George Kaczender
Encyclopedia
George Kaczender is an Hungarian-born Canadian film director
. He directed 26 films between 1963
and 2001
.
Kaczender left Hungary in 1956 as a political refugee after studying film and working as an Assistant Director at the Pannonina Film Studios in Budapest.
Before coming to Los Angeles in the early 80s he worked at the National Film Board of Canada
in Montreal from 1956 to 1969 where he wrote and directed award winning documentaries and short dramatic features. In 1968 he wrote and directed the award winning feature film, Don't Let the Angels Fall
, starring Arthur Hill, that became the first Canadian feature film invited to the main competition at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival
. In 1970 he left the Film Board to work in London with the distinguished producer, Oscar Lewenstein. The same year he became one of the founding partners of International Cinemedia Center in Montreal.
In the 1970s he directed numerous award winning educational films for Learning Corporation of America and five theatrical feature films before leaving Canada for Hollywood. Among them, In Praise of Older Women based on the best-selling novel by S. Vizinczey, and Chanel Solitaire
, the life of Coco Chanel
, shot on location in France.
He has worked with stars such as Robert Mitchum, Richard Harris, Jeanne Moreau, Tom Berenger, JoBeth Williams, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Karen Black. He has also directed numerous movies for network and cable television such as Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
.
His film Don't let the Angels Fall was nominated for the Palme d'Or
at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival and his film U-Turn
was nominated for the Golden Bear
at the 1973 Berlin Film Festival
. He has numerous international awards for his work on documentaries and short drmatic films.
His first novel, An Unreasonable Notion of Desire, was published in 2000 by Xlibris, a subsidiary of Random House.
Between 2002 and 2004 he was Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, teaching film directing.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He directed 26 films between 1963
1963 in film
The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....
and 2001
2001 in film
The year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
.
Kaczender left Hungary in 1956 as a political refugee after studying film and working as an Assistant Director at the Pannonina Film Studios in Budapest.
Before coming to Los Angeles in the early 80s he worked at the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
in Montreal from 1956 to 1969 where he wrote and directed award winning documentaries and short dramatic features. In 1968 he wrote and directed the award winning feature film, Don't Let the Angels Fall
Don't Let the Angels Fall
Don't Let the Angels Fall is a 1969 Canadian drama film directed by George Kaczender. It was entered into the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Arthur Hill - Robert* Sharon Acker - Barbara* Charmion King - Myrna* Jonathan Michaelson - Guy...
, starring Arthur Hill, that became the first Canadian feature film invited to the main competition at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival
1969 Cannes Film Festival
The 22nd Cannes Film Festival was held on May 8 - 23, 1969. At this festival a new non-competitive section called "Directors' Fortnight" is added, in response to the cancellation of the 1968 festival.-Jury:*Luchino Visconti...
. In 1970 he left the Film Board to work in London with the distinguished producer, Oscar Lewenstein. The same year he became one of the founding partners of International Cinemedia Center in Montreal.
In the 1970s he directed numerous award winning educational films for Learning Corporation of America and five theatrical feature films before leaving Canada for Hollywood. Among them, In Praise of Older Women based on the best-selling novel by S. Vizinczey, and Chanel Solitaire
Chanel Solitaire
Chanel Solitaite is a 1981 British-French historical drama film directed by George Kaczender and starring Marie-France Pisier, Timothy Dalton, Rutger Hauer, Brigitte Fossey, Karen Black. The film's subject was Coco Chanel. Its budget was around $7 million....
, the life of Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist thought, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the founder of one of the most famous fashion brands, Chanel...
, shot on location in France.
He has worked with stars such as Robert Mitchum, Richard Harris, Jeanne Moreau, Tom Berenger, JoBeth Williams, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Karen Black. He has also directed numerous movies for network and cable television such as Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted, inspired by a true story concerning a landmark legal decision for rights of the disabled, is a 1992 NBC Movie of Week starring JoBeth Williams and Chris Burke...
.
His film Don't let the Angels Fall was nominated for the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival and his film U-Turn
U-Turn (1973 film)
U-Turn is a 1973 Canadian drama film directed by George Kaczender. It was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* David Selby - Scott Laithem* Maud Adams - Paula / Tracy* Gay Rowan - Bonnie* William Osler - Professor Bamberger...
was nominated for the Golden Bear
Golden Bear
According to legend, the Golden Bear was a large golden Ursus arctos. Members of the Ursus arctos species can reach masses of . The Grizzly Bear and the Kodiak Bear are North American subspecies of the Brown Bear....
at the 1973 Berlin Film Festival
23rd Berlin International Film Festival
The 23rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 22 to July 3, 1973.-Jury:* David Robinson * Freddy Buache* Hiram Garcia Borja* Eberhard Hauff* Harish Khanna* Paul Moor* Walter Müller-Bringmann* René Thévenet...
. He has numerous international awards for his work on documentaries and short drmatic films.
His first novel, An Unreasonable Notion of Desire, was published in 2000 by Xlibris, a subsidiary of Random House.
Between 2002 and 2004 he was Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television, teaching film directing.
Selected filmography
- Don't Let the Angels FallDon't Let the Angels FallDon't Let the Angels Fall is a 1969 Canadian drama film directed by George Kaczender. It was entered into the 1969 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Arthur Hill - Robert* Sharon Acker - Barbara* Charmion King - Myrna* Jonathan Michaelson - Guy...
(1969) - U-TurnU-Turn (1973 film)U-Turn is a 1973 Canadian drama film directed by George Kaczender. It was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* David Selby - Scott Laithem* Maud Adams - Paula / Tracy* Gay Rowan - Bonnie* William Osler - Professor Bamberger...
(1973) with Maud AdamsMaud AdamsMaud Solveig Christina Wikström , known professionally as Maud Adams, is a Swedish actress, known for her roles as two different Bond girls: in The Man with the Golden Gun , and as the title character in Octopussy .-Early life:Adams was born Maud Solveig Christina Wikström in Luleå, Sweden, the... - In Praise of Older Women (1978)
- The AgencyThe Agency (film)The Agency is a 1980 Canadian dramatic/thriller film. It was directed by George Kaczender, with a screenplay by Noel Hynd....
(1980) - Your Ticket is no Longer Valid (1981)
- Chanel SolitaireChanel SolitaireChanel Solitaite is a 1981 British-French historical drama film directed by George Kaczender and starring Marie-France Pisier, Timothy Dalton, Rutger Hauer, Brigitte Fossey, Karen Black. The film's subject was Coco Chanel. Its budget was around $7 million....
(1982) - Tomorrow's a KillerTomorrow's a KillerTomorrow's a Killer is a 1987 Canadian-American thriller film directed by George Kaczender and starring David Birney, Susannah York and Yaphet Kotto. A policeman, haunted by his past, tries to hunt down a serial killer murdering prostitutes. The film is also known as Prettykill...
(1987) - Jonathan: The Boy Nobody WantedJonathan: The Boy Nobody WantedJonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted, inspired by a true story concerning a landmark legal decision for rights of the disabled, is a 1992 NBC Movie of Week starring JoBeth Williams and Chris Burke...
(1993) - Christy: A Change of SeasonsChristy: A Change of SeasonsChristy: A Change of Seasons is a 2001 two part made-for-tv movie starring Lauren Lee Smith, Stewart Finlay-McLennan, James Waterston and Diane Ladd.-External links:*...
(2001)