Claude Gagnon (; born 18 December 1949) is a Canadian filmmaker and actor, who frequently works in both Canada and Japan.Brendan Kelly, "Claude Gagnon keeps his friends close; The Quebec director is as steadfast in his support of Serge Losique's festival as he is in his support of the Habs". Montreal Gazette, 27 August 2012.
Early life A Quebec native, Gagnon first came to Japan in 1970 as photojournalist covering Expo '70 in Osaka. He met his wife, ballerina-turned-filmmaker Yuri Yoshimura, whom he married in 1973.
"My original plan was to spend six months in Japan, and then to go to Indonesia before heading to Europe. I thought I’d do my little trip like everyone else did in those days. But after six months I still didn’t understand a thing. There were very few foreigners living in Japan in those days, and I remember that if you saw a Westerner in Kyoto, you’d crossed the road to say hi and trade phone numbers. It was the era of “Peace and Love”‒‒euphoric and stimulating."
Career Gagnon's introduction to the film industry was as an actor, notably playing a villain in the Sonny Chiba martial arts film Return of the Street Fighter (1974).
He made his directorial debut with 1979's Keiko, a neorealist-inspired lesbian-themed drama. The film was a popular success and earned Gagnon the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award, the first foreign-born filmmaker to do so.
Filmography Year Title Notes 1979 Keiko1982Larose, Pierrot and Luce1985Pale Face1988Kenny1991The Pianist1995Pour l'amour de Thomas2004Revival Blues2005Kamataki2012KarakaraRonnie Scheib, "Karakara". Variety, 3 September 2012.2020Old BuddiesMaxime Demers, "«Les vieux chums» : une touchante sincérité". Le Journal de Montréal, 20 May 2021.
Acting roles Year Title Role Notes 1974 Return of the Street Fighter Don Costello1976Sister Street Fighter: Fifth Level FistJoe Spencer1977Rashamen Smith
Awards and nominations Institution Year Category Work ResultBerlin International Film Festival 1988 UNICEF Award KennyCIFEJ Award2006Crystal AwardKamatakiCésar Awards1986Best French-Language FilmPale FaceDirectors Guild of Japan1979New Directors AwardKeikoGenie Awards2000Best Motion PictureWinter StoriesHochi Film Awards1979Special AwardKeikoMar del Plata International Film Festival2006Best Film (International Competition)KamatakiMontreal World Film Festival1985Best Canadian FilmPale Face1987Grand Prix des AmériquesKenny2005Grand Prix des AmériquesKamatakiPrize of the Ecumenical JuryBest DirectorPeople's Choice AwardFIPRESCI PrizeMost Popular Canadian Feature Film2012Grand Prix des AmériquesKarakaraMost Popular Canadian Feature FilmOpenness to the World AwardParis Film Festival1988Special Jury PrizeKennyPrix Iris2013Best ScreenplayKarakara2022Public PrizeOld BuddiesTokyo International Film Festival1991Grand PrixThe Pianist References
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