François Girard - Compagnon des arts et des lettres du Québec

From the rusted Cargo ship that was home to the confined space of his first film, to the ghost ship of TheFlying Dutchman staged by the Metropolitan Opera, François Girard’s journey is an odyssey that The Red Violon would envy.

The creations that have made the filmmaker’s reputation take us on a trip through time, as if the meaning of life were found on a tiny, strong thread of Silk, patiently woven, stretched between the past and the present, music and words, eras and cultures.

The permanent resident of a planet neighbouring that of the Little Prince, François Girard does not see geographical or artistic boundaries. The intensity of his gaze is equalled only by his perfect pitch. He has turned his talents to directing film, opera, and theatre, as well as song, visual arts, circus and dance.

And his track record testifies to his tremendous versatility, which can be seen in the names of Glenn Gould, Peter Gabriel, Alessandro Barrico, Samuel Beckett, Gilles Maheu and Dustin Hoffman.

His fascination for virtuosos and rebels who shatter convention, secret worlds and objects lost and found has put him at the helm of original, ambitious, international projects that have won over 100 prestigious awards.

About the Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec

The Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec is a distinction bestowed by CALQ honouring those individuals who have played a prominent role in Québec's artistic development.

The CALQ would like to thanks its partners, the Caisse de la Culture and the newspaper Le Devoir.

List of recipients