Jacques BENSIMON

BENSIMON, Jacques
1943 - 2012
Jacques Bensimon, child of Agadir, a city he always loved, remained one of the finest Moroccan filmmakers who lived outside of Morocco. As a young teenager his family immigrated to Montreal and he completed his film studies in the United States but his work was always anchored in the love of the country of his birth and childhood. It was evident in his films, for example the classic trilogy-Carnets du Maroc-and more recently his memoir of growing up in Agadir, Un paradis perdu. The book will be published this fall by Hamathan in Paris and Montreal. Some of Jacques films can be seen at nfb.ca; others will be forthcoming. The films were produced at the NFB where he was a filmmaker for many years and later the Goverment Film Commissioner in which role he led to a rebirth of the organization. Jacques was also one of the first general directors (1989-2000) of the Ontario's French educational network: TFO. As head of the channel he made it a leading force in ensuring the vitality of French language and culture across Canada. His love of cinema was evident in the enormously popular cinema evenings on TFO which he personally hosted. Jacques will be missed inordinately by the many whose lives he touched personally or through his work. The funeral service from Paperman & Sons, 3888 Jean Talon st. w., on Monday, August 27 at 2 p.m. Burial at the Baron de Hirsch Cemetery, de la Savane. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Segal Cancer Centre, c/o The Jewish General Hospital Foundation 514-340-8251 or the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada 514-875-7745 or Nova Montreal, 514-866-6801.