Canadian Film Awards

The Canadian Film Awards were awarded to outstanding Canadian filmmakers and actors from 1949 to 1978. In 1980, they were renamed the Genie Awards.

The Early Years
When the Awards began, there were few Canadian films released, and thus the Awards were not a big event. The National Film Board made up the majority of the films.

1960s and 1970s
In 1968, Sculptor Sorel Etrog was commissioned to design a statuette for the Awards, sometimes referred to as the "Etrog Award".



In the 1970s, the rapid growth of the Canadian film industry led to the expansion of the awards. However, in 1974, a protest from Quebecois filmmakers led to the cancellation of the ceremonies. In 1979, the Academy became incorporated; the Academy listed as one of its mandates to "promote higher filmmaking standards through the presentation of annual awards".