Sir Sydney H Wylie Samuelson was a British film director and cinematographer.
11 Facts About Sydney Samuelson
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Sydney Samuelson was appointed in 1991 by the government of the UK as the first British Film Commissioner.
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Sydney Wylie Samuelson was born in Paddington, London, to George Berthold Samuelson, a cinema pioneer of the silent film era, and Marjorie Emma Elizabeth Vint.
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Sydney Samuelson was educated at the Irene Avenue Council School in Lancing, West Sussex.
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Sydney Samuelson then went on to work for Rayant Pictures, for whom he filmed the Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.
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Sydney Samuelson went on to become the first British Film Commissioner and remained in the post for six years.
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Sydney Samuelson was chosen as chairman of the management board of BAFTA in 1976 and was a permanent trustee.
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Sydney Samuelson was appointed a Commander of the British Empire in the 1978 Birthday Honours for service to BAFTA, and knighted in the 1995 Birthday Honours for services to the film industry.
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Sydney Samuelson was the first President of the UK Jewish Film Festival.
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Sydney Samuelson remained in the role until 2005, and as of 2010 was the UKJFF Honorary Lifetime Patron.
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Sydney Samuelson died at his home on 14 December 2022, aged 97.