October 12, 2017 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
The National Film Board of Canada returns to the Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FCIAT) this year with four films, including two world premieres: the animated short Un printemps (Winds of Spring) (NFB), by Keyu Chen, and the feature documentary Labrecque, une caméra pour la mémoire (ACPAV/NFB), by Michel La Veaux. The former tells the tale of a young girl who, driven by the irrepressible need for self-fulfillment, dreams of leaving the family nest, while the latter captures the great director and cinematographer Jean-Claude Labrecque’s passionate, humanistic perspective on the films, culture, and history of Quebec. Two other animated shorts round out the NFB slate for the festival: Diane Obomsawin’s J’aime les filles (I Like Girls) (NFB) and La dent (The Tooth) (Canal+/Sacrebleu Productions/NFB), directed by Guy Delisle. The FCIAT takes place in Rouyn-Noranda and runs October 28 to November 2, 2017.
Un printemps (Winds of Spring) by Keyu Chen (6 min) – World premiere
Produced at the NFB by Marc Bertrand, with executive producer Julie Roy.
Festival screening: Monday, October 30, at 1:00 p.m. (Théâtre du cuivre)
“This film draws on a combination of my memories, like a dream. Part of it comes from my life here—particularly with respect to nature. When I first arrived in Rouyn-Noranda, the forest, lakes, and mountains were exactly what I imagined Canada would be… The wind in my film comes from here!” — Keyu Chen, director
- Unfolding with the rhythm of the seasons, Un printemps tells the tender story of a young girl who, driven by the irrepressible need for self-fulfillment, decides to leave the family nest. Composed of fluid transitions and fine, spare lines inspired by Chinese ink painting, Un printemps showcases the already well-developed aesthetic of this emerging filmmaker, whose visual style evokes the young artist’s Asian roots as well as the vast spaces of her adopted home in Quebec. The winner of the 21st edition of the NFB’s Cinéaste recherché(e) competition, Keyu Chen studied animation for two years in Beijing, then left her native China and moved to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 3D production. She now lives in Montreal. Who better to talk about the importance of following your dreams even if it means leaving your country and being far away from your family?
Labrecque, une caméra pour la mémoire by Michel La Veaux (90 min) – World premiere
Produced by Nicole Hubert with executive producer Bernadette Payeur for the Association coopérative de productions audiovisuelles (ACPAV) and co-produced by the NFB, with Nathalie Cloutier as producer and Colette Loumède as executive producer.
Festival screening: Sunday, October 29, at 1:00 p.m. (Théâtre du cuivre), preceded by J’aime les filles by Diane Obomsawin and Bagages by Paul Tom.
- A genuine encounter with filmmaker Jean-Claude Labrecque, this feature-length doc underscores not only the importance of his work (especially in the documentary medium) but also his passion for film. The bond between Labrecque and director Michel La Veaux allows us to see beyond the images and discover the smaller story hidden within the larger one. La Veaux shares with us his own love for film and the humanistic perspective from which Labrecque has used his camera to etch the great moments of Quebec’s culture and history into Quebeckers’ collective memory. The world premiere screening will be attended by La Veaux, a friend and regular patron of the festival and an acclaimed Quebec cinematographer (Le démantèlement) and director (Hôtel La Louisiane). Labrecque begins a theatrical run at the Cinémathèque québécoise on January 12, 2018.
J’aime les filles by Diane Obomsawin (8 min)
Produced at the NFB by Marc Bertrand, with executive producer Julie Roy.
Festival screening: Sunday, October 29, at 1:00 p.m. (Théâtre du cuivre)
- Endearing anthropomorphic figures tell real-life stories, revealing the nitty-gritty about the first loves of four women who share funny and intimate tales of one-sided infatuation, mutual attraction, erotic moments, and fumbling attempts at sexual expression.
- The film has garnered numerous awards at festivals, including the Grand Prize for Independent Short Animation at the 2016 Ottawa International Animation Festival.
La dent by Guy Delisle (3 min)
An international co-production between the NFB (Julie Roy and Marc Bertrand), Canal+, and Sacrebleu Productions (Ron Dyens).
Festival screening: Tuesday, October 31, at 6:30 p.m. (Théâtre du cuivre)
- The tooth fairy is a no-show in this whimsical look at fatherhood starring the “bad dad” from Quebecker Guy Delisle’s popular cartoon collection, Le guide du mauvais père. Featuring the voices of actors François Létourneau and Frédéric Larose.
- The film is part of the Chroniques du 9e art collection, launched at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Comprising four three-minute shorts created by acclaimed cartoonists from Quebec and France, Chroniques celebrates the affinity between comic books and animated films.
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Related Products
Electronic Press Kit | Images, trailers, synopsis: I Like Girls | The Tooth | Winds of Spring
Labrecque, une caméra pour la mémoire Excerpt (in French only): https://vimeo.com/236761436/a0d2b7e7ae
Associated Links
Association coopérative de productions audiovisuelles (ACPAV)
Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Théâtre du Cuivre
Cinémathèque québécoise