Francis Mankiewicz (March 15, 1944 in

Shanghai Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...

, China – August 14, 1993 in

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...

Quebec Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...

, Canada) was a

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

film director, screenwriter and producer. In 1945, his family moved to Montreal, where Francis spent all his childhood. His father was a second cousin to the famous Hollywood brothers, Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Herman J. Mankiewicz.

Career

Francis Mankiewicz studied geology at

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...

and

University of Montreal A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, th ...

, and in 1966, travelled to London, England, to study filmmaking. He returned to Montreal in 1968 and assisted on several sponsored films before directing his first feature in 1972. His debut was ''Le temps d'une chasse'', which was followed by the dysfunctional family drama ''Les Bons Débarras'', generally regarded as his best film. He won Best Director at the

Genie Awards The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for scul ...

, and the film was nominated for the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The win ...

at the Berlin Film Festival. Later he directed ''Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher'', the first Canadian-produced drama to play on primetime American television. Mankiewicz died early of cancer at age 49.

Filmography

Feature Films

*''

The Time of the Hunt ''The Time of the Hunt'' (french: Le Temps d'une chasse) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Francis Mankiewicz and released in 1972. An examination of masculinity, the film centres on Willy (Guy L'Écuyer), Richard (Marcel Sabourin) and Lionel ...

(Le Temps d'une chasse)'' (1972) *''Une amie d'enfance'' (1978) *'' Good Riddance (Les bons débarras)'' (1980) *'' Happy Memories (Les Beaux souvenirs)'' (1981) *'' The Revolving Doors (Les Portes tournantes)'' (1988)

Other Work

*''Une cause civile'' (Short film, 1973) *''Un procès criminel'' (Short film, 1973) *''Valentin'' (Short film, 1973) *''L'orientation'' (Short film, 1974) *''Expropriation'' (Short film, 1975) *''Pointe Pelée'' (Short film, 1976) *''What We Have Here Is a People Problem'' (TV movie, 1976) (Created for TV Series '' For the Record'') *''Suicide en prison'' (Short film aka ''I Was Dying Anyway'', 1977) *''A Matter of Choice'' (TV movie, 1978) (Created for TV Series ''For the Record'') *''Une journée à la Pointe Pelée'' (Documentary, 1978) *''The Sight'' (Short film, 1985) *''And Then You Die'' (TV movie, 1987) *'' Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher'' (TV movie, 1989) *''Conspiracy of Silence'' (TV miniseries, 1991)

Recognition

* 1993 Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series - '' Conspiracy of Silence'' - Won * 1990 Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series - '' Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher'' - Won * 1989

Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television presents an annual award for Best Achievement in Direction to the best work by a director of a Canadian film.Maria Topalovich, ''And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Award ...

- '' The Revolving Doors (Les Portes tournantes)'' - Nominated * 1989

Genie Award for Best Adapted Screenplay The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television presents one or more annual awards for the Best Screenplay for a Canadian film. Originally presented in 1968 as part of the Canadian Film Awards, from 1980 until 2012 the award continued as part of the Gen ...

- '' The Revolving Doors (Les Portes tournantes)'' - Nominated (shared with Jacques Savoie) *

1988 Cannes Film Festival The 41st Cannes Film Festival was held from 11 to 23 May 1988. The Palme d'Or went to the '' Pelle erobreren'' by Bille August. The festival opened with '' Le Grand Bleu'', directed by Luc Besson and closed with ''Willow'', directed by Ron How ...

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Special Mention - '' The Revolving Doors (Les Portes tournantes)'' - Won * 1988 Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series - '' And Then You Die'' - Nominated * 1981 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction - ''

Les bons débarras ''Good Riddance'' (french: Les Bons débarras) is a 1980 French-language Canadian drama film. Directed by Francis Mankiewicz and written by Réjean Ducharme, the film concerns Manon ( Charlotte Laurier), an unstable young girl who lives with her mo ...

'' - Won * 1980 Berlin Film Festival

- ''

'' - Nominated

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mankiewicz, Francis 1944 births 1993 deaths Anglophone Quebec people Chinese emigrants to Canada Best Director Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners Canadian film producers Canadian screenwriters in French Deaths from cancer in Quebec Film directors from Montreal Jewish Canadian writers Writers from Montreal Mankiewicz family Prix Albert-Tessier winners 20th-century Canadian screenwriters Jewish Canadian filmmakers