Jean-Yves Bigras

Who was Jean-Yves Bigras?

Jean-Yves Bigras was a Canadian film director and film editor, considered a pioneer in Quebec cinema. Bigras studied first at the University of Ottawa and then at Queen's University. From 1939 to 1942 he served in World War II as part of the RCAF. When he returned to Canada he became one of the first French Canadians to be hired by the NFB and worked there as an editor until 1948. He was then hired to work in Renaissance Éducationnel, the children's education film section of Renaissance Films Distribution. It was here that he got to work on his first feature film Le gros Bill co-directing with René Delacroix. Bigras moved on to direct three feature films himself, including La petite Aurore l’enfant martyre, a big hit with audiences and a staple of Quebec Cinema. In 1953 he began working for Radio-Canada where he became one of its principal directors until his death in 1966.