[1][2][3] John Kemeny was born in Budapest and, at a young age, forged a career in the film business, working in distribution and promotion.
While at the NFB, he edited, wrote, directed and/or produced 100 films, including Memorandum, Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen, The Things I Cannot Change, The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar and Don't Let the Angels Fall.
They formed International Cinemedia Center Productions (ICC), with the aim of producing documentaries and educational films.
In 1978, Don Duprey returned to the NFB and Joe Koenig left the group to form Interactive Image Technologies (which would become Electronics Workbench).
The company saw immediate and stunning success, producing at least six projects a year, including features, TV movies and series (in 1998, it became Alliance Atlantis Communications).
With the increasingly-unpleasant political situation in Hungary, and the desire for a warm climate, they bought a house in Sedona, Arizona.
Kemeny was a citizen of Hungary and Canada, and his Green card had lapsed; from Spain, they waged a stressful two-year legal battle to be permitted to live in the US.
He also made major commercial hits for Hollywood Studios, such as Ice Castles and White Line Fever.
(List excludes awards in the directing, acting and/or craft categories)[9][10] Bethune (1964)[11] Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen (1965) No Reason to Stay (1966)[12] The Things I Cannot Change (1967) Memorandum (1967) The Children of Fogo Island (1967)[13] Sabre and Foil (1967)[14] Ride for Your Life (1967)[15] Don't Let the Angels Fall (1968) The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar (1968) Saul Alinsky Went to War (1968)[16] Falling from Ladders (1969)[17] Untouched and Pure (1970)[18] Canada the Land (1971)[19] The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz (1974) Atlantic City (1980) Quest for Fire (1980) The Plouffe Family (1981) The Bay Boy (1984) The Alley Cat (1985) The Gate (1987) Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story (1989) The Josephine Baker Story (1991)