Production
Arvi Liimatainen
Born 1949-08-31
B.C. and Alberta screen industries are mourning the loss of a longtime local filmmaker who worked on some of Western Canada's most prominent films and TV series. Finnish-born Arvi Liimatainen died from cancer in Vancouver on May 19 at the age of 68. With a career spanning over four decades in screen industries, Liimatainen worked in numerous capacities, including as a studio technician, writer, film critic, story editor, actor, broadcaster, production manager, producer, executive producer, and director. As a producer with Haddock Entertainment, he worked on Vancouver-shot TV series such as Da Vinci's Inquest, Da Vinci's City Hall, and Intelligence. He also produced several films directed by B.C.'s Anne Wheeler, including Marine Life, Bye Bye Blues, and Cowboys Don't Cry, and his more recent producing credits include the TV series Hiccups, Gracepoint, and The Romeo Section. As a director, he helmed episodes of The Beachcombers, Mentors, Jake and the Kid, and Breaker High. Over his extensive career, he collected numerous awards, including a Canadian Screen Award, Gemini Awards, and Leo Awards. Beyond B.C., he also contributed to the Albertan and national film industries. He served as chair of the Banff World Media Festival (then known as the Banff Television Festival) and became an honorary lifetime director; was on board of the Alberta Media Production Industries Association; and was the director of the National Screen Institute. In the art world, he also produced Vancouver-based artist Stan Douglas' film-based art installations Inconsolable Memories and Klatsassin.
Acting credits
Behind the camera
4.4The Shadow Warriors hire on to reclaim the daughter of a woman whose ex-husband kidnapped the child after a custody battle. At the same time, they uncover a terrorist plot to attack Seattle.
Assault on Death Mountain
1999
5.6Five astronauts make the first manned trip to Mars in the second decade of the 21st century. They must battle and overcome inferior computer components, corporate greed and indifference, and their own personal problems, as well as the surprises that the Red Planet has in store for them.
Escape from Mars
1999
5.3Set in 2045, Vic, an ex-ultimate fighter, is the owner of the only airstrip, hotel and bar in the high Arctic frontier town of Borealis. He does his best to keep the peace amongst a vast array of clashing characters in this lawless international free zone that sits on top of the world’s last remaining oil.
Survival Code
2013
5.0During World War II, Daisy Cooper returns home to Canada with her children after her British husband, soldier Teddy, is assigned to Singapore. With the help of trombonist Max Gramley, Daisy's amateurish piano and vocal skills improve, and soon she is supporting her family with her performances. Unsure whether Teddy is alive or dead, Daisy is torn between staying faithful and giving in to her growing feelings for Max.
Bye Bye Blues
1989
4.0Marine Life revolves around the choatic family life of June, a middle-aged lounge singer and mother. Aging and twice divorced, lounge singer June Nordstrom tries to cope with her fading beauty, her troubled offspring, her waning career and her young lover, who begins seeing a woman his age behind June's back.
Marine Life
2000
A 17-year-old has the summer of her life when she moves to a tiny Alberta resort and meets two new friends and a handsome lifeguard.
Sylvan Lake Summer
1990
A student's death and a killer's arrival unite a sergeant (Shaun Johnston) and the new police chief (Ron White) in an Alberta prairie town.
Strange and Rich
—
NRGreat Days in the Rockies is a film on an early Rocky Mountain photographer, Byron Harmon. Renowned for both his ingenuity and his technique, Harmon made a good living taking and selling his photographs, which depict the characters and events of early Banff. At present, 6 500 negatives of his work are held at the Peter Whyte Archives in Banff.
Great Days in the Rockies
1983
NRGreat Days in the Rockies is a film on an early Rocky Mountain photographer, Byron Harmon. Renowned for both his ingenuity and his technique, Harmon made a good living taking and selling his photographs, which depict the characters and events of early Banff. At present, 6 500 negatives of his work are held at the Peter Whyte Archives in Banff.
Great Days in the Rockies
1983