Jean-Marc Vallée (1963-2021)
2015 National Arts Centre Award
Filmmaker
Jean-Marc Vallée is one of Canada’s most celebrated contemporary filmmakers, known for personal yet universal works of exceptional dramatic intensity and visual appeal. Hailed by audiences and critics alike, his films have earned him an international reputation.
Mr. Vallée launched his career with three short films—
Stereotypes (1991),
Les Fleurs magiques (1995), and
Les Mots magiques (1998)—and made his feature debut with
Black List (1995), a groundbreaking thriller that explored themes of power and justice.
His international hit
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005), both a tribute to family life and a celebration of difference, was distributed in over 50 countries and won 11 Genies and 13 Jutras.
His historical drama
The Young Victoria (2010), produced by Graham King and Martin Scorsese, depicted life in 19th-century England. His impressionistic portrait of the early years of the Victorian era won the Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design.
Café de Flore (2011), a highly imaginative return to the themes of family and difference, was selected for the Venice Film Festival and won Best Canadian Film at the Vancouver Film Critics Awards.
In 2013,
Dallas Buyers Club, based on the true story of a homophobic cowboy afflicted with AIDS, won 69 international awards, among them three Oscars including Best Actor (Matthew McConaughey) and Best Supporting Actor (Jared Leto).
In 2014 Mr. Vallée directed his screen adaptation of
Wild, Cheryl Strayed’s bestseller about her epic hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in a journey of self-discovery. The film was nominated for two Oscars, Best Actress (Reese Witherspoon) and Best Supporting Actress (Laura Dern).
His upcoming film,
Demolition, is about a man re-examining his life after the accidental death of his wife. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts and is scheduled for release in fall 2015.
“I’m a storyteller,” says Mr. Vallée, “and every story comes with a playlist. Music is hugely important to me. It inspires me to make movies; it inspires me to dream, to love … in short, to live.”