As a major vector for great modern international cinema discoveries, the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue is seated at the first row to put the spotlight on local talented artists, from our dearest Abitibi-Témiscamingue. As advertised a few weeks ago, on the closing night of the Festival, will be presented in world premiere, the very first feature film by Rouynorandian Rachelle Roy, DANSER SOUS LA PLUIE. It is the first time in the history of the Festivalthat the closing feature is a local production.
During the festive week, along with this magnificent documentary, local productions will be broadcasted; native directors, actress or movies that were filmed here up North. The Festival loves to share the pictures it finds, exposing to new audiences those amazing artists, by which is filled our 2020 program : starting with two full length documentaries much longed for and both nominated for the Hydro-Québec Grand Prize and the Mediafilm – Robert-Claude-Bérubé Award.
Monday, november 2th
Sarah Baril Gaudet is a director and cinematographer from Témiscamingue, now living in Montreal. In 2016, she completed her bachelor’s degree in cinema at the Université du Québec in Montréal, where she received the scholarship for Best Documentary Hope. Her first short documentary, Là où je vis (2017), stood out in over twenty international festivals.
« A tender gaze on the teenager who’s grown-up.»
Gabrielle and Yoan are 18 years old, and even though they both grew up in Temiscamingue, their aspirations are opposite. While Yoan wishes to flee his hometown to break his loneliness and explore his homosexuality, while Gabrielle is torn between the idea of pursuing her studies away from home. Passage paints a poetic portrait of two teenagers transitioning toward adulthood, trying to blossom and trace their own path.
Produced by La Cabane and distributed by Les Films du 3 mars.
Tuesday, november 3rd
Yves Langlois has been a screenwriter and director for over 30 years. His work combines content and formal study. He stood out with his consciousness awakening documentaries. His films were awarded a few times, among others places, in Montreal, in Toronto, in New York, San Francisco, Lyon and Moscow.,He notably received the award for Best committed documentary at the Festival des films sur les droits de la personne in Montreal for Le Dernier envol (2007).
« Raôul Duguay : the man who dedicated his life to love. »
« Le 13 février 1939, j’suis né à Val d’Or en Abitibi… » We all know La Bittt à Tibi, one of the most known songs in Quebec. Raôul Duguay celebrated his 80th birthday on February 13th 2019. However, this flagship from the seventies is still very little-known. More than a biopic, the movie is directed by his close friend, and puts the spotlight on all the aspects of this valdorian artist, introducing us to his principles, his music, his poetry and his paintings. With his friends, uncovers the secrets behind inspiration. This intimist documentary, shot over many years, shows his unique and spectacular creative process.
The movie is distributed by Les Productions Lany.
Thursday, november 5th – Closing movie
A loving, dedicated mother and a daring, well-organized entrepreneur, Rachelle was born and raised in Rouyn-Noranda, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, amidst a close-knit family where mutual aid and solidarity are fundamental aspects of everyday life. With her sister, Rachelle starts Les Frangines, a business specialized in event organization and management. She enjoys a full and happy personal and professional life. Her film and related projects tell a story that is both inspiring and positive, a story that obviously has a happy ending since she is here to share it with you.
«A tribute to human strength. »
When everything collapses around her when, at 38, she is told that a cancer has developed in her right breast. From that very moment, questions and concerns start piling up in her head and remain unanswered. She chooses to make her personal experience a source of hope for others who, like her, will seek some kind of support and guidance.
The film is produced and distributed by Les Frangines.
Sunday, november 1st
Ariane Louis-Seizemarks her debut with her short film La peau sauvage (2016), which travelled in over fifty festivals around the world and was awarded with numerous prizes and nominations.. In 2017, she shoots Les petites vagues (2018) broadcasted as a world premiere at the Toronto International Film Fest and as an international premiere at the Berlinale. Then, her short film Les profondeurs (2019) was also shown as a world premiere avec the TIFF.
Whitney Lafleur, from Rouyn-Noranda, started in feature film Écartée (2016) by Laurence Côté-Collins, shot in Destor. Her performance got her nominated « Révélation de l’année » at the Gala du cinéma québécois – Iris.
« Simple family vacations… »
On a family trip to observe shooting stars, Chloé, a withdrawn teenager, discovers a dazzling attraction for her mother’s new boyfriend.
The movie is produced by Colonelle Films and distributed by Travelling.
Tuesday november 3rd
The duo Geneviève et Matthieu emerged at the end of the 90s.Its work is the sum of art, performance, music and daily life. Playing on interdisciplinarity, some happening and musical composition, this collective creates community representations and social tables stagings at the same time festive and deeply human.
«A cinematographic travel in Geneviève et Matthieu’s world.»
The pizza delivery guy and his wife, Feu Catharsis, share a passionate love story punctuated with music. In a profoundly wild ghetto where misfits and rivalries mingle with, attempts to leave their past behind will run out when the delivery guy crashes into a mutant girl.
The film is produced by Geneviève et Matthieu.
Wednesday, november 4th
Jérémie Monderie-Larouche created a production company and participated in multiple productions, wearing many roles at once. He directed his first feature documentary, Le Routier in 2013, presented as a world premiere at the 32nd Festival. Martin Morissette has been a director and a video editor for 20 years,, mainly documentaries and independent videos. He cofounded, in 2004, Le Bocal with the objective of promoting visual and media arts in the area of Brome-Missisquoi.
« A tough reality we don’t talk about enough.»
Mélanie Tardif is a horse lover. Starting in the equine world in 2010, she quickly realizes how much the man abuses animals. She paints a personal portrait of her reformed race horse. A moving documentary about the sad reality of race horses in Québec
The movie is produced and distributed by Éthique Cheval.
Monday, november 2nd
Béatriz Mediavilla is a multidisciplinary artist who was born in Rouyn-Noranda, where she still lives. Graduate of a baccalaureate and master’s degree in film studies, she teaches cinema at the Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. In parallel, she also wrote a few literary projects. Danse avec elles (2014), her first feature film, received a great welcome at the festivals: in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, La Havane, Saragosse and New York. Habiter le mouvement, un récit en dix chapitres (2019) currently travels in festivals and it won the Best Dance Documentary Film at the Fine Art Film Festival in California.
« An incredible creative exercise: dancing at the era of COVID-19.»
This short film tells the story of a collective dance remote experience during a workshop hosted by Béatriz Mediavilla, at the Portland Dance Film Festival. All shot in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tickets will be on sale on October 22nd 2020 and the complete program will be unveiled on October 20th.
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Sources :
Claudelle Rivard
Louis Dallaire
communication@festivalcinema.ca
819 762-6212
13 September 2023
A Program Preview: Two Premieres Not to Be Missed!
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