Montréal-born filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée made his feature directorial debut with 1995's Liste Noire [Black List], and also edited the movie. The stylish erotic thriller was the first of its genre for Québec cinema, and received nine Genie Award – Canada's Oscars equivalent – nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Aubert Pallascio).
Mr. Vallée was also a screenwriter and producer on his next French-language feature as director, the personal yet universal coming-of-age tale C.R.A.Z.Y., which became a sleeper hit distributed in over 50 countries. The film won the Best Canadian Feature Film prize at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival; 11 Genie Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay; 13 Jutra Awards; and the Golden Reel Award for the top-grossing Canadian film of the year in the country.
His next movie as director was the British historical romance The Young Victoria. Emily Blunt received Golden Globe Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, and British Independent Film Award nominations for her performance in the title role. The film's global acclaim included three Academy Award nominations, with an Oscar win for Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell). The costume designer also received BAFTA, Costume Designers Guild, and Critics' Choice Movie Awards, among other honors.Mr. Vallée next directed, and wrote and co-produced, Café de Flore, starring Vanessa Paradis. The epic drama of love spanning multiple generations screened at the 2011 Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals, and was distributed in 25 countries. The film was nominated for 13 Genie Awards, winning three including Best Actress; was nominated for seven Jutra Awards, winning three including Best Actress; and won two Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards, including Best Canadian Film and Supporting Actress (Hélène Florent).
He directed Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl Strayed in an adaptation by Nick Hornby of Ms. Strayed's best-selling memoir. Mr. Vallée was honored with the prestigious Claude Jutra Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for his first short film as director, Stéréotypes.
Focus Features
