Statement by the NFB Commissioner on the death of Mr. Rock Demers.
PRESS RELEASE
18/08/2021
August 18, 2021 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mr. Rock Demers, a highly respected figure who inspired the young and young-at-heart and fuelled the imaginations of audiences far and wide—both in Canada and around the world.
One of Canada’s greatest producers, Rock Demers was also a mentor for an entire generation of artists, craftspeople, filmmakers and producers, helping them forge brilliant careers that remain influential to this day. He was a trailblazer in the art of telling stories featuring scrappy, inventive kids, and he put youth centre stage in our film industry, whether at the Montreal International Film Festival or through his prolific production house.
Mr. Demers sat on the NFB’s Executive Committee for three years, bringing to the position a vitality and vision commensurate with his experience and dedication.
We will remember him as a great producer who was passionate and determined, bursting with energy and imagination.
His work and his memory will endure and live on.
On behalf of the entire NFB, I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Claude Joli-Coeur
Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson
– 30 –
French version here | Version française ici.
Media Relations
-
About the NFB
Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of distinctive, engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 6,500 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.