/one_man/

Download the film.

Kim Campbell Through the Looking Glass

Enjoy this documentary portrait of Kim Campbell, the politician who ruled Canada for two and a half months.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/kim_campbell_through_the_looking_glass/

Download the film.

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Travel To Africa Through NFB Films

For all of you who’ve wanted to travel internationally but just couldn’t find the time or money… did you know there’s an NFB film for that?

Take a cinematic trip to the gorgeous continent of Africa through 9 NFB docs!

Burkina Faso and South Africa

United States of Africa

Join African hip-hop pioneer Didier Awadi on his quest to pay tribute to the great black revolutionary leaders who struggled for a united, independent Africa.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/united_states_of_africa/

Tales of Sand and Snow

Facing homesickness in Canada, a filmmaker from Burkina Faso bonds with the Atikamekw people of northern Quebec over their shared history of colonization, and finds comfort and strength in friendship.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/tales_of_sand_and_snow

Egypt

Four Women of Egypt

Spend time with four Egyptian women of different cultural and religious backgrounds as they listen to one another’s views and argue openly, without ever breaking the bond that unites them.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/four_women_egypt/

The Lost Pharaoh: The Search for Akhenaten

Watch Canadian archaeologist Dr. Donald Redford as he pieces together the story of Akhenaten, an ancient pharaoh almost lost to history.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/lost_pharaoh_search_for_akhenaten/

Ghana

Not Far from Bolgatanga

Witness how international aid works, or fails to work, in the transfer of technology from a more to a less industrialized society.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/not_far_from_bolgatanga/

Kenya

Gun Runners

Watch this poignant feature doc that follows two of the most notorious warriors and cattle rustlers in Northern Kenya who they trade in their AK-47s for running shoes to pursue their dream of becoming professional marathon runners.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/gun_runners/

Nigeria

In Praise of Hands

This short pays tribute to the craftsmen everywhere, and shows the special skills of artisans working at their crafts – stone sculpture, pottery, ceramics, weaving, dyeing, puppet making, embroidery.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/in_praise_of_hands/

Nigeria: Giant in Africa

Discover Nigeria’s many peoples and rich history with this documentary produced in 1960, the very year Nigeria obtained its independence from the United Kingdom.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/nigeria_giant_in_africa/

Nollywood Babylon

Travel to Lagos, Nigeria with our feature doc about Nollywood, the booming local film industry infamous for its very particular style of low-budget, voodoo-inspired urban tales.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/nollywood_babylon/

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5 Films to Get You in the Back to School Spirit

As August slips away, kids and parents across the country are already getting started buying clothing and supplies for another year of school. For kids, it’s a tradition that brings with it nervousness, excitement, and perhaps a little resentment for the idea of the coming days and months spent in the classroom. Of course, for parents, the same idea probably brings at least a measure of relief.

Whether back to school time is a concern in your life right now, or it’s just a distant dream from long ago, you’ll probably find something resonant in these five films. With takes on the school experience that range from funny, to uplifting, to a little upsetting, they offer an interesting cross section of life in and around Canada’s education system.

Kindergarten

Educating the very young is a bit like herding curious, chatty cats. You can enjoy a bit of that dynamic in this short doc, which follows a group of kindergarten students over the course of a regular day at school. They’re cute, inquisitive, and full of energy. Watching them is a nice reminder that school could be a fair bit of fun sometimes.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/kindergarten/

The World at 10

Not all young students have an easy time getting through school. In this doc, you can follow two 10-year-olds as they learn, struggle, and grow under the instruction of a tough-but-firm teacher at their inner-city school. Economic and familial disadvantages play an important role in their academic difficulties, highlighting just how valuable it is for a child’s education to be invested in by their entire home.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/world_at_10/

Bus Story

A bit of a different take on the back to school theme, this short animated film follows the misadventures of a woman just starting out as a bus driver. The animation’s unique mixture of simple and detailed images, combined with a dark, yet funny story, makes for a worthwhile tale that is both caution and encouragement for lifelong learners wanting to try something new.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/bus_story/

Off to School

Today, most children across the country can expect to attend regular classes and get a high-quality education. In 1958, when this film was made, this was not always true. Broken into three parts, this doc explores the unique ways in which children from remote communities were able to get an education decades ago – like via sea-bus, or on a railway coach. The third story, about life at a residential school, is perhaps best viewed as illustrative of public and governmental perception of that harmful program at an earlier point in time.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/off_to_school/

Pen-Hi Grad

A light, short doc, this film presents us with students graduating from a small-town high school, busying themselves with celebrations and graduation ceremonies while wondering about the future. For former students with fond memories of their time in high school, it’s a fun look back at an exciting and confusing time – viewed now with the added comfort of knowing that for most, it’s the beginning of a wonderful and rewarding journey into adulthood.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/pen_hi_grad/

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#FF: 10 NFB Filmmakers to Follow on Social Media

“We’re making progress connecting the world, and now let’s bring the world closer together. It’s an honor to be on this journey with you.”

That’s the message published earlier this summer by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg on the day the social media platform reached two billion users.

Yes, two billion – more than a quarter of the world’s population. Whether you use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, Vimeo, or all of them, you have the whole world (or almost) at your fingertips.

We at the NFB love these social platforms too, because they allow us to stay connected with our filmmakers and partners. Whether you use social to discover a filmmaker’s day-to-day inspirations, or walk alongside them as they attend prestigious festivals, or even to just get an inside glimpse at their latest projects, social media becomes your best friend.

Here are 10 NFB filmmakers that you’ll definitely want to follow on social media to liven up your timeline.

Patrick Doyon

Nominated for an Oscar® in 2012 for his delightful animated short film Sunday, Patrick Doyon is a producer, animator, illustrator – and father. His marvellous knack for depicting the imagination of a child will brighten your timelines. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Vimeo.

James Braithwaite

His very first animated film, I Met the Walrus, was nominated for an Oscar® in 2008. Now, James Braithwaite is working with the NFB on his next project, Persistent Infection. As you’ll notice if you peruse his website or Instagram page, he’s quite a character.

Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski

Animation and stop-motion specialists Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (or Clyde Henry Productions) strode the red carpets at Cannes and the Oscars® after their first professional production, the magnificent animated short Madame Tutli-Putli (2007). Populated with enchanting puppets and extravagant sets, their Instagram page is a world unto itself.

Ann Marie Fleming

Japanese-Canadian artist Ann Marie Fleming is the head, pencil, and (above all) heart behind the animated feature Window Horses. Follow her adventures, and those of her alter ego, Stick Girl, on Twitter and Instagram! And check out their adorable website: The World According to Stick Girl.

Paloma Dawkins

Paloma Dawkins, alias PalGal, is an animator, comic book artist, and video game developer. Her unique surrealist and kaleidoscopic style will soon be featured in Museum of Symmetry, her next NFB project. Enter her world on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr!

Theodore Ushev

Bulgarian-born Montréal filmmaker Theodore Ushev has produced no fewer than 18 films in his 14-year career. His most recent work, the dark and poetic Blind Vaysha, was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the most recent Oscars®. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter for an exclusive look at his art, inspirations, and future projects.

Alex Boya

Alex Boya, another Bulgarian-born Montréal artist, specializes in medical illustration. Three years after making Focus in the NFB’s Hothouse program, he is now working on a new animated short entitled Turbine. Check out his website, Facebook page, or GIPHY page – which we adore! – for more of his “medical expressionism.”

Matthew Rankin

Recently selected for the Semaine de la Critique at the Festival de Cannes and for the prestigious Annecy and Toronto festivals for The Tesla World Light, Winnipeg-Quebecer Matthew Rankin is noted for his use of historical elements and an aesthetic imbued with lyricism. Dive into his fabulous world on Instagram and Vimeo.

Sylvie Trouvé & Dale Hayward

Also known by their company name of See Creature, Sylvie Trouvé and Dale Hayward firmly believe that anything can be animated. Very active on Facebook, they are currently working on a stop-motion animated film inspired by the mythical Slavic witch Baba Yaga. Subscribers to the couple’s outstanding Instagram feed can follow along on every step of the film’s journey.

Eoin Duffy

Irish-born Vancouver resident Eoin Duffy studied visual communication at the Dublin Institute of Technology and produced the animated short I Am Here with the NFB. Tinged with black humour, her Vimeo and Instagram feeds are gold mines of small, colourful films.

And for a daily dose of all these artists, be sure to follow the NFB on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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Download 5 NFB Animated Films for Just $0.99 Each!

What’s better than 5 NFB animated films? 5 NFB animated films that you can download for just $0.99 each!

For a limited time, download these short films, on a variety of subjects from music to relationships to prejudice, all for under a buck!

The sale ends August 29!

Sexy Laundry

Can the flames of desire be rekindled after 25 years of married life?

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/sexy_laundry/

Download the film here.

Real Inside

Take a playful look at stereotypes and prejudices in hiring practices with this amusing short film about an animated character hoping to find employment in the real world.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/real_inside/

Download the film here.

Concerto Grosso Modo

This short animation is a playful introduction to musical notation.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/concerto_grosso_modo_en/

Download the film here.

Subservience

Watch this dark and atmospheric short about a puppet’s-eye view on labour exploitation and class struggle.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/subservience/

Download the film here.

Hors-d’oeuvre

This film is a collection of 1-minute cartoons produced by NFB animators for government sponsors.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/hors_doeuvre/

Download the film here.

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The Best NFB Films of the 1940s

With over 3000 films that you can stream for free online, picking a starting point

Enjoy a (subjective)  list of the 10 best NFB films from the 1940s!

Alouette

This animated short illustrates the popular song Alouette, gentille alouette.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/alouette_en/

Begone Dull Care

Watch and listen as Evelyn Lambart and Norman McLaren are joined by the Oscar Peterson Trio in this ode to colour, form and music.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/begone_dull_care/

Boogie-Doodle

Get into a ragtime-inspired groove with the music of Albert Ammons and the experimental animation of Norman McLaren.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/boogie-doodle/

Canada Calling

Focusing on the CBC, this short doc illustrates the variety of radio fare available during the 1940s.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/canada_calling/

Churchill’s Island

Get a rare glimpse inside the U-boats and flotillas of the Isle of Britain’s WWII defenses. This film won the NFB its first Oscar®, and was the first doc to ever take home the prestigious award.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/churchills_island/

Five for Four

Discover this Norman McLaren short in which symbols, drawn directly onto 35mm film stock, move and dance to convey the importance of wartime savings.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/five_for_four/

Hot Ice

This short doc offers a close-up view of a hectic hockey game in which the Toronto Maple Leafs and the New York Rangers fight to break a tied score.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/hot_ice/

How to Build an Igloo

Brush up on your igloo-making skills with this classic short film that shows how to make a winter shelter using only snow and a knife.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/how_to_build_an_igloo/

Now – The Peace

On January 9, 1951, the UN Headquarters opened in New York. In honour of this anniversary, learn how the United Nations came into being with this short film from 1945.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/now_the_peace/

Warclouds in the Pacific

Facing the greatest threat in their history, the democracies of the Pacific took careful stock of this new Japan and its strength, and erected a vast system of defence across the world’s greatest ocean.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/warclouds_in_the_pacific/

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5 Knockout Fighting Docs to Watch Before Mayweather vs. McGregor

The upcoming boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor is one of the most exciting events in sports history. On one side, you have Mayweather, an aging, undefeated boxer looking for his 50^th victory. On the other, you have McGregor, a younger mixed martial arts champion with no professional boxing experience, looking to cause the biggest upset in boxing history. It’s a matchup like nothing that’s come before, and the world can’t wait to see what will happen.

Stories like this one are an important reason for the popularity of combat sports. The stories of fighters are tales of human ambition, passion, and resolve, written in blood and sweat in rings around the world. If you want to watch the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight with a better understanding of fighting culture, check out these 5 knockout docs that offer powerful stories from the world of combat sports.

The Steak

A great introduction to the mentality of the fighter, this doc offers an intimate look at the life and perspective of former champion boxer Gaetan Hart. It’s an emotional exploration of the highs and lows of life in the ring, and offers amazing insight into the reasons why people fight – as well as the consequences they can face for doing so.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/steak-en/

Fists of Pride

A darker side of fighting is exposed in this doc. Viewers will get to experience a slice of the lives of children training in boxing camps on the border between Thailand and Burma. There, the kids hope to develop skills that will earn money and respect for themselves and their families. At times upsetting, this film nonetheless offers a valuable look at the way, for many fighters, fighting is seen as a path to a better life.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/fists_of_pride/

Golden Gloves

A more subdued fighting doc, this film offers the perspectives of a few fighters from decades ago on what it is like to fight, what they think of their opponents, and how they feel performing for a crowd. For those with an interest in tracing back the roots of modern combat sports, watching this doc is sure to be a valuable experience.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/golden_gloves/

Fight

Success in fighting takes drive and discipline that, for many, are first acquired through hard work in the ring. This doc offers a look at a Winnipeg high school teacher’s attempts to help underperforming students succeed by developing a work ethic through boxing. Witnessing the successes and failures of his students, viewers can get a taste of the ways that combat sports can lead to personal growth, and why practitioners can quickly become so attached to them.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/fight/

Legend of a Warrior

In fighting and in life, it can be difficult to distinguish important figures from the legends that have sprung up around them. This doc follows Corey Lee, son of legendary fighter and coach Frank Lee, as he re-enters his father’s world in an attempt to learn more about who his father is. A heartfelt film, it’s great evidence that behind every fighter are human motivations and dreams, just waiting to be discovered by those willing to look for them.

oehttps://www.nfb.ca/film/legend_of_a_warrior/

Header image credit: Fights Day

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iA Writer: Plain Text Writer and Editor

iA Writer aims to “provide the best writing experience on Mac OS, iOS, and Android.”

It is hard to create a new word processor. Many have tried, and many have failed. Most people don’t want to switch away from Word, or Pages, or whatever app they feel most comfortable using. iA Writer is attempting to lure people away from their preferred word processor through pretty, elegant design and cool, useful features. iA Writer is, at its core, a simple, basic writing app. It also does things most other writing apps aren’t capable of doing, such as embedding files, adding images, and adding tables, all using plain text commands. Once added, the results display in a well-designed preview mode.

Monotype World from iA on Vimeo.

iA Writer is designed to work on multiple devices. It looks as good on a phone as it does on a desktop, and is as easy to use on both. There’s also a ton of unique features, such as “Flow Mode,” which hides everything except for the sentence that you’re currently working on, to reduce the urge to edit. There’s also a “night mode,” which inverts the color scheme, in order to make it easier to write at night. iA Writer costs $9.99, but there’s also a free trial available. It’s worth testing out if you’re thinking about switching up your word processor, or if you want a new platform to test out your writing.

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Dugout: Football Inside Out

Dugout is the ultimate destination for global football fans.

Just to get this out of the way at the beginning, I call the sport that you call football “soccer,” and will do so for the remainder of this blog post. I’m sorry. I’m American. I can’t help myself. Even though I’m not totally knowledgeable about the sport, I still think it’s the world’s best game. I also think Dugout is one of the best sites covering it. Dugout has tons of great soccer content, much of it sourced directly from clubs themselves. You can also sort content by player—clicking on a player’s name brings up a variety of articles and videos. There’s also exclusive content on Dugout, which appears alongside the up-to-date soccer news you might get from other sites.

Dugout’s layout differs from most other blogs. The site presents visitors with blocks of content, and the layout remains the same based on which filtering options you select (player, club, etc.). There’s almost too much content on Dugout, as it seems like the list of articles is endlessly refillable. If the website isn’t cool enough for you, there are also apps available on both iOS and Android. Whether you call it football or soccer, there’s no denying it’s a beautiful game. And there’s no denying that Dugout is a beautiful place to stay on top of the latest football/soccer news.

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FoodieTrip: Eat Like A Local Everywhere

FoodieTrip lets you book authentic experiences with local food experts.

Eat Your Way Around The World

One of the best things about traveling is being able to taste the local cuisine. Everyone has a different preference. Some people like dining at fancy restaurants, while others like consuming whatever’s on the nearest street cart. The problem with eating in new places is that most people find their next food place on Yelp, TripAdvisor, or other sites that tend to neglect certain hidden treasures. FoodieTrip lets people book authentic food experiences in several cities around the world, guided by local experts. There are food experiences in most major cities around the world, as well as verified guides everywhere.

Connect With Local Foodies

To find a food experience, you can search or browse the cities in which FoodieTrip operates. Each city has an extensive list of options. Food experts typically lay out a plan for where they will take you and what you will eat—tapas in Spain, food in Turkey’s Asian and European side, etc.—as well as a price for the tour. Then you can select your dates and book. FoodieTrip also aims to be more than just a food tour provider, as the trips are expected to be more than just a culinary experience since you get to connect with a local guide and interact. Food is one of the best ways to discover a culture, and FoodieTrip is one of the best ways to do so.

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