How many of you knew we had an Oscar winner in Dunany?

I suspect most of you know by now. She is Cynthia Scott, a summer resident of Curran Lake with her husband John N. Smith, also a producer.

She won an Oscar in 1984 for her Film Flamenco at 5:15,  a 1983 short documentary film taking audiences inside a flamenco dance class at the National Ballet School of Canada.

If you wish to see the 30 minute film now, just click on this link.

Cynthia  was honoured at a special evening on August 2, 2018 at the Dunany Country Club. There was be a screening of her most memorable films along with a discussion with the filmmaker and host Chris Wynn. Watch the lovely video invitation below.

Cynthia is from Manitoba and that after a short career in the media world, she joined the National Film Board of Canada in 1972 where she directed and produced many films including Flamenco at 5:15

The Oscar for Best Documentary (Short Subject) which she shared with Adam Symnansky  was handed to her by Jack Palance and his daughter Holly. This is her thank you message:

” Many fine artists contributed to this film but we would like to thank particularly Paul Cowan, Hans Oomes, Paul Demers, and the wonderful dancers from the National Ballet School of Canada. But most importantly I would like to thank the two great teachers of “Flamenco at 5:15,” Susana and Antonio Robledo. It is their dignity, their discipline, and their commitment to life which were the inspiration for this film. Thank you.”

To see and hear Cynthia, click on this link.

Cynthia’s career is well documented on this Wikipedia page.

If you peruse it, you will also find that Cynthia has not only won an Oscar. This is the  list of awards she won during her career. Impressive!

– The Ungrateful Land: Roch Carrier Remembers Ste-Justine (1972):

• Canadian Film Awards: Best TV Information Programme – Won^[18]

– First Winter (1982):

• 54th Academy Awards: Best Live Action Short – Nominated^[19]

– Flamenco at 5:15 (1983):

• 56th Academy Awards: Best Documentary Short – Won^[20]

– The Company of Strangers (1990):

• fr:Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma: Best Quebec Feature Film – Won^[21]
• 12th Genie Awards: Best Picture – Nominated^[22]
• 12th Genie Awards: Film Editing – Won^[23]
• Vancouver International Film Festival: Most Popular Canadian Film
• International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg: Grand Newcomer Award

Cynthia, let me say on behalf of all Dunany residents that we are immensely proud of you and wish you the very best.

* Special thanks to the National Film Board of Canada who has kindly provided me with pictures to illustrate this Post.