Michel Côté is no more and, beyond the sadness that I feel, beyond the loss of a man of distinction, humor and kindness that everyone agrees with him recognize, beyond his immense career, it is also his personal commitment that I think of in addition to expressing my condolences to his loved ones for whom Michel has always shown his love.
On March 29, 2007, Michel Côté announced to the board of directors of La Grande Nuit du Cinéma (an association that organized the Jutra Evening) his departure as president, because his schedule — filming, theater… made him less available. At that time, I had the privilege of knowing him for what Michel has always done without counting his time: defending Quebec culture and cinema with admirable tenacity. During his presidency, he always supported initiatives that showcased the talent of Quebec artists and technicians (himself involved in scriptwriting and production) with an eye toward the future.
I remember, for example, his intervention in November 2006 so that the increasingly important special effects in Quebec films would be hailed during the Jutra Evening in 2007: he proposed that a capsule illustrate the contribution of these techniques during of the gala, especially since the company Hybride (Quebec’s first digital creation studio) — recognized specialist in special effects — was a partner of the evening. It was under his presidency that the production of the gala became a direct collaboration between La Grande Nuit du Cinéma and Société Radio-Canada and that the Tribute Awards were given to Pierre Curzi and the late Jean-Claude Labrecque, who received it during the 10e gala anniversary.
Many testimonials will be provided over the next few days and I have no doubt that they will reflect Michel: sober, affectionate and elegant. I believe that this dedication on his part deserves mention, even if it only occupied a minimal part of his incomparable career.
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