Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 4 members of Canada's film industry gathered to recognize and celebrate our country's cinematic achievements at the 19th annual Genie Awards.
Each year the Genies bring together more than 1,500 key film professionals and crafts people from across Canada to honour, celebrate and promote the talent and the accomplishments of the Canadian film industry.
On the eve of the approval of a feature film fund for Canadian producers, we witnessed the success of such films as The Red Violin , Last Night , as well as A Place Called Chiapas . These films demonstrate what can be achieved with a clear vision and the support needed to turn the dream into reality.
I congratulate both the nominees and the recipients. Their dedication to their craft has not gone unnoticed. Evenings such as these highlight the importance of the Canadian film industry and showcase its talent.