Thanks for your blog on the nfb - much more informative, more thoroughly researched, and better written than To NFB or not to NFB!
Good piece Seth, glad you updated Matt.
The digitizing of NFB films is a master stroke, and is to be applauded. Till now, in my experience, NFB distribution continues to adhere to the infamous joke of 20 years, and counting:
Q:"How do we get rid of AIDS?"
A: "Have the NFB distribute it."
I know the NFB is taking risks, they took one on FLicKeR, a dithyramb, which has gone on to win awards, international acclaim, and a Canadian theatrical release, care of an innovative private-sector distributor that the NFB is able to connect with.
As filmmakers often say, there is something about the NFB that makes it possible to create innovative work that simply can't be done anywhere else. I wish them another 70 years.
btw, please check again, FLicKeR isn't at all Gysin-worshipping, it is an active critique, to be sure.
Nik Sheehan
CeLL Productions
