Arthur Hiller

Arthur Hiller, OC, was a highly regarded Canadian television and film director, whose career spanned an impressive 50 years. He's been responsible for over 33 films, commencing his career in Canada directing television and later progressing to U.S. television. By the late 1950s, Hiller was directing films which spanned various genres such as comedies, dramas and romantic narratives, the most iconic of which was the Oscar-nominated 'Love Story' (1970). Hiller worked extensively with prominent screenwriters like Paddy Chayefsky and Neil Simon, producing critically acclaimed films such as 'The Americanization of Emily' (1964), 'Tobruk' (1967), 'The Hospital' (1971), just to name a few. Hiller was equally significant off the screen - serving as the president of the Directors Guild of America from 1989 to 1993 and president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1993 to 1997. The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was bestowed upon him in 2002 as a testament to his dedication. He remained professionally active till 2006 and is fondly remembered for the annual film festival held in his honor from 2006 until 2009 at his alma mater, the Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts. His impressive body of work, commitment to the arts, and humanitarian efforts have cemented his legacy in film history.