André Picard
President
TVA International, Canadian Drama and Large Format Films

André Picard has spent nearly two decades in film and television production. He joined the TVA International team in 1996, heading up one of Canada's most prolific producers of television drama, youth programming and documentaries. He is also Governor of the Banff Television Festival and Secretary General of the International Centre of Films for Children and Young People. Now, as president of the TVA International, Large Format Films unit, he returns to giant-screen filmmaking — a field in which he's already made a considerable splash.

André's distinguished career had an unlikely start. After graduating from Harvard University with a degree in Economics and Pure Mathematics, André took a management job at Télé-Québec in Montreal. It was an exciting time at the station, and André participated in massive corporate, financial and programming changes.

André first then acquired his knowledge of international markets while at Téléfilm Canada, from 1983 to 1986. As director of the Broadcast Fund, he was in charge of the financing of independent television production in Canada. As Vice-President and Director of Operations, he oversaw all production, distribution and marketing investment programs, totalling $100 000 000 (CAD) in investments annually; and international co-production agreements, maintaining a steady contact with foreign producers and broadcasters, participating in various international television and film markets.

From 1986 to 1988, he was Vice-President of programming for Télévision Quatre Saisons. With his work at revamping the programming schedule, he successfully launched the network into the ranks of the major players in Quebec by tripling the market share of the station.

From 1992 to 1996, André Picard served as C.E.O. and Vice-President, International, for the Paris office of the Groupe Rozon, the company which produces the world premiere Just for Laughs comedy festival. Always on the lookout for new concepts, he produced Cinema Avenue, a large-scale multimedia exhibition celebrating the centennial of cinema in Tokyo.

Imax Corporation in Toronto called on him in 1988 with a view to revitalizing its film operations. As Vice-President, Film and Executive Producer, he was in charge of financing, production, distribution and marketing for all IMAX® films, developing co-productions and strategic alliances, notably with the Asian market (Japan, Korea) and the National Geographic Society.

André has been executive producer of many ground-breaking large-format films. His credits include the hugely successful Rolling Stones at the Max, Titanica (the first feature-length IMAX® films), Asteroid Adventure (the first IMAX® HD simulation ride film), and the Oscar® nominated Fires of Kuwait. Lately, he's included the IMAX® film Journey of Man featuring the world renowned Cirque du Soleil, and TVA International's first large-format film, Great North.