John Kastner (filmmaker)
John Kastner is a four-time Emmy Award winning Canadian documentary filmmaker whose recent work has focused on the Canadian criminal justice system. His films include the documentaries Out of Mind, Out of Sight (2014), a film about patients at the Brockville Mental Health Centre, named best Canadian feature documentary at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival;[1] NCR: Not Criminally Responsible (2013), exploring the personal impact of the mental disorder defence in Canada;[2] Life with Murder (2010), The Lifer and the Lady and Parole Dance, and the 1986 made-for-television drama Turning to Stone, set in the Prison for Women in Kingston, Ontario.[3][4]
Filmography
Director
- Out of Mind, Out of Sight (2014)
- NCR: Not Criminally Responsible (2013)
- Life with Murder (2010)
- Monster in the Family (2007)
- Rage Against the Darkness (2004)
- Hunting Bobby Oatway (1997)
- The Lifer and the Lady (1984)
- Sharing the Secret (1981)
Non-documentary work
Early in his career, Kastner occasionally took a break from making documentary films on serious topics with lighter fare, which included co-hosting a short-lived children's series for CTV in the early 1980s, Just Kidding, as well as doing comedy segments for the CBC-TV late-night talk show 90 Minutes Live.[5]
A former child actor, Kastner's first screenwriting credit came in 1983, when he co-wrote The Terry Fox Story, starring Robert Duvall.[6]
Awards and honours
Kaster has won four Emmy Awards. He won International Emmys for his 1978 film Four Women, a look at breast cancer for the CBC-TV investigative news series The Fifth Estate; the 1980 documentary Fighting Back, about young people with leukemia; and most recently, the 2011 film Life With Murder. He also received a News & Documentary Emmy Award for The Lifer and the Lady.[5][7]
Life with Murder also won the Donald Brittain Award for best social/political documentary at the 2011 Gemini Awards,[8] a Special Jury Prize at the Houston Worldfest Film Festival and the awards for Best Political Documentary and Special Achievement in Directing at the Chicago International Film Festival.[6]
Lifetime achievement awards
Kastner received the Academy Achievement Award at the 22nd annual Gemini Awards, for his contributions to Canadian television journalism.[9] In 2012, he was the subject of a “Focus On” retrospective at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.[4][10]
Personal life
He is the brother of actor Peter Kastner.[11]
References
- ^ Laskaris, Kathryn (2 May 2014). "Hot Docs: John Kastner's Out of Mind, Out of Sight takes $10,000 prize". Toronto Star. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ^ Jones, Allison (19 April 2013). "Film explores the meaning of 'not criminally responsible'". The Canadian Press. Toronto: Globe and Mail. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
- ^ Taylor, Noel (24 February 1986). "Review". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ a b "Hot Docs film festival to fete Michel Brault, John Kastner". Toronto Star. 31 January 2012. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ a b Worron, Trish (8 August 1983). "Kaster turns to kids for relief from rigours of documentaries". Ottawa Citizen. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ a b Massarella, Linda (18 September 2011). "Emmy winner Kastner hard at work". London Free Press. QMI Agency. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (22 November 2011). "John Kastner's Life With Murder wins International Emmy". Playback. Brunico Communications. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "26th Annual Gemini Awards Culminate with Star-Studded Broadcast Gala" (PDF). Press release. Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "Mr. Dressup finally earns the type of recognition he has so long deserved". National Post. CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ "HOT DOCS HONOURS LOCAL DOC ICON JOHN KASTNER WITH FOCUS ON RETROSPECTIVE". Press release. Hot Docs. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
- ^ Martin Knelman "Peter Kastner, 64: Actor recalled for role as rebel", Toronto Star, 20 September 2008. The Rick Salutin article in the Globe and Mail takes issue with this obituary.