François Dagenais started his film career by directing a series of 23 short documentaries around the world for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/National Film Board series Course Amérique-Afrique.
He was one of three nominees at the 2001 C.S.C. Awards, for Best Cinematography on a Music Video, with Born Leader by Jazz Pharmacy. Dagenais has photographed the feature A Silent Love which was selected for the 2004 Sundance Festival.He really enjoys bringing a distinct style to comedies: first with The Bread Maker directed by Anita McGee, the film opened at the Toronto Festival in 2003. François won a Gemini for that documentary. He was also nominated the same year for a another Gemini for the TV miovie Heyday directed by Gordon Pinsent