Les Blank

Celebrated as a master of observational cinema, Les Blank was born in 1935 in Tampa, Florida, USA and was active in the film industry from 1960 to 2013. Primarily filming in the genres of documentary and short film, Blank was renowned for his works including "Burden of Dreams" and "Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers", which earned him numerous awards including the BAFTA Flaherty Documentary Award. His authorial style is characterized by an immersive, fly-on-the-wall approach that captures the essence of his subjects in an unobtrusive and naturalistic way.

In the realm of documentary filmmaking, Les Blank stood as a gentle observer, his lens always finding beauty in the mundane, and celebrating the richness of human culture and everyday life.