Conquering Beauty: The Life and Music of Malcolm Forsyth continues to garner awards and acclaim as it makes the rounds of film festivals. Having screened to critical audiences at the Classical Arts film festival, and been awarded the Rising Star Award in recognition of excellence in filmmaking at the 2016 Canada International Film Festival, the film has recently been nominated for best Biography Documentary at the upcoming Yorkton Film Festival at the
end of May. Conquering Beauty has been nominated in four categories at the upcoming AMPIA (Alberta Media Production Industry Association) Rosie Awards to be held in Calgary May 7, 2016. The film will also be screening that same day at the North West Film Fest in Edmonton at 12:00 pm at the NAIT Shaw Theatre.
Composer Malcolm Forsyth, father of international cello superstar Amanda Forsyth, emigrated from South Africa to Canada in1968, where he began a career in music which spanned five decades. A complicated man fascinated with the ideal of beauty, he was destined to become one of Canada’s leading classical music composers. His work resonates with audiences and musicians alike, and his final, culminating piece, A Ballad of Canada, which premiered just a few weeks before his death, is heralded as a Canadian masterpiece.
This powerful documentary explores his life, his turbulent relationship with his daughter, and his tremendous impact on Canadian music. It is a narrative about a composer’s life. It is also an invitation to explore the beauty, complexity and value of classical music.
“His music was played across the country. There’s not an orchestra that hasn’t played it, there’s not a choir that hasn’t sung it. He did desire a better country.”
—Allan Gordon Bell
The film was produced for CBC TV with funding from the Alberta Media Fund.
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