The Jean-Marc Vallée Vanguard Award
A centerpiece program of the Orcas Island Film Festival is our annual Vanguard Award.
This award was re-christened the Jean-Marc Vallée Vanguard Award in 2022 as a remembrance to our friend and guest director Jean-Marc Vallée.
Prior to his unexpected passing, Jean-Marc came to almost every year of the Orcas Island Film Festival.
He was so enthusiastic to share his craft and to engage with audiences, filmmakers and future filmmakers alike.
Our hope is that this award will keep his spirit alive.
2024’s winner is…
Louise
Courvoisier
Director of Holy Cow
This year’s honoree is director Louise Courvoisier. Her brilliance shines in her refreshing and assured take on the coming-of-age genre.
We are proud to celebrate her distinct talent and vision with the 2024 Jean-Marc Vallée Vanguard Award.
The Jean-Marc Vallée Vanguard Award is generously underwritten by
David Dottlich and Douglas Elwood.
“I wanted to give a voice to this youth, the one I grew up with that we don’t see often on our screens”
- Louise Courvoisier
This Ode to the love of cheese by debut director Louise Courvoisier is a heartwarming story about love and country life in all its beauty and harshness in the French Alps.
After the sudden death of his father, 18-year-old Totone pins his hopes of saving the family farm on winning a competition for Comte cheese.
Winner of the Un Certain Regard Youth Prize at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Previous recipients
2023 Vanguard Award
was presented to:
Emily Atef
Director of
Someday We'll Tell Each Other Everything
2022 Vanguard Award
was presented to:
Marie Kreutzer
Director of
Corsage
