Blair is author of The Biko Inquest, the play based on the South African inquest into the death in prison of the black leader Steve Biko, which Blair directed off-Broadway starring Fritz Weaver and Philip Bosco and which was then produced for stage and television starring Albert Finney.
He was also co-founder and co-creator of the hit British comedy series, "Spitting Image," acting as producer, and then executive producer until mid-1987. He was Executive Producer of all "Spitting Image" NBC specials in the USA. During his time at "Spitting Image," as Producer or Executive Producer, the program won two Emmys®, a Banff Comedy award, and numerous other international awards.
As a current affairs producer/director on "Tonight," "This Week," and "TV Eye," Blair has covered domestic and foreign stories including the first program for British television about the Soweto uprising "There Is No Crisis!"; and coverage of other issues in the Middle East, Cambodia and Angola. He has written on these wars for most major serious British newspapers as well as The New York Times.
In 1987, Blair set up The Jon Blair Film Company to take advantage of the new climate for independent program makers in British broadcasting. The company's first production was a documentary special which Blair produced, directed, and wrote, entitled "Do You Mean There Are Still Real Cowboys?"
Among his many other credits, Blair wrote and produced the highly acclaimed dramatization of the Kimberly Carlile inquiry starring Daniel Day-Lewis, based on an infamous case of child abuse. He also produced "Two Dogs and Freedom," a benefit concert for black children in South Africa at Sadlers Wells, London, featuring Bob Hoskins, Janet Suzman, Richard E. Grant, Jonas Gwangwa and others.
In 1994 Blair produced, directed, and wrote "Steven Spielberg on 'Schindler's List'" and "Tom Hanks & The World According To Gump." "Wagner vs. Wagner," featuring Richard Wagner's great grandson on the composer's political and cultural legacy of anti-Semitism and race hatred, was broadcast on Channel Four in April 1995.
ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED was completed in the summer of 1995 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Holocaust. The film received recognition at numerous film festivals including, the Jury Prize at the Hamptons International Film Festival, the Audience Prize at the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, and a Gold Plaque at the Chicago International Film Festival, and the Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature.
Other credits include "Packet of Three" (TV series) and MONSTER IN A BOX (both 1991), "Packing Them In" (1992, TV series) and DRUG-TAKING AND THE ARTS (1994), "Bin Laden: The Early Years" (2001, TV), "The Age of Terror: A Survey of Modern Terrorists" (2002, TV mini-series), "Reporters at War" (2003, TV), 2 episodes of "Zero Hour" (TV, 2005-06), an episode of Dawn French's "Girls Who Do: Comedy" (2006, TV), and OCHBERG'S ORPHANS (scheduled for release in 2008).
Best Achievement in Documentary Features 1995: ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED - Producer
1 nomination, 1 Award