DGC President Tim Southam salutes the DGC Lifetime Achievement winning and Oscar nominated Director

On April 25th, the DGC lost one of its best: DGC Lifetime Achievement Award winner and Academy Award and Palme d’Or nominee, Director Michael Anderson.

By the time Michael moved to Canada and joined the Guild in 1980, his career and work were already inspiring filmmakers, and influencing filmmaking, across the globe. Michael garnered an Oscar nomination when he brought to life one the great works of world literature with his adaption of the Jules Verne’s classic Around the World in 80 Days and he inspired the creation of a new classic when George Lucas used a nearly shot-by-shot recreation from Michael’s film The Dam Busters as the basis for the iconic “Assault on the Death Star” sequence in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

Michael’s credits include the original 1984, Logan’s Run and The Wreck of the Mary Deare, starring Gary Cooper and Charlton Heston. Around the World in 80 Days took home a total of eight Oscar nominations and five wins in 1957, including winning Best Picture.

As we celebrate the life and contributions Michael has made, we at the Guild thank him for all his work and support. His career and his life, his commitment to the Guild and his mastery of his craft will influence filmmakers for generations to come.