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Two NFB productions by Acadian filmmakers to screen as world premieres at the 2022 Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie

PRESS RELEASE
27/09/2022

September 27, 2022 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie (FICFA) has announced its initial selection of films, and among the titles are two NFB documentaries directed by Acadian filmmakers: L’Ordre secret (The Secret Order) by Phil Comeau and Croque-mort: C’est beau la vie! (Undertaker for Life!) by Georges Hannan, both of which will be having their world premieres. The 36th FICFA will be held in Greater Moncton from November 10 to 18, 2022, and the full program lineup will be unveiled Tuesday, October 18.

Quick Facts

L’Ordre secret (The Secret Order) by Phil Comeau (85 min)
Produced by Christine Aubé for the NFB’s Quebec, Canadian Francophonie and Acadian Documentary Studio in Moncton, in collaboration with Unis TV
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/the-secret-order
World premiere screening: Monday, November 14, at the Capitol Theatre Capitol in Moncton at 8 p.m.

  • Phil Comeau shines a spotlight on the Ordre de Jacques-Cartier, a powerful secret society that operated from 1926 to 1965, infiltrating every sector of Canadian society and forging the fate of French-language communities. Through never-before-heard testimony from former members of the Order, along with historically accurate dramatic reconstructions, this film paints a gripping portrait of the social and political struggles of Canadian francophone-minority communities.
  • Seasoned storyteller, director and screenwriter Phil Comeau is known for his ability to reveal his subjects’ emotions and their soul—in both his documentaries and his dramas. Comeau has directed some 100 films and TV episodes, which have been seen and won awards in dozens of countries.

Croque-mort. C’est beau la vie ! (Undertaker for Life!) by Georges Hannan (52 min)
Produced by Christine Aubé for the NFB’s Quebec, Canadian Francophonie and Acadian Documentary Studio in Moncton
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/undertaker-for-life
World premiere screening: date to be confirmed soon.

  • Despite the somewhat frightening name of their occupation, undertakers are actually charming philosophers and keen observers of life. We only see their sombre side, but away from the funeral rites and on camera, they turn out to be amazingly insightful. Their love of life and the living, their dark humour and comforting wisdom are the best remedies against existential despair.
  • Basing his approach to filmmaking on a keen ability to listen and observe, Georges Hannan sets out to show us what he calls “the extraordinary ordinary.” By demystifying taboos and revealing many aspects of everyday experiences that elude us, his films delve deep into unusual worlds and situations to expose universal truths.

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Associated Links

Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie
Unis TV

French version here | Version en français ici.

Media Relations

  • Madeleine Blanchard
    Publicist for the NFB
    506-871-3638
    madonews@gmail.com

  • Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

  • About the NFB

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of distinctive, engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 6,500 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.