Read more about Denys Arcand
An Academy Award winning director, Denys Arcand's films have won over 100 prestigious awards around the world. In 2003, he wrote and directed “The Barbarian Invasions” which was nominated for Best Original Screenplay and won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. In France, it won three César – Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Director; in Italy, the Donatello for Best Foreign Language Film; at the Cannes Film Festival, the Best Actress and Best Screenplay awards, amongst many.
In 1989, Denys Arcand directed the powerful “Jesus of Montreal” which won the Jury’s Grand Prize and the Ecumenical Prize in Cannes. The film also earned 12 Genie Awards in addition of being nominated for the Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
In 2007, his film “Days of Darkness” was the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival for Closing Night, a very special evening as it was the 60th birthday of the festival. His film “The Decline of the American Empire” won the International Critic’s Prize (FIPRESCI) in Cannes, as well as an Oscar nomination as Best Foreign Language Film. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, Denys Arcand has published several articles and a book entitled “Euchariste Moisan” (2013). In 2011, he created, with artist Adad Hannah, an installation called “SAFARI ” for the Big Bang Exposition celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. A lover of classical music, he directed in 2015 the opera “Zémire and Azor”, with Les Violons du Roy and the students of the school of Opera of Montreal.
Denys Arcand is Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters (France); Companion of the Order of Canada and Knight of the National Order of Quebec. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and the “Académie des arts et techniques du cinéma” (César). Denys Arcand’s films depict his love for history and his passionate look at the human condition.