Sir Sydney H. Wylie Samuelson (7 December 1925 – 14 December 2022) was a British film director and cinematographer.
He was appointed in 1991 by the government of the UK as the first British Film Commissioner.
Early life
Sydney Wylie Samuelson was born in
Paddington, London, to
George Berthold Samuelson, a
cinema pioneer of the
silent film era, and Marjorie Emma Elizabeth Vint. He was educated at the Irene Avenue Council School in
Lancing, West Sussex.
Career
Samuelson started his career as a rewind boy at the Luxor cinema in
Lancing, West Sussex. After working in several cinemas in the Midlands as a relief operator for the ABC circuit, he got a job as a trainee film editor with Gaumont British, which was then at
Lime Grove in London.
After serving in the
Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1947,
he got a job as a trainee cameraman with the
Colonial Film Unit
The Colonial Film Unit (C.F.U) was a propaganda and educational film production organization of the British government. It produced films for various British colonies including British Guiana and Nigeria. The Jamaica Film Unit was a division f ...
. He then went on to work for Rayant Pictures, for whom he filmed the
Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.
In 1954, he set up Samuelson Film Service, hiring out film equipment. He went on to become the first British Film Commissioner and remained in the post for six years. He was chosen as chairman of the management board of
BAFTA in 1976 and was a permanent trustee.
In 1985, he received the Michael Balcon Award, and in 1993 a
Fellowship of BAFTA, the Academy's highest honour. Samuelson was appointed a
Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the
1978 Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours 1978 were appointments by many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made to celebrate t ...
for service to BAFTA, and
knighted
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
in the
1995 Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours 1995 were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's Offi ...
for services to the film industry.
[The United Kingdom:]
Samuelson wrote the foreword featured in the book '' In Conversation with Cinematographers'' by David A. Ellis, published by the American publisher Rowman & Littlefield. He was the first President of the
UK Jewish Film Festival
The UK Jewish Film Festival is an annual film festival dedicated to world cinema that explores Jewish life, history and culture worldwide. It was founded in 1997 and takes place in November, in London and in other cities in the United Kingdom.
...
. He remained in the role until 2005, and as of 2010 was the UKJFF Honorary Lifetime Patron.
Death
Samuelson died at his home on 14 December 2022, at the age of 97.
References
External links
*
1925 births
2022 deaths
Knights Bachelor
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
BAFTA fellows
BAFTA Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
British Jews
Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
People from Paddington
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