Messages.

PAUL GRATTON, ACCT CHAIRMAN

I saw my first Canadian films in 1970 (Denis Heroux's L'Initiation and Don Shebib's Goin'Down the Road) and have been an avid cheerleader for Canuck cinema ever since, i consider myself fortunate to have carved out some modest role to play within this industry. I attended my first Genie Awards show in 1981. Les Boris Debarras won for Best Picture, and I remember being very impressed that a quality auteur film had triumphed over some more obvious commercial alternatives. I also loved the glamour, excitement and sheer mobility of having awards designed to celebrate excellence in Canadian film (and in later years--television). I often say that if the Genies didn't exist, we'd have to invent them. To the Academy, its wonderful staff, and all of our passionate, devoted members, Happy 25th.

MARIA TOPALOVICH, ACCT PRESIDENT AND CEO 

As the ACCT uncorks the bubbly, we also stand in awe of how far our big and small-screen industries have come since 1979. The Academy's upward trajectory follows the similar ascending are of our television and movies. And inasmuch as our pasts are linked, the future of the Academy, and the art it celebrates, are intertwined as well.

Our inauguration in 1979 fulfilled the film industry's desire to have an independent, professional and dedicated Academy to recognize achievement in the burgeoning Canadian movie scene. Although the Academy's vision was grand, its beginnings were decidedly humble. Our offices were home to a staff of three people who oversaw a membership of about 400.

Nevertheless, within 12 months of its foundation, the Academy's staff, working with a dedicated group of founding members, managed to establish rules and regulations for entering films, to create juries to adjudicate submissions by their peers and managed to pull together the first Genie awards ceremony, televised on CBC. This signaled to everyone that not only was the idea of forming an Academy one whose time had definitely come, but that Canada truly did have a national cinema--and the public supported it.

It was momentum from the successful kickoff of the Genies that led the Academy, in 1986, to establish a television division and create the Gemini awards for English-language television and the Prix Gemeaux to celebrate achievement in French-language TV. The Awards signaled to the country that what we broadcast over the airwaves in Canada is not only distinct from shows produced in other countries--it's worth celebrating.

A small but dedicated staff of cinephiles and channel-surfers keeps these many areas of operation running smoothly, Our hats go off to them, as well, for their spirit and determination to make the Academy a relevant, accessible and flourishing professional organization--and they've succeeded.

The Genies, Geminis and Gdmeaux are measures of achievement that have become internationally recognized, rib a degree, Canada's best cinema and television today can be traced to the inception of these awards. Not only do they build awareness for the shows they celebrate, they continuously raise the standard for all industry members to meet and exceed.

As we look forward to the next 25 years, the Academy will continue its role as an independent resource for our film and TV industries. We'll be there, from our offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, to advise, support, facilitate--and perhaps most importantly--celebrate the creativity and talent of the thousands of writers, directors, producers, actors and craftspeople who play an important role in telling Canada's stories in cinemas and living rooms, from coast to coast and across the globe.