photos : Danilo VillaflorFrançois Cormier
General and artistic directo r/ programmer

François CORMIER was born and raised in the Gaspé region. He divides his time between Montreal and Percé. After studying urban planning at the University of Montreal (1985), he pursued inter-disciplinary arts studies at Laval University in Quebec City (1982). He worked in France as a project manager for the Paris subway system (RATP), conducting design and research on integrating new approaches in urban architecture (1987-1989).  Upon returning to Montreal, he was actively involved in the cultural milieu as an organizer, programmer and collaborator for the Festival des Grandes Écoles de Cinéma du Monde, the Festival Vues d'Afrique and the Festival international du Jeune Cinéma de Montréal (1990-1991). In 1992 he founded Champ Libre - www.champlibre.com – a Montreal-based nomadic electronic arts and architecture organization, and was the artistic director from 1992 to 2007. His work was recognized in 2005 by the Ordre des Architectes du Québec (OAQ), when Champ Libre was a finalist for their architectural award of excellence, an acknowledgement of its expertise in presenting in situ artistic events.

In 2008 he founded and directed a new cinema and contemporary art event – Les Percéides – Festival international de cinéma et d’art de Percé, whose 2nd edition will take place from August19 to 23, 2009.