Hon. Jean-Guy Dagenais: Honourable senators, it is very likely that the one thing you remember from the Oscars ceremony on March 27 is seeing actor Will Smith slap comedian Chris Rock.

However, I will remember those Oscars for another reason. It was a proud moment for me as a Canadian, a Quebecker and a francophone.

What an honour it was for all of us to watch Quebec filmmaker Denis Villeneuve win six Oscars for his movie Dune. He was honoured alongside several members of his team, who are also Canadian. Together, they took their place in the world of American cinema, which is dominated by anglophones.

With six Oscars, Dune tied with several other major blockbusters, including Titanic, which is no small feat.

Born in Bécancour on the south shore of Trois-Rivières, Denis Villeneuve has been making movies for more than 30 years. Since 2012, he has been a top filmmaker with such movies as Incendies, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and now Dune, which had a budget of $165 million and has already earned more than $400 million at the box office.

We know that there will be a sequel to Dune and that it will be directed by Denis Villeneuve. Given his recent success, we have no doubt that Denis Villeneuve will continue to amaze us, because he is only 54 years old. Steven Spielberg is 75, Martin Scorsese is 79 and Francis Ford Coppola is 82. They are all still working.

I therefore want to pay tribute to Denis Villeneuve today and highlight the key role that francophone talent from Quebec plays in the U.S. entertainment industry. Some of our artists who are currently working in the U.S. include Céline Dion and Cirque du Soleil. What is more, the stages for the biggest theatres in New York and Las Vegas are designed by Montreal’s Scéno Plus. The visual and sound effects for the biggest concerts and shows in the United States and around the world are also produced by Quebeckers from Moment Factory. Finally, the LED wristbands that the audience wore during the Super Bowl halftime show were made by Montreal’s PixMob.

Although the Americans may sometimes be reluctant when it comes to buying our wood and aluminum, they are quite open to the idea of importing our cultural talents. I am particularly proud of that.

Thank you, and I hope that Denis Villeneuve wins many more Oscars.