Filmmaker Albert Karvonen to visit York

Celebrated Canadian filmmaker Albert Karvonen will present a special lecture and screenings, titled "Imaging Animals and Filming the Wild: From the Mountains to the Editing Room", at York University tomorrow, from 2:30 to 4:30pm, in the Mirkopoulos Cinema, 004 Accolade East on the Keele campus There will be a Meet-the-Artist reception following the presentation at 5pm, at the Goldfarb Centre Art Gallery.

Right: Albert Karvonen

Karvonen is best known for his work as a wildlife filmmaker. His passion for the natural world and creative vision has led him to produce over 110 works in film, television and multimedia including the television series Wild Encounters, Treasures of the Wild , In Wildness and Wilderness Journeys. Karvonen has also completed a number of one hour co-productions with the National Film Board of Canada.

He was honoured in 1991 for his contribution to filmmaking with the David Billington Award from the Alberta Motion Pictures Industries Association. In 1997, the City of Edmonton recognized his  dedication to filmmaking with the prestigious Salute to Excellence Award for Lifetime Contribution to the Arts. Karvonen is also the recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal, awarded to him in Nov. 2005, for his contributions to education in Alberta.

Left: "Circum Polar Bears", from Karnoven’s film Land of the Ice Bear (1999)

He began his life-long love affair with nature while growing up on his family’s homestead in North-Eastern Alberta. A successful teaching career saw Karvonen become a teacher and principal in Edmonton’s inner city schools.

After 23 years of teaching, he turned his considerable energies to his first love by moving into full-time production of wildlife films. He bridged his career shift touring North America with the prestigious National Audubon Society, lecturing on wildlife photography for five years.

For group reservations or for more information on this presentation at York University, e-mail film@yorku.ca or contact Professor Suzie Young, Department of Fim, at ext. 55149, or e-mail syoung@yorku.ca.

Karvonen’s lecture and screening is sponsored by York’s Graduate Program in Film and the Faculty of Environmental Studies.