Born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada; father of Canadian producer-director Stephen Low. Colin Low was raised on a ranch in Western Canada. After attending the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Calgary Institute of Technology, he joined the National Film Board of Canada in 1945 through a summer training program set up by Norman McLaren in an effort to create a Canadian animation facility. Low started out as a graphic artist hand-lettering titles. In 1948, he went to study in Stockholm and on his return created two important animation sequences for the documentary THE FIGHT: SCIENCE AGAINST CANCER. In 1949, Low was recognized as a filmmaker and, in 1950, was appointed Head of the Animation Unit, where he produced and directed some of the NFB's most popular films, including the award-winning short THE ROMANCE OF TRANSPORATION IN CANADA (1953). Despite his success as an animator, Low decided to try his hand at documentary, producing and directing the classic short CORRAL (1954). Shot without the narration and voice-over characteristic of NFB films at that time, it won numerous awards, including first prize at the Venice Film Festival. His next film, CITY OF GOLD (1957), was hailed by international critics as "brilliant", "rare", "faultless" and "poetic" and garnered 17 awards. Low has collaborated on close to 200 productions to date, most often as director, co-director, producer or co-producer. Much of his research since the mid-1960s has had to do with giant screen filmmaking. A member of the Royal Canadian Academy, this veteran Canadian filmmaker has won over 100 awards for his films, as well as several honorary degrees and other honours. Throughout his career, Low has been a tireless innovator, always seeking new ways of doing things, pioneering new techniques and producing quality films, and his enthusiasm for the cinema has not flagged in the 50 years he has been with the NFB. Ever eager to take on new challenges, currently Low is experimenting with new techniques in the field of 3-D IMAX HD. In a ceremony in Ottawa on 15 February 1996, Colin Low was made a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to cinema in Canada and around the world. In December 1997, Low was honoured with the Quebec government prestigious Prix Albert-Tessier, one of the Prix du Québec. The honour was given in recognition of Low's lifetime contribution to Canadian filmmaking. His son Stephen Low (b. 1951) writes, produces and directs films.  Nominated for Documentary (Shorts) 1960: UNIVERSE - Producer  -- Short Subjects (Live Action) 1961: VERY NICE, VERY NICE - Producer (w. Tom Daly) -- both unnamed with nomination  Nominated for Short Subjects (Cartoons) 1963: MY FINANCIAL CAREER - Producer (w. Tom Daly) 2 named nominations