SOCAN member Jean-Michel Blais continues to win kudos for his outstanding talent at the piano. This time, he’s received a special mention for his contribution to the music of Xavier Dolan’s film Matthias & Maxime, which was selected in official competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Blais was honoured on May 25, 2019, with the Cannes Soundtrack Award for “a work of remarkable quality,” in the words of Cannes Soundtrack founder Vincent Doerr.

“This special mention by the jury is beyond all understanding,” Blais commented on Facebook after receiving the unexpected honour. “I owe it to the one who believed in me, Xavier Dolan, and to all of those who made this possible. This is all the more unbelievable  because until recently, it had never occurred to me that I could work as a film composer, and even less that I would end up at the Cannes Festival!”

Blais also gave a special performance at the end of the Cannes Soundtrack Award ceremony, before picking up the traditional golden record for his special mention. The Matthias & Maxime original soundtrack should be available in the Fall.

SOCAN warmly congratulates Jean-Michel Blais on his Cannes Film Festival success!