Co Hoedeman, Builder of Wonders

Co Hoedeman is known for his films aimed at a wide audience, including the series featuring Ludovic, the bear cub. After a career in advertising in the Netherlands, this master of puppet animation emigrated to Canada and joined the NFB, where he made his first film, Maboule, in 1969. His seminal work, The Sand Castle (1977), earned him an Academy Award. The author of some twenty short films, Hoedeman explores themes such as ecology and humanism, with an innovative technical and aesthetic approach, using a variety of materials. The Cinémathèque québécoise is celebrating the career of this exceptional artist, who passed away on May 26, 2025, with beautiful copies from its collections.