1979: Official formation of the Academy of Canadian Cinema
The first 29-member board of directors meet under newly elected chairman Ronald Cohn
The Etrog, sculpted by Sorel Etrog for the Canadian Film Awards, is renamed the Genie

1980: The first Genie Awards ceremony, held at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre, is broadcast on CBC.
The Changeling, produced by Garth Drabinsky and Joel Michaels and directed by Peter Medak, wins for best motion picture

1982: The Academy’s board of directors now includes 17 annually elected members to represent the various membership craft branches, as well as three honorary appointments

1983: The Montreal office opens
The Academy puts out its first publication, The Shape of Rage, a critical review of the works of David Cronenberg, edited by Piers Handling

1984: The National Apprenticeship Training Program, the Academy’s first professional development program, is established

1985: The ACC officially becomes the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, announced at a press conference by then-chairman Robert Lantos
One thousand copies of the first edition of Who’s Who are published
The Vancouver office opens

1986: The Gemini Awards sculpture is unveiled, with a design by Scott Thornley
The first Gemini Awards are broadcast on CBC from the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
The Genies also move to the MTCC

1987: The first Prix Gemeaux take place at Radio-Canada’s Studio 42 in Montreal

1990: The Geminis are relaunched in a three-day format

1993: The Genies are broadcast from Montreal, coinciding with the launch of the Claude Jutra Award for best direction of a first feature film. The award goes to John Pozer for The Grocer’s Wife

2004: The Genies broadcast moves from CBC to CHUM’s Star!, Bravo!, Citytv and MusiMax as well as Access and ASN. The show also launches its first ITV-enhanced broadcast with partners Xenophile Media and Bell ExpressVu