Martin Villeneuve () is a Canadian screenwriter, producer, director, actor, and art director. He was nominated at the Canadian Screen Award (formerly Genie Award) in 2013 for Best Adapted Screenplay, for Mars et Avril, his feature film debut.Mars and April // Mars & Avril , review from Variety, July 16, 2012 He is also known for The 12 Tasks of Imelda, his second feature film released in 2022, in which he portrays his own grandmother,THE 12 TASKS OF IMELDA - A film by Martin Villeneuve , Maison 4:3, September 3, 2022 and for his animated series Red Ketchup which premiered in 2023.English Dub Review: Red Ketchup Season One Part One , Bubbleblabber, July 12, 2023New animated series based on classic Quebec comic strip , Global News, April 20, 2023Red Ketchup, the long-awaited animated adaptation , cmf-fmc, April 20, 2023 Villeneuve previously worked for Cirque du Soleil as an artistic director for commercials and films.
Early life He studied Film Production at Concordia University and Graphic Design at Université du Québec à Montréal. In 2002, he received an award from the commercial creativity agency Sid Lee for the quality of his portfolio. In the years that followed, he worked as an artistic director with this agency and created advertising campaigns for several Cirque du Soleil shows, including Zumanity, KÀ and Corteo. He found the name for these three shows, as well as for Guy Laliberté's One Drop Foundation. When the agency (formerly known as Diesel) changed its name in 2006, Villeneuve had the idea for the anagram Sid Lee. He also directed TV commercials for Cirque du Soleil,Cirque du Soleil – Advertising on Vimeo, 2003-2013 in addition to music videos and documentary shorts.
Career Villeneuve began his career as a writer and graphic artist in 2002. He has created the comic book La voix du tonnerre (Les 400 coups, 2004), as well as the two graphic novels Mars et Avril (Sid Lee & la Pastèque, 2002-2006). Festival du nouveau cinéma: Mars et Avril leaps off the page , article from The Gazette, October 5, 2012 In 2012, the feature film adaptation of Mars et Avril which Villeneuve wrote, directed and produced, was brought to the silver screen and released in Canada in Fall 2012.Mars and April , review from Screen Daily, July 13, 2012 Mars et Avril toured in over 20 international festivals, starting with a world premiere at the 47th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic, and received 10 nominations.Spend the weekend watching the impossible (and beautiful) Mars & Avril , review from io9, December 6, 2013Out there down here: Sci-Fi-London 2013 , review from Sight & Sound, May 27, 2013Sci-Fi London 2013 Review: MARS ET AVRIL Deserves Greater Attention , review from Screen Anarchy, May 8, 2013Mars et Avril directed by Martin Villeneuve , review from Exclaim!, March 21, 2013 Martin Villeneuve was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards, and he also won an Imaging the Future Award at the Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival in Switzerland.
On February 27, 2013, Villeneuve gave a TED Talk about Mars et Avril."Martin Villeneuve: How I made an impossible film" , TED, June 7, 201310 jaw-dropping images from the film "Mars et Avril," and how the magic was created, article from the official TED Blog, June 7, 2013A sci-fi film with a $2 million budget: Martin Villeneuve at TED2013, article from the official TED Blog, February 27, 2013 This event took place in Long Beach, California.How translation amplifies ideas: TED speakers show appreciation , article from the official TED Blog, August 28, 2014 Prior to his talk, the opening sequence of the movie was shown,Mars et Avril – Opening Sequence (TED2013) on Vimeo as well as a three minutes overviewMars et Avril – Creating the Visual Effects (TED2013) on Vimeo of the steps leading from the green screen to the final images.Four TED talks every filmmaker should watch , article from IndieWire, September 23, 20133 Things You Need to Make an Impossible Movie , article from Film School Rejects, July 1, 2013Making an Impossible Film: How Director Martin Villeneuve Brought His Sci-Fi Drama to Life , article from No Film School, June 14, 2013 Villeneuve's talk, "How I made an impossible film," was released on TED.com on June 7, 2013, and a month later was added to TED's movie magic list, notably featuring directors James Cameron and J. J. Abrams. His talk has been subtitled in 33 languages and viewed more than a million times. Since then, Mars et Avril has been sold to the U.S. and is available online.A futuristic tale of fantasy and desire , BULB, December 2, 2013
In 2014, Villeneuve made his acting debut in his short comedy film Imelda, in the role of his paternal grandmother, for which he won three awards, including the Union des Artistes' Best Actor Award at the 12th Prends ça court ! Gala (2015).Imelda: A funny and moving short film , BULB, February 20, 2015
In 2016–2017, he directed the first episodes of the second season of Real Detective for Investigation Discovery Channel and Netflix.
On August 3, 2020, a 14-minute documentary about Martin Villeneuve was released online. Directed by Jean Benoit, it features interviews with stage director Robert Lepage, illustrator François Schuiten, and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.Once Upon A Time Martin Villeneuve (English subtitled) on Vimeo , July 24, 2020
Martin Villeneuve shot two sequels to his short film Imelda, both released in fall 2020. Imelda 2: The Notary had its world premiere and opened the Quebec City Film Festival on September 16, 2020, and won the Cinémental Award for Best Canadian Short Film 2020.IMELDA 2: THE NOTARY by Martin Villeneuve , festivalcinema.ca, November 1, 2020 Imelda 3: Simone had its world premiere and opened the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue on October 31, 2020, in front of a real audience despite the Covid crisis.Imelda 3: Simone at the FCIAT , Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, October 31, 2020
He gave a one-hour storytelling masterclass for Goalcast, which went live on January 7, 2021.Goalcast Storytelling Mastermind – Martin Villeneuve, Vimeo, January 7, 2021
Villeneuve's second feature film, The 12 Tasks of Imelda, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in, had its world premiere at the Quebec City Film Festival on September 9, 2022, before going into commercial release in 29 theaters across Quebec on October 28, 2022.The 12 Tasks of Imelda: The feature film! , BULB, September 3, 2022 It was also screened at the 2022 Whistler Film Festival,Alyssa Noel, "Whistler Film Festival announces film lineup" Pique Newsmagazine, November 2, 2022. where it won the award for Best Editing in a Borsos Competition film.Rachel West, "2022 Whistler Film Festival Online Viewing Guide" , December 5, 2022.Pat Mullen, "River, Coyote Top Whistler Film Festival Awards Winners" Point of View, December 4, 2022. On March 26, 2023, Villeneuve won the Best Actor award at Dieppe's Canadian Film Festival, France, for his role of Imelda, and on August 31, 2023, he won the Best Director award at the Canada China International Film Festival.Martin Villeneuve's Awards page on IMDb, September 1st, 2023
In 2023, Martin Villeneuve directed Red Ketchup, based on Quebec's cult graphic novels. Produced by Sphere Animation, this 20-episode animated series aired on Adult Swim in English and on Télétoon la nuit in French. Villeneuve also lent his voice to the character of Bill Bélisle in the French version of the show, which held the top spot on Télétoon la nuit and was part of Bubbleblabber's "Top 10 Adult Animated TV Series For 2023".
In March 2024, he was President of the Jury at Dieppe's Canadian Film Festival, in France.
On May 31, 2024, he paid tribute to his brother Denis Villeneuve, recipient of the Icon Award at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards.Cinéma : Martin et Denis Villeneuve, rencontre, La Métropole, June 1, 2024]
On June 15, 2024, he wrote a manifesto in La Presse regarding the reform of Quebec's public financing system in cinema.
In 2026, he releases Old Crow, a "docu-sical" about Quebec trailblazer Louise Forestier, premiering at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, and at Montreal's CINEMANIA. The film has won the Gran Ganador for Best Professional Film at CINEPHONE in Barcelona, as well as a Highly Commended Award at SF3 – Smartphone Film Festival in Sydney, two festivals dedicated to movies shot with an iPhone.
Among other projects, Villeneuve is currently working on Imelda Strikes Back, a sequel to The 12 Tasks of Imelda starring Benoît Brière, Robert Lepage, Michel Barrette, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Martin Dubreuil, and Louise Forestier, in which he reprises the role of Imelda.
Personal life Martin Villeneuve is the youngest of four siblings, and the brother of filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.Cronenberg's son Brandon, Villeneuve's brother Martin debut in 2012 , article from The Canadian Press, December 30, 2011Denis Villeneuve's brother Martin imagines future Montreal with 'Mars et Avril' , article from The Canadian Press, October 26, 2011
Selected bibliography Mars et Avril, tome 2 : À la poursuite du fantasme, photo-novel, photography by Yanick Macdonald, Éd. Diesel & la Pastèque, 2006Mars et Avril – Interviews on Vimeo, 2011-2013 La voix du tonnerre, comic book, illustrations by Daniel Svatek, Éd. Les 400 coups, 2004Martin Villeneuve – Interviews on Vimeo, 2002-2004 Mars et Avril, tome 1, photo-novel, photography by Yanick Macdonald, Éd. Les 400 coups, 2002 (revised version published by Diesel & la Pastèque in 2006)"Mars et Avril" leaps off the pages of graphic novels , BULB, 2002-2006
Selected filmography 2026: Old Crow (documentary) 2023: Red Ketchup (animated TV series, 20 episodes)Corus Entertainment announces 200+ hours of Canadian originals including Adult Swim original 'Red Ketchup' , Animationxpress, May 2022 2022: The 12 Tasks of Imelda (Les 12 travaux d'Imelda) (feature)The 12 Tasks of Imelda with English subtitles, Vimeo On Demand, September 12, 2023 2021: The Crab: Prelude to Aquarica (short)The Crab: Prelude to Aquarica on Vimeo, May 31, 2021 2020: Imelda 3: Simone (short) 2020: Imelda 2: The Notary (short) 2020: Once Upon A Time Martin Villeneuve (documentary short directed by Jean Benoit, featuring interviews with stage director Robert Lepage, illustrator François Schuiten and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve) 2020: More of the World (music video)More Of The World by Summersett on YouTube , April 13, 2020 2019: It's Alive! (short)It's Alive! on Vimeo, August 30, 2019 2016–2017: Real Detective, Season 2 (TV series, 2 episodes)Real Detective on IMDb, March 23, 2017 2014: Imelda (short)Imelda on Vimeo with English subtitles , September 8, 2015 2013: Martin Villeneuve: How I made an impossible film (TED Talks) 2013: The Mars & Avril Experience (Making of)22-minute Making of "Mars et Avril" on Vimeo with English subtitles 2013 2012: Mars et Avril / Mars and April (feature) 2011: Two Immortals: Prelude to Mars and April (short)Deux immortels : Prélude à Mars et Avril on Vimeo with English subtitles December 11, 2011 2003–2013: Cirque du Soleil – Advertising & documentary shorts 2002: Jouisseland by Jean Leloup (music video)Jouisseland on Vimeo , 2002 2000: Chrysanthème (short)
Awards and mentions 2026: Old Crow wins the Gran Ganador for Best Professional Film at CINEPHONE in Barcelona, as well as a Highly Commended Award at SF3 – Smartphone Film Festival in Sydney, two festivals dedicated to movies shot with an iPhone. 2024: Nominated for Best Animated Series at the Gémeaux Awards and nominated for Best Editing at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards for Red Ketchup. 2023: Red Ketchup is listed in Bubbleblabber's "Top 10" of the world's best adult animated series. 2023: Martin Villeneuve won the Best Director award at the Canada China International Film Festival for The 12 Tasks of Imelda.