Maxime Rémillard

Early life and education

Maxime Rémillard was born on January 17, 1975, in Greenfield Park, Quebec. He pursued his post-secondary education at the University of Ottawa, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following this, Rémillard sought specialized training in the entertainment industry by studying production at the University of Southern California. This educational foundation in both the liberal arts and practical film production provided the groundwork for his future entrepreneurial ventures in media and investment. The combination of a Canadian undergraduate degree and American film school training equipped him with a unique perspective for building a transcontinental business career.

Founding and leading Remstar Media

In 1997, Maxime Rémillard founded Remstar as a film production and distribution company, marking his formal entry into the entertainment industry. The company, which later evolved into Remstar Media, quickly established itself under his leadership. As a producer, Rémillard was involved in several notable films that gained critical acclaim both in Canada and internationally. His production credits include Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique, which won the Genie Award for Best Canadian Film in 2010, the romantic drama Head in the Clouds starring Charlize Theron, and the French crime film Mesrine: Killer Instinct starring Vincent Cassel. Each of these projects demonstrated a commitment to high-calibre storytelling and helped build the company's reputation for quality.

In its distribution capacity, Remstar acquired the Canadian rights to significant international films, demonstrating Rémillard's eye for impactful content. The company distributed Jean-Marc Vallée's Dallas Buyers Club and Barry Jenkins's Moonlight, the latter of which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017. Through these strategic acquisitions and productions, Remstar Media built a reputation for handling prestigious and award-winning cinematic works. The company's success in content delivery later expanded to include ownership of the Canadian specialty television channels MAX and ELLE Fictions, broadening its reach into broadcast media. This move from film into television distribution represented a logical expansion of the company's core competency in delivering entertainment to audiences.

Expansion into investment with Remcorp

Building on the success of Remstar, Maxime Rémillard founded the private investment firm Remcorp to diversify his business interests. Remcorp serves as the parent company for his various ventures, including Remstar Media. The firm's investment team has cumulatively completed more than three billion dollars in transactions in recent years, indicating its significant scale and activity in the market. Remcorp strategically invests in well-established companies across a wide range of sectors, reflecting Rémillard's broad entrepreneurial vision. This approach allows the firm to leverage capital and expertise across different industries rather than concentrating risk in a single area.

The firm's portfolio is notably diverse, with investments spanning technology, transportation services, real estate, and agro-technology. This sector-agnostic approach allows Remcorp to pursue opportunities based on their potential rather than being confined to a single industry. Within the media sector, Remcorp's activities are channeled through its subsidiary, Remstar Media, creating a synergistic relationship between its investment arm and its original content business. This structure enables Rémillard to apply capital and strategic oversight across both traditional and new economic landscapes. The reported transaction volume of over three billion dollars positions Remcorp as a substantial player in the Canadian private investment landscape.

Philanthropy and community involvement

Beyond his business pursuits, Maxime Rémillard is actively involved in philanthropic and community initiatives, primarily in Quebec. He serves on the board of directors of the Fondation du Musée Pointe-à-Callière, a foundation supporting Montreal's archaeology and history museum. For a period of four years, Rémillard partnered with the Mira Foundation, an organization that trains guide dogs and service dogs for people with disabilities. His family has also made significant contributions to medical research and social services in the region, demonstrating a multi-generational commitment to charitable causes. These activities extend his influence beyond the corporate world into community support and cultural preservation.

• The Rémillard family helped create the Yosh Taguchi Chair for Urological Cancer Research at McGill University, supporting advanced medical study.
• The family provides support and sponsorship to Centraide, the United Way organization in Quebec, which funds local social service agencies.
• They are supporters of the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, contributing to healthcare infrastructure in Montreal.
• The family also backs La Maison des Petits Tournesols, an organization dedicated to children's welfare and development.

These efforts demonstrate a commitment to supporting health, social services, and cultural institutions within the community. The partnership with the Mira Foundation specifically highlights a focus on supporting individuals with disabilities through service animal programs. Serving on the board of the museum foundation aligns with supporting Quebec's cultural heritage and public education. The range of causes supported, from medical research to children's welfare, shows a broad philanthropic strategy.

Business philosophy and sector diversification

Maxime Rémillard's business approach is characterized by strategic diversification across both media and traditional industries. His initial success in film production and distribution with Remstar provided the capital and credibility to launch the broader investment vehicle, Remcorp. The investment firm's mandate to target well-established companies in sectors like technology and agro-technology indicates a preference for businesses with proven models and growth potential. This contrasts with a venture capital focus on early-stage startups, suggesting a risk-managed strategy for portfolio construction.

The media holdings under Remstar Media, including the MAX and ELLE Fictions television channels, represent a vertical integration within the entertainment sector. Owning both content production and distribution channels allows for greater control over the value chain. The cumulative transaction volume of over three billion dollars completed by Remcorp's team points to an active, deal-oriented investment philosophy rather than a passive holding strategy. This level of activity requires a substantial team of investment professionals capable of evaluating and executing across multiple industry sectors.

Selected filmography and distribution

Maxime Rémillard produced the film Polytechnique, which won the Genie Award for Best Canadian Film in 2010. He also produced Head in the Clouds starring Charlize Theron and Mesrine: Killer Instinct starring Vincent Cassel. As a distributor, he acquired the rights for Dallas Buyers Club by Jean-Marc Vallée. He also acquired the rights for Barry Jenkins's Moonlight, which won the Oscar for Best Film in 2017.

This selection highlights Rémillard's involvement with films that have achieved both critical acclaim and major industry awards. The dual focus on production and distribution allowed Remstar Media to cultivate a portfolio of culturally significant content. Distributing Oscar-winning films like Moonlight enhanced the company's prestige and market position. The production of a Genie Award-winning Canadian film like Polytechnique solidified its standing within the national film industry and connected it to important domestic stories.

Recognition and industry standing

Maxime Rémillard's standing in the Canadian business community is built on the measurable success of his companies. The Genie Award win for Polytechnique in 2010 provided early validation of his production choices within the Canadian film industry. The subsequent distribution of Academy Award-winning films like Moonlight connected his company to the highest levels of international cinematic achievement. These accomplishments in media provided a platform for expanding into the completely different field of multi-sector investment through Remcorp.

The scale of Remcorp, evidenced by its multi-billion-dollar transaction history, places Rémillard among significant Canadian private investors. His leadership role spans the creative demands of media production and the analytical rigour of cross-sector investment. The ownership of specialty television channels MAX and ELLE Fictions gives Remstar Media a direct pipeline to Canadian audiences beyond theatrical film releases. This combination of creative, distributive, and financial enterprises defines Rémillard's career as an entrepreneur operating in several distinct business domains.

Questions about Maxime Rémillard

What is Maxime Rémillard known for?

Maxime Rémillard is best known as a Canadian businessman and the founder of two major companies. He founded Remstar Media, an entertainment company known for producing and distributing award-winning films like Polytechnique and Moonlight. He is also the president of Remcorp, a private investment firm with a diverse portfolio exceeding three billion dollars in transactions. His career spans the media industry and broader investment sectors including technology and real estate.

What companies does Maxime Rémillard own?

Maxime Rémillard is the president of Remcorp, which is his primary private investment holding company. Under the Remcorp umbrella, he also owns and leads Remstar Media, the entertainment and content delivery company he founded. Remstar Media itself owns the Canadian specialty television channels MAX and ELLE Fictions. These entities form the core of his business interests in both investment and media.

Is Maxime Rémillard involved in philanthropy?

Yes, Maxime Rémillard is involved in several philanthropic endeavours. He serves on the board of directors for the Fondation du Musée Pointe-à-Callière in Montreal. He previously partnered with the Mira Foundation for four years. His family has contributed to creating the Yosh Taguchi Chair for Urological Cancer Research at McGill University and supports organizations like Centraide, the Jewish General Hospital Foundation, and La Maison des Petits Tournesols.

What is Remcorp?

Remcorp is a Canadian private investment firm founded and presided over by Maxime Rémillard. The firm's team has completed cumulative transactions worth more than three billion dollars in recent years. Remcorp invests in a diverse range of established companies across sectors such as technology, transportation services, real estate, and agro-technology. It also holds the media company Remstar Media within its investment portfolio.

What movies did Maxime Rémillard produce?

Maxime Rémillard produced several notable films through his company Remstar. He produced Denis Villeneuve's film Polytechnique, which won the Genie Award for Best Canadian Film in 2010. His other production credits include the romantic drama Head in the Clouds starring Charlize Theron and the crime film Mesrine: Killer Instinct starring Vincent Cassel. As a distributor, his company also acquired the rights for significant films like Jean-Marc Vallée's Dallas Buyers Club and Barry Jenkins's Moonlight, which won the Oscar for Best Film in 2017. These projects were developed under the Remstar label he founded in 1997, establishing his role in film production and distribution.

Where did Maxime Rémillard go to school?

Maxime Rémillard completed his higher education at two institutions. He first graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa. Following this, he pursued further studies in production at the University of Southern California. This educational background in both arts and specialized film production provided the foundation for his later career in business and media. After completing his studies, he went on to found the film production and distribution company Remstar in 1997, which later expanded into the broader investment firm Remcorp.

Sources and further reading

• Maxime Rémillard (Wikipedia)
• Devenir un « poster child » | Les Dérangeants (qub.ca)
• Portrait: Maxime Rémillard (lapresse.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-03.