Documentaries
George Siamandas is an award Winnipeg producer and writer of several documantaries that have appeared all over North America on US Public televison. Themes have included history, architecture, cities, leisure, and gardens. Siamandas has also done short documentary features for CBC TV and has been a local history presenter on CBC Information Radio.
AWARD WINNING VIDEO PRODUCTIONS
The Mennonites of Manitoba
The story of a group of farmer settlers to southern Manitoba who brought their own language, culture and religion. Mennonites have thrived and enriched the character of Manitoba. Winner of a Telly Award and a Columbus Film Festival runner up award for producer and writer George Siamandas.
Pyramids on the Prairie
Featuring an architectural tour of Winnipeg’s Historic Exchange District. The history of the warehouse district and a tour of the banking, office, and warehouse buildings enjoying a revival.
Lake Winnipeg’s Paradise Beaches
For a hundred years Winnipeggers have enjoyed endless summers at Lake Winnipeg’s sandy beaches. The history and beauty of Gimli, Winnipeg Beach, Grand Beach and Victoria Beach is told in this 2001 documentary written, narrated and produced by George Siamandas.
Assiniboine Park – A Park for all Seasons
This documentary tells the story of Assiniboine Park. It shows Winnipeggers’ love for this 100 year old park and how popular the Pavilion, Leo Mol Garden and Lyric Stage have become with the public. It includes tours of the English Gardens, the Conservatory, and the Zoo.
Portage Avenue – Dreams of Castles in the Sky
Dreams of Castles in the Sky tells the story of how Portage Ave came to be Winnipeg’s Main St. Guided architectural tours of the Boyd Building, the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Paris Building, the Curry Building, Birks, the Bay, revealing these architectural gems. We see how the Portage and Main has evolved and tour its four famous buildings. And we hear of people’s dreams for a revitalized Portage Ave and Portage and Main.
Winnipeg in Bloom
Every day is summer. Just like on the finest summer morning with dew dripping from Christine’s fragrant lilies and roses. So we see and hear in “Winnipeg in Bloom” a new one hour documentary on Winnipeg gardens and gardeners which premiered on Prairie Public TV on Saturday December 4, 2004.
Produced and written by Winnipeg producer George Siamandas it is one of the first locally produced films shot in high definition television format. In this 6th project for the Fargo North Dakota Public Television Station Siamandas reveals the passions of the people who lovingly create art and beauty. Gardens with water, gardens with stones. Gardens with flowers, gardens with hope.
With little more than 100 frost free days, and clay-ladden prairie soils, the passionate gardeners of Winnipeg manage to grow outstanding gardens. Each new year, they emerge like artists ready to recreate a fresh canvas of delight and exultation. They paint with form and colour. Turning rubble piles into sanctuaries.
This is the story of these gardens of love and hope. Nurtured like beloved children to produce what nature had never intended. Joyful, colourful, abundant, natural landscapes that succeed in creating a little Eden in each yard.
Siamandas with Telly Award
In Winnipeg in Bloom we visit more than two dozen Winnipeg gardens. And learn how their owners brought them to life and beauty. What do these gardens mean to their tenders? How did they develop their passion for what has become North America’s most popular hobby and pastime?
From a little pocket garden, to elaborate acreage. From quaint cottage gardens to more formalized landscapes. From those that look like they have come from the pen of a professional to those tended by loving life-long hobby gardeners. All are equal. All speak to a place in man’s soul. The need to find beauty and harmony. Peace and splendour.
But it’s not just about beauty, and colour. Gardens are a magical healing place for people recovering from life’s stresses and health challenges. They are nurturing places for the soul.
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