National Film Board of Canada remembers former NFB Commissioner André Lamy

MONTREAL, May 5 /CNW Telbec/ - The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is honouring the memory of André Lamy, former NFB commissioner and independent producer, who passed away at the age of 77.

Lamy served as Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson from 1975 to 1979, following a term as Assistant Commissioner under Sydney Newman from 1970 to 1975.

Only the second francophone NFB Commissioner, Lamy played a key role in strengthening the NFB's ties to the Quebec film sector. He also ensured the release of the then-controversial NFB French program films On est au coton, 24 heures ou plus and Cap d'espoir. He was Commissioner during the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics and was involved in the creation of the official Olympics film, Games of the XXI Olympiad.

"I was fortunate enough to be able to get to know André Lamy better during the filming of The Commissioners, a short documentary by Philippe Baylaucq created to mark the NFB's 70th anniversary. It was clear that André Lamy was not well during the filming, but he was determined to take part, and his commitment to the NFB, to filmmaking and, in particular, Quebec cinema, was undiminished. Everyone at the NFB is deeply saddened by his passing," said Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB.

After his term as NFB Commissioner, Lamy served as head of the Canadian Film Development Corporation, now Telefilm Canada, from 1980 to 1985, before moving to the private sector as an award-winning producer with Galafilm.

Prior to joining the NFB, Lamy was a producer at Onyx Films from 1964 to 1970, during which time he was involved in several major feature productions. During this period, he also produced television commercials and industrial films for a wide variety of companies. From 1962 to 1964, he was the director of sales and a producer with Niagara Films of Montreal.

Born in Montreal on July 19, 1932, Lamy was educated at the Université de Montréal and McGill University.

André Lamy's appearance in The Commissioners can be watched at the (http://nfb.ca/) online Screening Room: (http://www.nfb.ca/film/the_commissioners/)

For further information: Lily Robert, Chief, Communications, [phone], Cell.: [phone], [email protected]; Source: National Film Board of Canada