Award-Winning Quebec Director Érik Canuel Passes Away at 63

The Quebec film industry mourns the loss of renowned director Érik Canuel, who passed away at the age of 63. The news was confirmed by the communication agency Annexe on Monday.

Born in 1961 in Montreal, Canuel began his career at a young age, directing his first short film, “Mon ami, mon frère,” at 21. He later co-founded Kino Films with industry partners Pierre Gill and Marie-France Lemay, specializing in advertising and music videos.

Canuel’s directorial journey included a diverse range of projects, from music videos for Sass Jordan and Vilain Pingouin to commercials, totaling around 250 ads during his prolific early years.

His first feature film, “La loi du cochon,” premiered in 2001 and starred Isabel Richer and Catherine Trudeau. The film’s success paved the way for a series of acclaimed works that showcased Canuel’s unique storytelling abilities.

In 2006, Canuel took on the challenge of directing the bilingual action comedy “Bon cop, bad cop,” a groundbreaking project that became a Canadian box office hit and earned him several prestigious awards.

Throughout his career, Canuel remained active in both film and television, directing episodes for popular series like “Fortier” and “Transplant.” His versatile talent and dedication to his craft left a lasting impact on the Canadian entertainment industry.

Érik Canuel is survived by his partner and collaborator Julie, his children Elodie, L’ami.e, and Justine, his brother Nicolas and family, and his mother Lucile. A ceremony to honor his memory will be held in the near future.