Rouyn-Noranda, Thursday November 1st,2018 – This evening marked the closing ceremony of the 37th Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival
LE GRAND PRIX HYDRO-QUÉBEC (HYDRO-QUÉBEC GRAND PRIX) was awarded by the public to WOMAN AT WAR, by Director Benedikt Erlingsson. An independent fifty-year-old leads a double life as a staunch environmental activist in contrast to her quiet routine life. While she is waging a secret war against the local aluminum industry, she receives a letter announcing the acceptance of her adoption application. Will her new role as a mother allow her to continue her fight?
This is a film that will remembered for a long time thanks to its sublime Icelandic natural scenery images and beautifully detailed and brilliantly acted story. This film seduced festival-goers due to its great sense of humanity and intelligent story-telling.
Le Prix Télébec (The TÉLÉBEC AWARD) was awarded to Director Roger Gariépy’s short film Trois pages starring Martin Drainville.
Martin is a very discreet man who learns that he has only a few months left to live. He decides to keep this a secret and takes revenge on an old wound. Three pages of a Bach score will allow him to shed light on his existence at the end of the dark tunnel.
Jury members were touched by the story, its sustained rhythm that accompanies the script from beginning to end and Martin Drainville’s very touching performance. They also mentioned the meticulous film directing that highlights the purpose and emotions conveyed, as well as the skillful editing that makes the film so captivating.
An Honourable Mention from the Télébec jury was awarded to FAUVE, by Jérémy Comte
Jury members praised the quality of the screenplay that skillfully transports the audience into a state of tension, flawless artistic direction and acting by these young actors.
The Robert-Claude Bérubé award from the Communications and Society jury was awarded to Alexandre Franchi for his film HAPPY FACE. Jury members were struck by the director’s many perspectives and insights, the human values conveyed, the quality of the acting, and the ultimate message that this film carries.
Le Prix animé TVA Abitibi-Témiscamingue (The Abitibi-Témiscamingue TVA Animation Award) was presented to David Fine and Alison Snowden for ANIMAL BEHAVIOuR; its subtle humour definitely appealed to moviegoers.
Short Space 2018 was very successful, with a large audience in attendance on both evenings at the Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda. The short film LUNAR-ORBIT RENDEZVOUS, by Mélanie Charbonneau, was awarded the Prix Télé-Québec (Télé-Québec Award), that was selected best Quebec short film by the public.
Relève Desjardins scholarships were awarded to: Shany Lanoix, Adam Moreau and Simon Roberge, (Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda Campus), for the film JE DÉTESTE MA VIE, and to Cyprien Jeancolas, a student at Université du Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, for the film RÉFLEXION. The Desjardins jury praised the cinematographic exploration of the filmmakers, the reflection on identity that emerged from it and the coherence of the first film, and highlighted the originality, general aesthetics and use of an original musical composition in the second film.
The 37th edition began with the Oscar-nominated film CHIEN DE GARDE, by Sophie Dupuis, in a special free session that was followed by a long discussion with the large audience that attended the event.
In the evening, there was a screening of the film: La 117, HISTOIRE DE GRAND CHEMIN, a three-dimensional projection made by 39 students from Université du Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, under the supervision of Louis-Paul Willis, Billy Larivière and Louis Artiges. The original, historical and anecdotal experience depicts the special relationship that locals and travelers have with this mythical highway.
Opening night ended with the world premiere of the film L’Amour by director Marc Bisaillon. This film is based on the Stephen Marshall story that shook the country in 2006. The audience became engrossed with this very heavy but brilliantly performed drama and was very sensitive to and moved by the presence of Margaret Miles, the mother of Stephen Marshall, and rushed over to meet her once the film ended.
More than 175 people attended the Brunch-Conference with Ricardo Trogi and were curious to meet the director of the famous film trilogy 1984, 1987 and 1991. Host Mr. Martin Guérin, encouraged Mr. Trogi to elaborate on his cinematic inspirations and visions. Naturally, some of his witty anecdotes made an attentive audience laugh!
Ciné-Muffin moved to the Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda and more than 250 people attended. Families immersed themselves in Peruvian culture with special treats: freshly made churros, and the screening of Director Juan Antin’s animated feature, PACHAMAMA.
OFF Space was held on two evenings this year. TERREUR 404, a series of short dramas where our worst nightmares are portrayed by current technologies, directed by Sébastien Diaz and presented at the Petit Théâtre du Vieux Noranda. The documentary SYLVIE À L’ÉCOLE, directed by Carole Laganière, was screened at the Iberville School. These screenings were followed by an interview with the directors and actors who attended.
Short Space presented 31 short films to filmgoers. This edition was enjoyed by audiences who praised the program quality and diversity that has previously never included so many Quebec films.
Many friends of the Festival, and many guests were there to present program films as well as several short film directors who attended the event: Émilie Villeneuve in MAMIE ET MIA, Jessy Poulin in LA CHARGE MENTALE POUR LES NULS, Évelyne Papatie in LES ENFANTS DES NOMADES, Gabrielle Cornellier in ORTEILS TALON ORTEILS TALON, Délia Gunn in DÉLIA DE 9 À 5, Dominic Leclerc in CULTURAT, Myriam Guimond in PARTIE DE CHASSE, Didier Belzile in GROS TAS DE MARDE, Geneviève Sauvé in LE SERVICE, Virgil Héroux-Laferté, Martin Laroche and Émilie Villeneuve in LES OUBLIÉES, Frédérick Neegan Trudel in AUDREY, Franie-Éléonore Bernier in MAL DE CŒUR and Baptiste Martin in VEUILLEZ NE PAS TENTER D’OUVRIR LES PORTES.
The following medium-length and feature film directors also attended the Festival including: Sophie Dupuis, Chien de garde, Marc Bisaillon, L’AMOUR, Yan Giroux, À TOUX CEUX QUI NE ME LISENT PAS, Francis Bordeleau, WOLFE, Christian Beauchemin, UN CHAT ASSIS, Alexandre Franchi, HAPPY FACE, Claude Hamel, TERRITOIRE ISHKUEU | TERRITOIRE FEMMES, David Uloth, DÉRIVE.
To close this annual event, a North American premiere, EN LIBERTÉ! by Pierre Salvadori was screened to the audience with French actor, Damien Bonnard, in attendance. The Rouyn-Noranda audience was stunned by the quality of the film and its actors as well as its intelligent screenplay and gave it a standing ovation.
The not to be missed Youth Section amazed nearly 3,400 elementary school children who were invited to two theatres to attend a short animation film program.
The popular We’re going to the Movies activity also returned this year. In order to benefit the entire population, a selection of 8 short films was screened in seven seniors’ residences.
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The 38th Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival will be held from October 26 to October 31, 2019.
13 September 2023
A Program Preview: Two Premieres Not to Be Missed!
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