Asked for his favorite National Film Board movies made during his time as commissioner, Jacques Bensimon had a long list. These were the first 10.

* Shameless: The Art of Disability (2006): Bonnie Sherr Klein’s return to filmmaking after two debilitating strokes and 16 years. ‘She proves herself as a filmmaker once more,’ says Bensimon.

* Ryan (2004): Chris Landreth’s Oscar winner, about Oscar-nominated NFB animator Ryan Larkin. ‘This was a major turning point for us.’

* What Remains of Us (2004): François Prévost’s and Hugo Latulippe’s doc about a Tibetan refugee’s trek across the Himalayas. ‘Quite an accomplishment.’

* Being Caribou (2004): Directors Leanne Allison and Diana Wilson follow a herd of caribou through the Arctic tundra, showing us the threats that this species faces. ‘These two young filmmakers had such guts to make this film.’

* Manufactured Landscapes (2006): Jennifer Baichwal’s documentary follows internationally renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky to China, with impressive results. ‘Watching a film like this, you feel proud that you participated in it.’

* Discordia (2004): Codirectors and Concordia grads Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal gaze into the university’s strife following the violent protests by pro-Palestinian activists that effectively shut down a lecture by former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in 2002. ‘This was a film that really told us something about Canada and the meeting of these cultures.’

* No More Tears Sister (2004): Helene Klodawsky looks at the crisis in Sri Lanka through the life of one activist, Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, who was assassinated at age 35. ‘This film really brought us to a greater understanding of what had happened in Sri Lanka.’

* In the Shadow of Gold Mountain (2004): Filmmaker Karen Cho examines the head tax that singled out Chinese immigrants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. ‘When she set out to make it, no one was really talking about the head tax.’

* The Point (2006): Joshua Dorsey’s look at life for youth in Montreal’s multicultural but economically poor Point St. Charles neighborhood. ‘This film is in the tradition of what John Smith [The Boys of St. Vincent] used to do at the NFB. It’s incredible.’

* The NFB’s DVD box sets: Norman McLaren, Michel Brault and Denys Arcand sets have all been released (though Bensimon concedes that releasing the Arcand set without English subtitles was a major blunder). ‘When the NFB has its act together, we can give our talent the best windows of promotion possible. Sets for Donald Brittain and Alanis Obomsawin are on their way.’