Montreal, January 24, 2018 – Juancito Jean has been named the Regard sur Montreal Filmmaker-in-Residence for 2018, which will allow him to devote the year to writing, directing and working on the post-production and distribution of his film Printemps Now. The residency is valued at $65,000 and was made possible by the Conseil des arts de Montréal (CAM), Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), the National Film Board of Canada through its ACIC* program and Les Films de l’Autre. This year, it also includes a $1,400 grant from the YONDER project.
Juancito Jean and Printemps Now
Trained at Cuba’s Escuela Internacional de Cine y TV (International Film and Television School), Juancito Jean is a Haitian-born filmmaker whose credits include three documentaries, notably Si Bondye vle, Yuli (God Willing, Yuli), released in 2015. He has conceived of Printemps Now as a cinematic poem, an audiovisual symphony of Montreal that urges the viewer to reflect on what is real. Inspired by films such as Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (Walter Ruttman, 1928) and Rain (Joris Ivens, 1929), Jean intends to produce a portrait of the city of Montreal from the perspective of a newcomer adapting to life in their adoptive country. He also wants to explore the passage of time in the transition from winter to spring to give the city new meaning based on how it is seen by an outsider. Using images of Montreal, its day-to-day rhythms and its inhabitants, this film will join the city symphony documentary genre, which employs experimental or poetic techniques to capture the daily life of a city.
The 4th edition of the Regard sur Montréal Film Residency is a collaborative undertaking of funding partners from three levels of government, whose goal is to expand the presence of culturally diverse professional filmmakers in film and television production. Cultural diversity is of particular importance to Montreal’s artistic development and is a recognized factor in promoting the city around the world.
About the Conseil des arts de Montréal
A dynamic partner of artistic creativity in Montreal, the Conseil des arts de Montréal identifies, supports and recognizes excellence and innovation in the creation, production and presentation of professional artistic endeavours. It encourages openness, discovery and daring at the heart of Montreal’s artistic landscape, thanks to its initiatives. Since 1956, the Conseil des arts de Montréal has been an influential player in the development of “Montreal, Cultural Metropolis.
About SODEC
The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) is a government corporation accountable to Quebec’s Ministre de la Culture et des Communications. Created in 1995, it has become a veritable engine for cultural development, resolutely pursuing its mission of promoting and supporting, in all regions of Quebec, the establishment and development of cultural organizations. It also ensures the presence of these enterprises at international fairs, festivals and markets. For further information, visit www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca.
About the NFB
The NFB is Canada’s public producer of award-winning creative documentaries, auteur animation, interactive stories and participatory experiences. NFB producers are embedded in communities across the country, from St. John’s to Vancouver, working with talented creators on innovative and socially relevant projects. The NFB is a leader in gender equity in film and digital media production, and is working to strengthen Indigenous-led production, guided by the recommendations of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. NFB productions have won over 7,000 awards, including 18 Canadian Screen Awards, 17 Webbys, 12 Oscars and more than 100 Genies. To access NFB works, visit NFB.ca or download our apps for mobile devices.
*ACIC: Independent Filmmaker Assistance Program (French program of NFB)
About Les Films de l’Autre
Les Films de l’Autre is a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage formal research and freedom of creation in independent film. The centre holds a unique position in Quebec’s cinematic community, bringing together filmmakers who are both producers and directors of their works.
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