Iconic Canadian filmmaker and writer, Julius Kohanyi passed away, at the age of 91, on March 13, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Susan Kavesh; his sister, Elizabeth Gross; and his brother, Geza Kohanyi.
Julius’ career spanned over 60 years from the ‘60s to the present, during which he made over 40 internationally award-winning films. Recognition includes the Gold Medal for First Feature for Summer’s Children at Houston’s World Fest, the Hugo Award for Best Children’s Entertainment Film for Games at Chicago’s International Film Festival, and a Special Screening at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for one of the first films on autism entitled I’m Alive, sponsored by the Government of Ontario. In addition, Julius was an Executive Producer in CBC TV Drama for two years where he produced Sprockets, which showcased the films of avant-garde Canadian filmmakers in 26 half-hour programs — and which received one of the highest audience ratings.
The child of immigrants, he worked at multiple jobs, including a stint as an usher in the cinema where he discovered a fascination with film that led him to shoot his first movie, The Herring Belt, about Kensington Market, 60 years ago. He also found his loving companion and wife in the movie industry — a special source of understanding and support throughout their 42 years together.
Background
Julius’ father Gyula was an educated school teacher in a village in Hungary. He wanted to marry a young woman in the village, but his parents didn’t want him to. So in the 1930s, he travelled to Kelowna, British Columbia, got a tract of land from the Canadian government, and brought Ethel over to marry him. They had two children, Elizabeth and Julius. However, Ethel died at a young age, and Julius’ father decided to bring the two kids back to Hungary to meet their grandparents, but the Second World War broke out and they were forced to stay in Hungary under adverse conditions. As a child in wartime, Julius recounted the story of a friend who died playing with grenades; his own shrapnel wound; his dog being shot by a retreating German soldier; and a Russian soldier who gave Julius a cigarette lighter being shot and slumped over beside him. Julius also told of running through a thorny rose bush to escape an aerial bombardment and coming through unscathed. Times were tough and there was little to eat.
Julius’ father met a young woman and decided to marry her. She wanted to have her own children, so Gyula sent young Julius and Elizabeth by train and ship across the ocean by themselves to Toronto.
Not knowing the English language and being called a D.P. (displaced person), Julius left high school to explore other avenues. He was taken under the wing of a prominent family in Hamilton and eventually got a job as an usher in a downtown Toronto cinema where he fell in love with the movies. He got a spot in a garage where he painted cars and did auto mechanic work in order to make his own film about the ethnic Kensington Market.
The Herring Belt was shown at a Yorkville coffee house where a rep from the CBC saw it and immediately purchased a license to broadcast in on television. It was also the only film from English Canada to be invited to the debut of the Montreal International Film Festival at the new Place des Arts. That was Julius’ start as a filmmaker who poured his money into making other films which won awards and were all shown on CBC and elsewhere around the world.
Julius made several documentaries on art and artists, the most acclaimed of which was on the famous sculptor Henry Moore who allowed Julius to come to his home in England, his private studio, and his sculpture garden. The film won many awards around the world and is still popularly sold as a DVD on Amazon.
Julius went on to direct a feature length film in 35mm entitled Summer’s Children which won the Gold Medal for First Feature at Houston’s Worldfest (now known as the Houston International Film Festival)among many other awards and was written up in Variety magazine. It was nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the Gemini / Canadian Film Awards and was shown in movie theatres as well as on television. Julius wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay of his wartime childhood in the feature film The War Boy which was distributed around the world.
Julius continued to make films and write screenplays through the early 2000s and then authored The Rad Trilogy comprised of three novels published by his wife Susan Kavesh under her company Green Acre Video and Books. The “trilogy” was launched and sold at Honest Ed’s 66th birthday party! — and sells in print as well as an ebook on Amazon.
Julius continued to write and develop screenplays and speak at schools through The Writers’ Union of Canada.
He had motivation, wit, and was always a fighter for good over evil, which permeated his work throughout his life.
