Esther Valiquette

Esther Valiquette (November 1962 – September 8, 1994) was a Canadian documentary film director.[1] She is most noted for her 1992 documentary film The Measure of Your Passage (Le singe bleu), which won the award for Best Short Film at the 1993 Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma,[2] and the Genie Award for Best Short Documentary at the 14th Genie Awards in 1993.[3]

Originally from Arthabaska, Quebec, she studied arts the Université de Montréal. Following her graduation she joined the National Film Board of Canada as a trainee in its Studio D unit for women, and worked in a variety of technical roles on productions for the company.[4] After being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 1989, she directed the AIDS-themed documentary film The Story of A (Le Récit d'A), which was released in 1990.[5] The film recounted the struggles of an HIV-positive man named Andrew. In 1992, she released The Measure of Your Passage, an essay film which presented her own philosophical explorations of mortality through the prism of a reflection on the collapse of the ancient Minoan civilization.[4]

Valiquette died of AIDS on September 8, 1994.[1]

  1. ^ a b Stan Shatenstein, "Film-maker dies of AIDS". Montreal Gazette, September 19, 1994.
  2. ^ "Morin garners 2 Rendez-Vous du Cinema awards". Montreal Gazette, February 14, 1993.
  3. ^ Rob Salem, "Genies good for Gould: Four honors for film-festival hit that's yet to open in Toronto". Toronto Star, December 13, 1993.
  4. ^ a b Stan Shatenstein, "Vision of a tragedy: Film-maker Esther Valiquette uses her artist's eye to explore a deadly disease". Montreal Gazette, March 1, 1993.
  5. ^ Mary Welin, "Film buffs are promised a wealth of offbeat entertainment". Calgary Herald, June 14, 1991.