Quebec’s cinema owners have honored legendary Quebec actor Rémy Girard and distributor and producer Victor Loewy for their contribution to the province’s film industry.

At a ceremony and cocktail party in Montreal’s Old Port Wednesday evening, the Association des propriétaires de cinémas et de cinéparcs du Québec awarded Girard the Bobine d’or prize for outstanding achievement. Loewy, who in 1971 founded Vivafilm — which ultimately became one of Canada’s most important distribution companies, Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm — received the Prix coup de coeur.

‘Without the contribution of talented people such as Loewy and Girard, we wouldn’t exist, so it’s important to acknowledge that,’ Jean Colbert, the president of the APCCQ, told Playback Daily before the event.

‘And we wanted to honor Girard before he abandons us for the U.S.,’ Colbert added, referring to the fact that Girard, who has starred in more than 35 films, including Academy Award and Genie winner Les invasions barbares and Oscar nominee and Genie winner Le déclin de l’empire américain, was featured alongside Sean Penn and Gwyneth Paltrow in a 2004 New York Times spread on ‘great performers.’

A number of important industry players were expected to attend the night’s event, including actress Dominique Michel, director Charles Binamé and producer Roger Frappier.

Founded in 1932 as the Quebec Allied Theatrical Industries Inc., the APCCQ now represents 80% of Quebec’s cinema owners.