Celebrating Greg MacGillivray

WikiGreg MacGillivray

Greg MacGillivray is a pioneering American filmmaker renowned for his contributions to large-format and IMAX documentary cinema. Born in 1945, MacGillivray began his filmmaking journey at the age of 13, producing surf films that captured the essence of the sport. In 1966, he co-founded MacGillivray Freeman Films with Jim Freeman, establishing a company that would become a leader in giant-screen filmmaking 

MacGillivray's career is marked by technical innovation and storytelling excellence. He has developed specialized IMAX cameras, including high-speed and all-weather models, to capture stunning visuals in challenging environments. His filmography includes over 60 titles, with more than 45 in the IMAX format, such as "To Fly!" (1976), "Everest," "The Living Sea," and "Dolphins," the latter two earning Academy Award nominations.

Greg and Barbara MacGillivrayGreg and Barbara MacGillivray

Beyond filmmaking, MacGillivray is a dedicated ocean conservationist. In 2004, Greg and his wife Barbara, a passionate ocean conservationist, founded the non-profit MacGillivray-Freeman Films Educational Foundation a non-profit organization. The foundation also launched the One World One Ocean Campaign, designed to contribute to the conservation of the world's natural and cultural heritage through giant-screen films designed to inspire audiences through cinematography and to spark a global movement to protect our seas along, The campaign also offers companion educational programming, teachers' guides and books to supplement films and to encourage students to become aware of their environment. The foundation also sponsors tours of notable scientists and speakers to help educate people about conservation issues. The goals of the One World One Ocean Campaign are to get people to buy sustainable seafood, reduce plastic pollution, and expand ocean-protected areas to 10% of our oceans.

Read Greg's memoir, Five Hundred Summer Stories, which offers insights into his life and the evolution of IMAX filmmaking. Read all about the incredible MacGillivray family in our MY HERO story HERE. And go to their website to find out more: https://macgillivrayfreeman.com

AmazonFive Hundred Summer Stories

MacGillivray-Freeman Films wins the MY HERO Global Educator Award 2024 

MY HERO was delighted to present the 2024 Global Educator Award to MacGillivray-Freeman Films for their recent film Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels, directed by Greg MacGillivray and Shaun Macgillivray, as well as their extraordinary filmography and for their continued work to raise awareness of ocean degradation.

Narrated by Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey, Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels explores the inner workings of the human body and the incredible breakthroughs in science and bioengineering that are changing the course of human health. Told through the inspiring personal stories behind these groundbreaking medical innovations, Superhuman Body shows the extraordinary ways our bodies work, and how science and technology help us to intervene when things go wrong. Superhuman Body is produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and presented by Edwards Lifesciences and Griffin Catalyst.

Watch behind-the-scenes footage here: myhero.com/superhuman-body-behind-the-scenes

For more information, go to: Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels

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Sylvia Earle Award at MY HERO Film Festival

MacGillivray-Freeman Films Educational Foundation’s One World One Ocean Campaign sponsors the ‘Sylvia Earle Ocean Conservation Award’ annually at the MY HERO International Film Festival. One World One Ocean is a global non-profit campaign designed to connect people emotionally to the world's ocean.

Said Greg MacGillivray, Chairman of MacGillivray Freeman Films, “Sylvia Earle is our ocean hero, and we hope this award inspires aspiring filmmakers to shine a spotlight on other dedicated people from all walks of life who are working tirelessly on behalf of our oceans."

Find out more here: myhero.com/sylvia-earle-ocean-conservation-award