Paul pictured here in July 2024 at a joint Canadian Society of Cinematographers/Canadian Film Centre event he helped facilitate. Paul was a strong supporter of women in cinematography. (from left Emma Djwa, Kaayla Whatchell, Paola Conteras Arreaga, Paul, Iris Ng, Claire Sanford)
Photo: Dean Oriade
It is with great sadness we’ve just learned of the passing of Paul Bronfman, a decades-long friend to the Canadian Society of Cinematographers.
Paul loved cinematography and showed his support of cinematographers in a myriad of ways. He recently chaired the CSC’s Future is Calling Campaign, an initiative to increase access and remove barriers for underrepresented groups in the camera department. For years, his company, William F. White International loaned gratis gear to up and coming talent so they could get better at what they did. He spent time helping our organization grow. He was someone you could email, and he’d respond, call on the phone and he’d answer.
Paul was on the job until very recently. In December, we had meetings to talk about plans for 2025. Although he’d recently recovered from a bout of pneumonia, he was in his office at 800 Islington Avenue in Toronto, a room where the walls are covered in framed memorabilia from the worlds of movies, sports and rock and roll, testament to a life energetically lived. He asked for a framed copy of the picture shown above to commemorate a two-week professional development initiative, the first ever partnership between the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and the Canadian Film Centre. The initiative was something Paul worked hard to create. He wanted to support women in the industry. “It’s time,” he said.
Paul had a lot left he wanted to do, and the world is a lesser place without him in it. He led an interesting and rich life. He talked the same way to an intern as he did a film executive. And he had a lot of stories to tell.
We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s beautiful family, about whom he talked proudly on a regular basis. We hope they can take some comfort in the mark Paul left on the hearts of many.
We will deeply miss you, Paul.
Your Friends at the Canadian Society of Cinematographers
