January 17, 2018 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
On Friday, February 2, Céline Baril’s feature documentary 24 Davids begins its theatrical run at the Cinémathèque québécoise in Montreal. Produced at the NFB by Colette Loumède, the film takes us across three continents on a quest driven by a simple yet original idea: to shine a spotlight on the inimitable Davids of this world. The 24 Davids in the film are of varying ages and professions, ranging from cosmologist to recycler; together, they construct a playful “ecosystem” of ideas that touches on every sphere of knowledge. A refreshingly freewheeling cinematic experience, 24 Davids had its world premiere last November as the opening night film at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), where it was warmly received by the audience. Some of the upcoming Cinémathèque screenings will be held with the director present.
About 24 Davids
Produced at the NFB by Colette Loumède
Written and directed as part of the NFB French Program’s filmmaker-in-residence initiative
David, Davide, Dawud, Daouda: this name—shared by so many different cultures—becomes here the shifting embodiment of the most thoughtful and dynamic aspects of humanity, individuals who are taking part in a vital “re-enchantment” of the world. This extraordinary adventure takes us from North America (Canada, the United States) to Latin America (Mexico, Colombia), Europe (England, France) and Africa (Ghana, Togo). We meet a DJ/David who makes the b-boys spin in the streets of Bogotá; a Fab Lab trainer/David who views Africa as fertile ground for innovation; a recycler/David who sees garbage as mankind’s salvation; a migrant/David in the Calais “jungle,” hoping to get to paradise; and a romantic/David living on a houseboat in overpriced London. From these diverse, inspiring encounters emerges a community of ideas focused on sharing. A sprawling, poetic and political work, this generous and profoundly joyous film invites the viewer to join a global conversation where the mysteries of the universe brush up against the many challenges of living together.
Les cinéastes racontent series launches with Céline Baril
On Wednesday, February 7 at 5 p.m., Céline Baril will be the first speaker in a new series called Les cinéastes racontent, hosted by producer Colette Loumède at the Cinémathèque québécoise. The two will discuss Baril’s documentary-making process and her work over the past several years. Presented by the NFB in collaboration with the Cinémathèque québécoise.
24 Davids in Mexico
After its theatrical screenings in Montreal, the film will be shown—with the filmmaker in attendance—at the QUEBECINE MX 2018 festival, which runs February 15 to 25 in Mexico City. Céline Baril will also be giving a master class at the festival.
About Céline Baril
Versatile artist Céline Baril holds a fine arts degree from UQAM and worked in sculpture, photography and video before turning to cinema. In 1989, she made her first film, Barcelone (Super-8 blown up to 16mm), followed by La fourmi et le volcan (The Ant and the Volcano), winner of the Quebec-Alberta Award, and L’absent (The Absent One). In 2001, she made her first fiction feature, Du pic au cœur (Games of the Heart), which garnered her a Jutra nomination for best cinematography as well as the Best Foreign Film Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. In 2005, at the invitation of the NFB, she made 538 fois la vie (Life Times 538), spending a full year chronicling the dreams of high school students in a disadvantaged Montreal neighbourhood. In 2009, she made La théorie du tout (The Theory of Everything), a portrait of the Québécois identity in a changing world. The film was nominated for the Prix Caméra-stylo and the award for best Quebec or Canadian film at RIDM. She then travelled to the United States to make Room Tone (2014), a documentary essay on the death of the American dream. Her most recent work, the feature-length documentary 24 Davids, was made as part of a two-year residency at the National Film Board of Canada.
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Related Products
Electronic Press Kit | Images, trailers, synopsis: 24 Davids
Associated Links
Cinémathèque québécoise