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An ongoing and key part of IFFO’s celebration of Canadian and world cinema is its one-day annual conference, SAVE AS, dedicated to examining issues of preservation, restoration, distribution, and exhibition of the always-endangered world cinema heritage. SAVE AS consists of expert panel discussions, case studies of restored cinema classics, and premiere screenings of those restored classic films. At IFFO, we are committed to cinema’s past as well as its present and future. Once again in 2024, we invited to Ottawa several noted professionals working in important and exciting ways on the preservation and presentation of Canada’s and the world’s cinematic heritage.

This in-depth discussion will explore the film adaptation and restoration of Timothy Findley’s Governor General’s Prize–winning novel, THE WARS (1977). Produced in 1983 by Nielsen-Ferns International in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), it was the NFB’s first ever collaboration on a narrative feature film with a commercial production company.


Directed by Robin Phillips - former Artistic Director of Canada’s Stratford Festival - THE WARS showcases a brilliant roster of Canadian talents including Brent Carver, Martha Henry, Bill Hutt, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Jackie Burroughs, Jean LeClerc and Susan Wright. Original music by Glenn Gould.

One of the largest and most ambitious productions of its day – winner of multiple Genie Awards - the film mysteriously disappeared from public distribution shortly after its release. In 2020, THE WARS resurfaced after a 35-year absence via the Encore+ YouTube channel created by the Canada Media Fund and a wealth of industry partners.


In 2022, the film’s restoration was commissioned by the Encore+ in collaboration with Telefilm Canada, with support from the NFB, Torstar Corporation and the Stratford Festival.


Executive Producer Pat Ferns, along with key collaborators involved in the film’s restoration and material preservation, Steve Hallé, Director, Technical Resources, NFB, and actor Jean LeClerc will be interviewed by panel programmer Paulina Abarca-Cantin.


Guest Speakers:

Pat Ferns, Executive Producer, The Wars (1983)

Steve Hallé, Director, Technical Resources, National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Jean LeClerc, Actor (Captain Taffler), The Wars (1983)

Interviewer: Paulina Abarca-Cantin, Programming Specialist

  • Year
    2024
  • Runtime
    74 minutes
  • Language
    English