Brian McKenna

Brian McKenna (August 8, 1945 – May 5, 2023) was a Canadian documentary film director. He was best known for his prize-winning films on Canadian history and exploration of the world at war. Brian McKenna was born on August 8, 1945 in Montreal, CanadaMcKenna was a founding producer of CBC's Oscar- and Emmy award-winning documentary program, The Fifth Estate, where he worked from 1975 to 1988. McKenna was a parliamentary correspondent for the Montreal Star. He was a frequent collaborator with his brother Terence, also a filmmaker, in particular on the three-part series The Valour and the Horror. The most controversial segment in the series concerned strategic bombing during World War II.McKenna's contributions included prize-winning reporting of Canada's wars, including the War of 1812, the First and Second World Wars, and Korea. Among his documentary film achievements, McKenna also co-authored the Penguin Books biography of Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau.

McKenna wrote for Saturday Night, Weekend Magazine, the Literary Review of Canada, Cité Libre, the Toronto Star and Maclean's.McKenna died on May 5, 2023, from an illness at the age of 77.