Roman Kroitor

Production

Roman Kroitor

Born — Died

1926-12-12 — 2012-09-16

Place of birth

Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada

Known for

Production

Credits

42 titles

Roman Kroitor (December 12, 1926 – September 17, 2012) was a Canadian filmmaker who was known as a pioneer of Cinéma vérité, as the co-founder of IMAX, and as the creator of the Sandde hand-drawn stereoscopic 3D animation system. He was also the original inspiration for The Force. His prodigious output garnered numerous awards, including two BAFTA Awards, three Cannes Film Festival awards, and two Oscar nominations. Roman Boghdan Kroitor was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to Ukrainian immigrants Peter and Tatiana (Shewchuk), both of whom were teachers. Peter died when Roman was four; Tatiana moved the family to Winnipeg and continued teaching. Roman attended the University of Manitoba, grad…

Known for

21-87 poster
6.8

This short film from Arthur Lipsett is an abstract collage of snippets from discarded footage found by Lipsett in the editing room of the National Film Board (where he worked as an animator), combined with his own black and white 16mm footage shot on the streets of Montreal and New York City, among other locations. A commentary on a machine-dominated society, it is often cited as an influence on George Lucas's Star Wars and his conceptualization of "The Force."

21-87

1963

No artwork available
8.0

A young mother faces hardship in the form of an abusive ex-husband and overzealous social worker.

So Long To Run

1978

Strangers at the Door poster
7.0

This drama tells the harrowing story of an immigrant family in the New World. On arrival in Canada, their hopes for a better life were dashed when immigration officials refused to grant entry to their daughter. During a routine medical examination it was found that Kasia had contracted an infectious eye disease. She is separated from her family and sent back to Europe alone.

Strangers at the Door

1977

Man Belongs to the Earth poster
9.0

Made for screening at the U.S. Pavilion at the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane Washington, USA, which had a Native-American environmental theme, MAN BELONGS TO THE EARTH depicts the history of air, water, and earth pollution, and how environmentalists are trying to solve these problems using various technologies.

Man Belongs to the Earth

1974

No artwork available
7.0

A short 1960 documentary about physical fitness trends in the big city. Here you see modern man brought to bay by his own poundage, resolved to erase by exercise what rich food, idleness and age have put on.

I Was a Ninety-pound Weakling

1960

The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max poster
7.4

A filming of the 1990 Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" concert that traveled Europe. This was filmed in the IMAX process, which allows the film to be projected in a size ten times the size of a regular 35mm projected image.

The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max

1991

Film credits

Behind the camera

No artwork available
8.0

A young mother faces hardship in the form of an abusive ex-husband and overzealous social worker.

So Long To Run

1978

Strangers at the Door poster
7.0

This drama tells the harrowing story of an immigrant family in the New World. On arrival in Canada, their hopes for a better life were dashed when immigration officials refused to grant entry to their daughter. During a routine medical examination it was found that Kasia had contracted an infectious eye disease. She is separated from her family and sent back to Europe alone.

Strangers at the Door

1977

Man Belongs to the Earth poster
9.0

Made for screening at the U.S. Pavilion at the 1974 World's Fair in Spokane Washington, USA, which had a Native-American environmental theme, MAN BELONGS TO THE EARTH depicts the history of air, water, and earth pollution, and how environmentalists are trying to solve these problems using various technologies.

Man Belongs to the Earth

1974

No artwork available
7.0

A short 1960 documentary about physical fitness trends in the big city. Here you see modern man brought to bay by his own poundage, resolved to erase by exercise what rich food, idleness and age have put on.

I Was a Ninety-pound Weakling

1960

The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max poster
7.4

A filming of the 1990 Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" concert that traveled Europe. This was filmed in the IMAX process, which allows the film to be projected in a size ten times the size of a regular 35mm projected image.

The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max

1991

The End of the Line poster
10.0

This documentary short offers a nostalgic look at the steam locomotive as it passes from reality to history. In its heyday, the big smoke-belching steam engine seemed immortal. Now, powerful and efficient diesels are pushing the old coal-burning locomotives to the sidelines, and the lonely echo of their whistles may soon be a thing of the past.

The End of the Line

1959

Twice Upon a Time poster
10.0

This short satirical film takes us to Stereoville, a city where citizens must literally double up in their efforts to deal with the community’s 2 official languages. In Stereoville, each speaker of one language is tied to a speaker of the other, back-to-back. Into this two-stepping society stumbles a character whose very existence causes considerable consternation among locals: an unattached individual with command of both languages.

Twice Upon a Time

1979

Glenn Gould: On the Record poster
8.5

This short documentary (the second of two parts) follows Glenn Gould to New York City. There, we see the renowned Canadian concert pianist kidding the cab driver, bantering with sound engineers at Columbia Records, and then, alone with the piano, fastidiously recording Bach's Italian Concerto.

Glenn Gould: On the Record

1959

Glenn Gould: On the Record poster
8.5

This short documentary (the second of two parts) follows Glenn Gould to New York City. There, we see the renowned Canadian concert pianist kidding the cab driver, bantering with sound engineers at Columbia Records, and then, alone with the piano, fastidiously recording Bach's Italian Concerto.

Glenn Gould: On the Record

1959

Circus World poster
8.0

A vivid, behind-the-scenes look at the Big Top, the Greatest Show on Earth as presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Seen from the performers’ point of view, Circus World is a wonderfully human look at the tensions and harmony of families living in a circus environment, complete with The Flying Gaonas, exhilarating highwire acts, clowns, and the amazing feats of Gunther Gebel-Williams, the famous wild-animal trainer. "Circus World" was shown exclusively at the 600-seat IMAX theater at the Circus World theme park in Central Florida.

Circus World

1974

Circus World poster
8.0

A vivid, behind-the-scenes look at the Big Top, the Greatest Show on Earth as presented by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Seen from the performers’ point of view, Circus World is a wonderfully human look at the tensions and harmony of families living in a circus environment, complete with The Flying Gaonas, exhilarating highwire acts, clowns, and the amazing feats of Gunther Gebel-Williams, the famous wild-animal trainer. "Circus World" was shown exclusively at the 600-seat IMAX theater at the Circus World theme park in Central Florida.

Circus World

1974

The Baymen poster
10.0

Baymen, no matter where they go, remain above all else Newfoundlanders. They were born to the sea, to a place in the life of their cliffside village, but many of the younger generation are now looking to the city for their future. The film, produced in 1965, follows a bayman's family to St. John's, showing what such a change means to father, daughter and grandfather.

The Baymen

1966

Above the Horizon poster
9.0

An exciting exploration of the weather and how man may one day learn to control it. For this film a great deal of extraordinary colour footage of the sky was put together, including a demonstration of rain-making. There are views of the geysers of the sun, of bright streamers of northern lights, of wind-stirred clouds, and even the awesome fury of a hurricane.

Above the Horizon

1964

Above the Horizon poster
9.0

An exciting exploration of the weather and how man may one day learn to control it. For this film a great deal of extraordinary colour footage of the sky was put together, including a demonstration of rain-making. There are views of the geysers of the sun, of bright streamers of northern lights, of wind-stirred clouds, and even the awesome fury of a hurricane.

Above the Horizon

1964

A Foreign Language poster
7.0

This film observes, in a Montréal public school, the teaching of English to immigrant children. To thousands of children arriving in Canada from Greece, Italy, France, Germany or Japan, English is "a foreign language." Under able coaching they begin to understand and even enjoy the vagaries of the English language.

A Foreign Language

1958

The Back-breaking Leaf poster
9.5

Here is a graphic picture of the tobacco harvest in southwestern Ontario. At the end of July, transient field workers move in for a brief bonanza when the plant is ripe. The tobacco harvesters call it "the back-breaking leaf."

The Back-breaking Leaf

1959

Memory of Summer poster
7.0

An attempt to recapture the magic of childhood as the cameras follow children at play.

Memory of Summer

1958

In the Labyrinth poster
8.5

"Labyrinth" is a groundbreaking multi-screen 45-minute presentation produced for Chamber III of the Labyrinth at Expo 67 in Montreal, using 35 mm and 70 mm film projected simultaneously on multiple screens. A film without commentary in which multiple images, sometimes complementary, sometimes contrasting, draw the viewer through the different stages of a labyrinth. The tone of the film moves from great joy to wrenching sorrow; from stark simplicity to ceremonial pomp. It is life as it is lived by the people of the world, each one, as the film suggests, in a personal labyrinth. Re-released in 1979 as "In the Labyrinth" by the National Film Board of Canada in a 21-minute single projection format.

In the Labyrinth

1967

Glenn Gould: Off the Record poster
7.0

Canadian concert pianist Glenn Gould enjoys a respite at his lakeside cottage. It is an aspect of Gould previously known only to the collie pacing beside him through the woods, the fishermen resting their oars to hear his piano, and fellow musicians like Franz Kraemer, with whom Gould talks of composition. (First of two parts.)

Glenn Gould: Off the Record

1959

Glenn Gould: Off the Record poster
7.0

Canadian concert pianist Glenn Gould enjoys a respite at his lakeside cottage. It is an aspect of Gould previously known only to the collie pacing beside him through the woods, the fishermen resting their oars to hear his piano, and fellow musicians like Franz Kraemer, with whom Gould talks of composition. (First of two parts.)

Glenn Gould: Off the Record

1959

We Are Born of Stars poster
7.0

WE ARE BORN OF STARS is the first Anaglyph single projector 3D film created for IMAX/IMAX Dome projection. Using computer graphics, the film traces the development of life from the formation of atomic nuclei in stars to the molecular structure of water and DNA, zooming the audience through the five-billion-year evolution of our solar system.

We Are Born of Stars

1985

Nobody Waved Goodbye poster
6.2

A teenage boy rebels against parental authority and must face a harsh reality when he tries to live on his own.

Nobody Waved Goodbye

1964

Paul Tomkowicz: Street Railway Switchman poster
5.9

A self-narrated portrait of a Polish immigrant in Winnipeg whose unglamorous job keeping streetcar switches working reveals dignity, resilience, and pride in everyday labor.

Paul Tomkowicz: Street Railway Switchman

1953

Paul Tomkowicz: Street Railway Switchman poster
5.9

A self-narrated portrait of a Polish immigrant in Winnipeg whose unglamorous job keeping streetcar switches working reveals dignity, resilience, and pride in everyday labor.

Paul Tomkowicz: Street Railway Switchman

1953

Lonely Boy poster
6.0

This short film portrays the story of singer Paul Anka, who rose from obscurity to become the idol of millions of adolescent fans around the world. Taking a candid look at both sides of the footlights, this film examines the marketing machine behind a generation of pop singers. Interviews with Anka and his manager reveal their perspective on the industry.

Lonely Boy

1962

Lonely Boy poster
6.0

This short film portrays the story of singer Paul Anka, who rose from obscurity to become the idol of millions of adolescent fans around the world. Taking a candid look at both sides of the footlights, this film examines the marketing machine behind a generation of pop singers. Interviews with Anka and his manager reveal their perspective on the industry.

Lonely Boy

1962

The Days Before Christmas poster
6.5

This short documentary depicts Christmastime in Montreal. The milling crowds, department store Santas, Brink's messengers, kindergarten angels and boisterous nightclubs all combine to make a vivid portrait of the holidays.

The Days Before Christmas

1958

No artwork available
7.0

Designed for civil defense rescue, this film demonstrates five stages of rescue in removing trapped or injured persons from a building damaged by bomb blast. It describes the functions of different members of a rescue party: local warden, damage-control officer, rescue leader, deputy and crew. We see how a systematic search is organized to locate and extricate casualties from fallen debris. Emphasis is placed on accurate recording and checking of information so that no trapped persons are overlooked. Includes footage of city buildings collapsing under aerial bombing.

Rescue Party

1953

Universe poster
7.5

A triumph of film art, creating on the screen a vast, awe-inspiring picture of the universe as it would appear to a voyager through space, this film was among the sources of inspiration used by Stanley Kubrick for his 2001: A Space Odyssey. Realistic animation takes you into far regions of space, beyond the reach of the strongest telescope, past Moon, Sun, and Milky Way, into galaxies yet unfathomed.

Universe

1960

Universe poster
7.5

A triumph of film art, creating on the screen a vast, awe-inspiring picture of the universe as it would appear to a voyager through space, this film was among the sources of inspiration used by Stanley Kubrick for his 2001: A Space Odyssey. Realistic animation takes you into far regions of space, beyond the reach of the strongest telescope, past Moon, Sun, and Milky Way, into galaxies yet unfathomed.

Universe

1960

North of Superior poster
8.8

The second IMAX film made, commissioned by the Ontario Government, and produced by MultiScreen Corporation, later to become IMAX corporation. North of Superior is a Northern Ontario travelogue, and was the first short feature to be shown at the newly created Ontario government theme park, Ontario Place, in it's state of the art cinema, Cinesphere, the first permanent IMAX installation.

North of Superior

1971

Festival in Puerto Rico poster
10.0

This short documentary features Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester as she sings at the Festival Casals, a musical event founded by the great Spanish cellist and conductor Pablo Casals and sponsored annually by the Puerto Rican government. Part concert film, part tourism film, Festival in Puerto Rico offers viewers candid glimpses of mid-20th century Puerto Rico intercut with performance footage of Forrester and her husband, violinist-conductor Eugene Kash.

Festival in Puerto Rico

1961

Festival in Puerto Rico poster
10.0

This short documentary features Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester as she sings at the Festival Casals, a musical event founded by the great Spanish cellist and conductor Pablo Casals and sponsored annually by the Puerto Rican government. Part concert film, part tourism film, Festival in Puerto Rico offers viewers candid glimpses of mid-20th century Puerto Rico intercut with performance footage of Forrester and her husband, violinist-conductor Eugene Kash.

Festival in Puerto Rico

1961

Police poster
6.0

The misbehaving public performs for the camera in a half-hour miscellany of misdeeds. In a behind-the-scenes look at the hour-by-hour operation of a large metropolitan police force, this film presents a fair sampling of what keeps Toronto's police officers busy twenty-four hours a day.

Police

1958

No artwork available
8.0

This short documentary records the rural sights and sounds of the Eastern Townships of Quebec. The day of the big stationary threshing machine is almost over, as the machine is pushed into obscurity by the combine harvester. But there are still parts of Canada where crops are gathered in the old-fashioned way as the men work out in the fields and the women manage the kitchen. This film offers a rare and charming glimpse into mid-20th-century rural and family life in Canada.

Country Threshing

1958

No artwork available
8.0

This short documentary is about newcomers to Canada and what they eat. Funny, mouth-watering and visually delectable, it takes us into the specialty food shops where the ingredients are bought, and into the homes where the food is prepared and served in the traditional way.

Hold the Ketchup

1977

No artwork available
8.0

This film provides a brief history of the fur trade in Canada, showing its effects on exploration and settlement. Engravings and paintings from the periods represented convey the romance, the adventures and the hardships of traders, Indigenous People and coureurs des bois. Animated maps indicate the old fur trade routes.

Age of the Beaver

1952

Bravery in the Field poster
6.8

An aged World War II veteran and a young street punk violently meet and discover more in common than anticipated. The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film.

Bravery in the Field

1980

Hail Columbia! poster
7.2

An IMAX documentary that follows the first flight of Space Shuttle Columbia, from launch preparations to its historic return to Earth.

Hail Columbia!

1982

Hail Columbia! poster
7.2

An IMAX documentary that follows the first flight of Space Shuttle Columbia, from launch preparations to its historic return to Earth.

Hail Columbia!

1982