ACCT honors DesRoches

Montreal: Former Telefilm Canada executive director Pierre DesRoches is the 1994 recipient of the Grand Prix de l’Academie. Sponsored by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television – Quebec, in association with Ford of Canada, the award recognizes outstanding career contribution to Canadian film and tv and will be presented at the Prix Gemeaux gala on Oct. 2.

DesRoches began a 30-plus-year career in broadcasting in 1951, just prior to the launch of Radio-Canada. He went on to assume a number of top management positions, including executive vice-president at cbc. In 1983, he was named vice-president, French television at Radio-Canada, the public broadcaster’s top post.

DesRoches’ popularity with the industry held sway throughout his six-year mandate (1988 to June 1994) at Telefilm.

In addition to long-standing activity on behalf of international French-language public tv and the Banff Television Festival, DesRoches is a founding member of mip-tv’s prestigious 30-year club, and from 1976-78, was the first president of the North American Broadcasters Association.

The Quebec acct has also announced that Sheila Finestone, federal minister of state for multiculturalism and the condition of women, will attend an acct rally Monday, Sept. 26, where she will unveil details of a new ACCT National Apprenticeship Program supported by Canadian Heritage.

The rally’s sponsor, Kodak Canada, will make a special presentation to 1994 Prix Gemeaux nominees in the cinematography category.

As part of its ninth Prix Gemeaux activities, the acct, in association with the Maclean Hunter Television Fund, is staging Television: New Horizons, a one-day seminar/workshop for producers and distributors. Participating in the Sept. 29 forum will be representatives from specialty channels A&D Television, Reseau de l’Information, Bravo!, The Discovery Channel, Life Network, Lifestyle Television and Showcase Television.

Peter Simon, chairman of the Canadian Cable Television Association, will also address the seminar.