Wolf Koenig obit

In memoriam: Wolf Koenig (1927-2014)

 

He was not on the list.

Filmmaker, producer, cinematographer, animator, and overall cinema pioneer Wolf Koenig passed away on June 26, 2014 at the age of 86. During a prolific career at the NFB, Koenig’s films were lauded for their sophisticated style and what was often a subtle irony in their observation of human behaviour and modern society.

Koenig spent 47 years at the NFB, working on a variety of landmark projects, including Norman McLaren’s Oscar®-winning Neighbours, on which Koenig was cameraman. Koenig designed the animation for Colin Low‘s The Romance of Transportation in Canada (1953), winning an award at Cannes. He was also the cinematographer for Corral (1954), Low’s first documentary. The style of this film, with its poetic approach and absence of commentary, was a first in a Canadian documentary production.

Koenig was an influential member of the NFB’s Studio B, which sought to interrogate conventional mid-20th-century filmmaking techniques and experiment with the aesthetic aspects of cinema. Along with other Studio B creators Roman Kroitor, Terence Macartney-Filgate, and Tom Daly, Koenig was responsible for a number of key works in the history of documentary film. He co-directed such classics as Glenn Gould – On & Off the Record, a candid portrait of the celebrated eponymous pianist, and Lonely Boy, a short documentary about pop star Paul Anka at the height of his fame.

Koenig was also active in and praised for his advancement of the field of animation. The techniques he used in Universe (1960) influenced Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), as Kubrick himself admitted. Koenig served as executive producer of the NFB’s animation studio from 1962 to 1967 and again from 1972 to1975.

Near the end of his illustrious career, Koenig worked as a producer on documentaries and animated films (The Great Toy Robbery, What on Earth), and perhaps most notably on Alanis Obomsawin‘s powerful and acclaimed account of the Oka crisis, Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance. Koenig retired from the NFB in 1995. He has cemented a place in Canadian cinema history as one of the founders and innovators of film in this country.

Wolf was the son of the late Nathan Koenig and the late Ethel Handel Koenig. He will be remembered with much love and admiration by his brother Joseph (the late Miep de Zwarte), sister Rachel (Achille Byck), nieces Anne (Chris Peacock), Nina (Erik Eryavec), Debbie, Judy (Eric Mlyn), Sarah, and Susan (Stéphane Roy), grandniece Leah Mlyn, grandnephews Adam and Daniel Eryavec, Jonathan and Jeffrey Peacock, Noah Mlyn, Benjamin and Jacob Byck, Jeremy and Jonah Roy, second cousin Evelyne Haendel, goddaughter Amy Arioli, and friends.

 

Born

October 17, 1927Dresden, Saxony, Germany

Died

June 26, 2014Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

Director

Pierre Lefèvre on Acting

Short

Director

1992

 

Listen to Us Part 4: Robyn/Nathan/Vinnie/Eric

Director

1991

 

Listen to Us Part 3: Chelsea/Naseem/Sandy

Director

1991

 

Listen to Us Part 2: About Group Homes

Short

Director

1991

 

Listen to Us Part 1: Telling It All

Short

Director

1991

 

Connection

Short

Director

1986

 

John Cat (1984)

John Cat

9.2

Short

Director

1984

 

Where the Buoys Are

Short

Director

1981

 

Coming Back Alive

Short

Director

1980

 

You're Under Arrest!

7.6

Short

Director

1979

 

The Hottest Show on Earth

Short

Director (uncredited)

1977

 

Peter Hearn, Chuck Jones, Don Arioli, Milan Blazekovic, Zlatko Bourek, Tea Brunsmid, Nedeljko Dragic, Hugh Foulds, Vladimir Jutrisa, Fred H. Knelman, Wolf Koenig, Boris Kolar, Jeanette Lerman, Aleksandar Marks, Frank Nissen, Kaj Pindal, Tomislav Simovic, Pino Van Lamsweerde, Dusan Vukotic, and Ante Zaninovic in Man: The Polluter (1973)

Man: The Polluter

6.4

Director

1973

 

Where There's Smoke

Short

Director

1970

 

Steeltown (1966)

Steeltown

Director

1966

 

Igor Stravinsky in Stravinsky (1965)

Stravinsky

7.9

Director

1965

 

Paul Anka in Lonely Boy (1963)

Lonely Boy

7.1

Short

Director

1963

 

The Candid Eye (1958)

The Candid Eye

TV Series

Director

1958–1961

5 episodes

 

Festival in Puerto Rico (1961)

Q for Quest

TV Series

Director

1961

1 episode

 

I Was a Ninety-Pound Weakling (1960)

I Was a Ninety-Pound Weakling

6.3

Short

Director

1960

 

La battaison

Short

Director

1959

 

City of Gold (1957)

City of Gold

7.1

Short

Director

1957

 

It's a Crime

5.9

Short

Director

1957

 

Sur le pont d'Avignon

Short

Director

1951

 

Writer

Yukon Gold

Video

Writer (segment "Gold")

1996

 

John Cat (1984)

John Cat

9.2

Short

script

1984

 

The Hottest Show on Earth

Short

writer

1977

 

Fundamentals of Fish Spoilage

Short

Writer

1962

 

The Structure of Unions

Short

drawings

1955

 

Gold

Short

Writer

1955

 

Producer

Someone to Talk to: Peer Helping in High School

Short

producer

1996

 

Silence & Storm (1995)

Silence & Storm

producer

1995

 

The Pinnacle and the Poet

Short

producer

1995

 

Eldon Rathburn: They Shoot... He Scores (1995)

Eldon Rathburn: They Shoot... He Scores

producer

1995

 

When Shirley Met Florence (1994)

When Shirley Met Florence

7.2

Short

producer

1994

 

District 25

Short

producer

1993

 

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993)

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance

7.9

producer

1993

 

Luis Brascoupe in Walker (1992)

Walker

5.4

Short

series producer

1992

 

Pierre Lefèvre on Acting

Short

producer

1992

 

Mela's Lunch

Short

series producer

1992

 

Hey, Kelly!

Short

producer

1992

 

Carol's Mirror

Short

producer

1992

 

Listen to Us Part 4: Robyn/Nathan/Vinnie/Eric

producer

1991

 

Listen to Us Part 3: Chelsea/Naseem/Sandy

producer

1991

 

Listen to Us Part 2: About Group Homes

Short

producer

1991

 

Listen to Us Part 1: Telling It All

Short

producer

1991

 

Without Work: The Drive Away

Short

producer

1989

 

Without Work: The Buddy System

Short

producer

1989

 

Without Work: Sidetracked

Short

producer

1989

 

Without Work: Not by Choice

Short

producer

1989

 

Without Work: Is Everyone Here Crazy

Short

producer

1989

 

Without Work: Killing Time

Short

producer

1988

 

Wednesday's Children: Vicky

Short

producer

1987

 

Wednesday's Children: Robert

Short

producer

1987

 

Wednesday's Children: Mark and Donny

Short

producer

1987

 

Wednesday's Children: Jenny

Short

producer

1987

 

Wednesday's Children: Alex

Short

producer

1987

 

Wednesday's Children: A Video Guide

Short

producer

1987

 

People and Science: Waiting for the Flies to Die

Short

producer

1987

 

People and Science: Deadlines

Short

producer

1987

 

People and Science: A Test of Time

Short

producer

1987

 

Wednesday's Children: David

Short

producer

1987

 

Acid Rain

Short

producer

1986

 

Discussions in Bioethics: Who Should Decide? (1985)

Discussions in Bioethics: Who Should Decide?

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: The Old Person's Friend (1985)

Discussions in Bioethics: The Old Person's Friend

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: The Courage of One's Convictions

5.8

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: If You Want a Girl Like Me

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: Happy Birthday

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: Family Tree

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: Critical Choice

Short

producer

1985

 

Discussions in Bioethics: A Chronic Problem

Short

producer

1985

 

This Is Only a Test

Short

producer

1984

 

Laughter in My Soul (1983)

Laughter in My Soul

7.0

Short

producer

1983

 

What Do We Do Now?

Short

producer

1982

 

One Out of Three Is a Fishboat

Short

producer

1982

 

An Equal Opportunity

Short

producer

1982

 

End Game in Paris

Short

producer

1982

 

Ted Baryluk's Grocery (1982)

Ted Baryluk's Grocery

6.4

Short

production

1982

 

A Right to Refuse?

Short

producer

1981

 

Baxter Earns His Wings

Short

producer

1981

 

Where the Buoys Are

Short

producer

1981

 

Nose and Tina

7.7

Short

production

1980

 

Coming Back Alive

Short

producer

1980

 

Why Men Rape

Short

co-producer

1979

 

Canada Vignettes: Winter - Starting the Car

Short

producer

1979

 

Canada Vignettes: Winter - Dressing Up

Short

producer

1979

 

Canada Vignettes: Faces (2013)

Canada Vignettes: Faces

6.2

Short

producer

2013

 

Oh Canada

Short

producer

1978

 

Immigration Law: A Delicate Balance

Short

producer

1978

 

Four Portraits

Short

producer

1978

 

Eve Lambart

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: Voyageurs (1978)

Canada Vignettes: Voyageurs

6.2

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: Trading Post

5.3

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: The Violin Maker

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: The Photographers

6.4

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: The Maple Leaf (1978)

Canada Vignettes: The Maple Leaf

5.9

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: The Dentist

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: The Ballet Master

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: Sodbusters

5.0

Short

producer

1978

 

Canada Vignettes: Easter Eggs

6.7

Short

producer

1978

 

The Hottest Show on Earth

Short

producer

1977

 

Poets on Film No. 3 (1977)

Poets on Film No. 3

Short

executive producer

1977

 

Poets on Film No. 2 (1977)

Poets on Film No. 2

6.0

Short

executive producer

1977

 

Extinction of the Dinosaurs

5.8

Short

producer

1977

 

Deep Threat

7.4

Short

producer

1977

 

Canada Vignettes: Veterinarian (1977)

Canada Vignettes: Veterinarian

5.0

Short

producer

1977

 

Canada Vignettes: Physiotherapist (1977)

Canada Vignettes: Physiotherapist

6.4

Short

producer

1977

 

Canada Vignettes: Fashion Designer

5.3

Short

producer

1977

 

Spinnolio (1977)

Spinnolio

7.2

Short

producer

1977

 

No Apple for Johnny (1977)

No Apple for Johnny

6.0

Short

producer

1977

 

Amisk (1977)

Amisk

7.2

Short

executive producer

1977

 

Poets on Film No. 1 (1977)

Poets on Film No. 1

5.7

Short

executive producer

1977

 

What Do You Do?/What Are You Doing?

Short

executive producer

1976

 

The Lion and the Mouse (1976)

The Lion and the Mouse

6.4

Short

executive producer

1976

 

Lady Fishbourne's Complete Guide to Better Table Manners

6.9

Short

producer

1976

 

Firelight

Short

producer

1976

 

The Street (1976)

The Street

6.6

Short

executive producer

1976

 

Through a Broken Pane

Short

producer

1975

 

Tax: The Outcome of Income

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Sikusilarmiut

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Prison

8.3

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Perspectrum (1975)

Perspectrum

6.9

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Natsik Hunting (1975)

Natsik Hunting

5.8

Short

producer

1975

 

The Hecklers (1975)

The Hecklers

5.6

executive producer

1975

 

You've Read the Book, Now See the Movie

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Forecast for Survival

Short

producer

1975

 

The Energy Carol (1975)

The Energy Carol

7.0

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Enemy Alien (1975)

Enemy Alien

7.0

Short

executive producer

1975

 

The Light Fantastick (1975)

The Light Fantastick

producer

1975

 

Face of the Earth (1975)

Face of the Earth

Short

producer

1975

 

A Token Gesture

Short

executive producer

1975

 

The Housewife

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Aucassin and Nicolette (1975)

Aucassin and Nicolette

6.3

Short

executive producer

1975

 

Purple Hat

6.4

Short

producer

1974

 

Who Are We? (1974)

Who Are We?

6.5

Short

producer

1974

 

Satellites of the Sun (1974)

Satellites of the Sun

7.3

Short

executive producer

1974

 

Propaganda Message (1974)

Propaganda Message

7.2

Short

producer

1974

 

Icarus (1974)

Icarus

6.7

Short

producer

1974

 

The Coldspring Project (1974)

The Coldspring Project

Short

producer

1974

 

Bossa Bop (1974)

Bossa Bop

Short

producer

1974

 

Anywhere to Everywhere

Short

producer

1974

 

All the Years of Her Life

Short

producer

1974

 

About Puberty and Reproduction

Short

executive producer

1974

 

About VD

Short

executive producer

1974

 

We

Short

producer

1974

 

Ten: The Magic Number (1973)

Ten: The Magic Number

Short

producer

1973

 

Pictures Out of My Life

Short

producer

1973

 

The Myth and the Reality

6.1

Short

producer

1973

 

The Innocent Door (1973)

The Innocent Door

Short

producer

1973

 

Prairie: Passing Through

Short

producer

1973

 

Family Planning in Ghana

Short

producer

1973

 

Ananse's Farm

Short

producer

1973

 

Tickets s.v.p (1973)

Tickets s.v.p

6.5

Short

producer

1973

 

The Family That Dwelt Apart (1973)

The Family That Dwelt Apart

6.7

Short

producer

1973

 

Peter Hearn, Chuck Jones, Don Arioli, Milan Blazekovic, Zlatko Bourek, Tea Brunsmid, Nedeljko Dragic, Hugh Foulds, Vladimir Jutrisa, Fred H. Knelman, Wolf Koenig, Boris Kolar, Jeanette Lerman, Aleksandar Marks, Frank Nissen, Kaj Pindal, Tomislav Simovic, Pino Van Lamsweerde, Dusan Vukotic, and Ante Zaninovic in Man: The Polluter (1973)

Man: The Polluter

6.4

producer

1973

 

Tilt

Short

producer

1972

 

Hard Rider (1972)

Hard Rider

7.5

producer

1972

 

Exeter (1972)

Exeter

Short

production

1972

 

Pavilion

Short

producer

1971

 

In a Nutshell

Short

producer

1971

 

Evolution (1971)

Hot Stuff

6.4

Short

producer

1971

 

Christmas at Moose Factory (1971)

Christmas at Moose Factory

6.7

Short

producer

1971

 

Best Friends

Short

producer

1970

 

Ashes of Doom (1970)

Ashes of Doom

5.9

Short

producer

1970

 

Hymn

Short

producer

1969

 

The Cartoon Film

Short

producer

1969

 

Au bout de la ligne

Short

producer

1969

 

Falling from Ladders

Short

producer

1969

 

The Half-masted Schooner

6.0

Short

producer

1969

 

To See or Not to See (1969)

To See or Not to See

6.8

Short

producer

1969

 

Standing Buffalo (1968)

Standing Buffalo

Short

producer

1968

 

Rx for Export

Short

producer

1968

 

Population Explosion (1968)

Population Explosion

6.2

Short

producer

1968

 

King Size

6.8

Short

producer

1968

 

Flowers on a One-way Street (1968)

Flowers on a One-way Street

producer (uncredited)

1968

 

La maison de Jean-Jacques (1967)

La maison de Jean-Jacques

6.7

Short

producer

1967

 

What on Earth! (1967)

What on Earth!

7.0

Short

producer

1967

 

Energy and Matter

Short

producer

1966

 

The Drag (1966)

The Drag

6.6

Short

production

1966

 

Fear and Horror (1965)

Fear and Horror

Short

producer

1965

 

Animals and Psychology (1965)

Animals and Psychology

Short

producer

1965

 

Animal Altruism (1965)

Animal Altruism

Short

producer

1965

 

Every Second Car

Short

producer

1964

 

The Great Toy Robbery (1963)

The Great Toy Robbery

7.2

Short

producer

1963

 

University

6.8

production

1961

 

The Days of Whisky Gap (1961)

The Days of Whisky Gap

7.1

Short

producer

1961

 

The Candid Eye (1958)

The Candid Eye

TV Series

producer

production

1958–1960

13 episodes

 

I Was a Ninety-Pound Weakling (1960)

I Was a Ninety-Pound Weakling

6.3

Short

production

1960

 

La battaison

Short

producer

1959

 

Cinematographer

Show Girls

5.3

Cinematographer (cinematography)

1999

 

Perspectives in Science: Toxic Waste

Cinematographer

1988

 

An Equal Opportunity

Short

Cinematographer

1982

 

End Game in Paris

Short

Cinematographer

1982

 

A Right to Refuse?

Short

Cinematographer

1981

 

You're Under Arrest!

7.6

Short

Cinematographer

1979

 

Roger Doucet in Canada Vignettes: The Performer (1978)

Canada Vignettes: The Performer

6.3

Short

Cinematographer

1978

 

The Vacant Lot

Short

Cinematographer

1977

 

The Pearson Building (1977)

The Pearson Building

Short

Cinematographer (photography)

1977

 

The Hottest Show on Earth

Short

Cinematographer (camera)

1977

 

The Light Fantastick (1975)

The Light Fantastick

Cinematographer (photography)

1975

 

Pillar of Wisdom

Short

Cinematographer

1970

 

N-Zone (1970)

N-Zone

7.0

Cinematographer

1970

 

People of the Buffalo

Short

Cinematographer

1968

 

Steeltown (1966)

Steeltown

Cinematographer (photography)

1966

 

Igor Stravinsky in Stravinsky (1965)

Stravinsky

7.9

Cinematographer

1965

 

Villeneuve, peintre-barbier (1964)

Villeneuve, peintre-barbier

7.0

Short

Cinematographer

1964

 

Age of the Buffalo (1964)

Age of the Buffalo

Short

Cinematographer (location photography)

1964

 

Pipers and A'

Short

Cinematographer

1963

 

The Experimental Film

Short

Cinematographer (camera)

1963

 

Paul Anka in Lonely Boy (1963)

Lonely Boy

7.1

Short

Cinematographer (uncredited)

1963

 

The Living Machine

Cinematographer

1962

 

Interview with Linus Pauling

Cinematographer

1960

 

The Candid Eye (1958)

The Candid Eye

TV Series

Cinematographer (cameraman)

1958

1 episode

 

L'année à la ferme

Short

Cinematographer

1957

 

City of Gold (1957)

City of Gold

7.1

Short

Cinematographer (location)

1957

 

Farm Calendar

Short

Cinematographer

1955

 

Gold

Short

Cinematographer

1955

 

Corral (1954)

Corral

7.3

Short

Cinematographer (photographer)

1954

 

Jean Paul Ladouceur and Grant Munro in Neighbours (1952)

Neighbours

7.9

Short

Cinematographer

1952

 

Editor

Yukon Gold

Video

Editor (segment "Gold")

1996

 

Connection

Short

Editor

1986

 

John Cat (1984)

John Cat

9.2

Short

Editor

1984

 

Incident at Restigouche (1984)

Incident at Restigouche

7.5

Editor

1984

 

Laughter in My Soul (1983)

Laughter in My Soul

7.0

Short

Editor

1983

 

Why Men Rape

Short

picture editor

1979

 

You're Under Arrest!

7.6

Short

Editor

1979

 

Le Québec as Seen by Cartier-Bresson (1969)

Le Québec as Seen by Cartier-Bresson

7.9

Short

Editor

1969

 

Igor Stravinsky in Stravinsky (1965)

Stravinsky

7.9

Editor

1965

 

The Candid Eye (1958)

The Candid Eye

TV Series

Editor

1958–1961

2 episodes

 

Festival in Puerto Rico (1961)

Q for Quest

TV Series

Editor

1961

1 episode

 

Gold

Short

Editor

1955

 

Sing with the Commodores No. 2 (1951)

Sing with the Commodores No. 2

Short

Editor

1951

 

The Commodores in Sing! with the Commodores No. 1 (1951)

Sing! with the Commodores No. 1

Short

Editor

1951

 

Art Department

Behind the Veil: Nuns

6.8

graphics consultant

1984

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Eldon Rathburn: They Shoot... He Scores (1995)

Eldon Rathburn: They Shoot... He Scores

camera

1995

 

Dark Lullabies (1985)

Dark Lullabies

8.4

additional camera

1985

 

The Candid Eye (1958)

The Candid Eye

TV Series

camera

camera operator

1958–1960

6 episodes

 

I Was a Ninety-Pound Weakling (1960)

I Was a Ninety-Pound Weakling

6.3

Short

camera

1960

 

Universe (1960)

Universe

7.6

Short

actuality camera

1960

 

Animation Department

Where There's Smoke

Short

animator

1970

 

Fish Spoilage Control (1956)

Fish Spoilage Control

Short

assistant animator

1956

 

Forest Fire Suppression

Short

animator

1956

 

The Romance of Transportation in Canada (1952)

The Romance of Transportation in Canada

6.2

Short

characterization

1952

 

Sing a Little

Short

puppet animation

1951

 

The Gentle Art of Film Projection

Short

animator

1950

 

Additional Crew

Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment (1999)

Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment

6.6

photo supplier

1999

 

La lutte (1961)

La lutte

7.2

Short

assistant to filmmakers

1961

 

Thanks

Domino (1994)

Domino

special thanks

1994

 

The Untilled Story

Short

special thanks

1990

 

The Old Believers (1988)

The Old Believers

6.5

thank you

1988

 

Shift Change (1987)

Shift Change

special thanks

1987

 

Self

Le direct avant la lettre (2006)

Le direct avant la lettre

6.8

Self

2006

 

Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment (1999)

Cinéma Vérité: Defining the Moment

6.6

1999