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Catherine Lepage’s short film Ultra Strong (NFB) selected for official competition at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival

PRESS RELEASE
25/03/2026

March 25, 2026 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival will present the international premiere of the National Film Board of Canada animated short film Ultra Strong (Ultra forte), directed by filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Catherine Lepage. Screening in the official competition, the film is a deliciously self-deprecating work of autofiction, featuring Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) and Régine Chassagne (Arcade Fire). The festival runs from June 21 to 27, 2026.

Ultra Strong by Catherine Lepage (9 min 35 s)
Produced at the NFB by Christine Noël
Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/ultra-strong

Quick Facts

  • Special appearance by Bruce Dickinson, legendary singer, songwriter and frontman of Iron Maiden, who plays an idealized version of himself in both the English and French versions of the film.
  • Original music by Régine Chassagne (founding member of Arcade Fire), marking her debut as a solo film score composer (under the name Régine); she also voices the narration in English and French.
  • Catherine Lepage, who previously directed the NFB animated short The Great Malaise in 2019, used an almost all-female crew for Ultra Strong. In addition to Régine Chassagne (narration and music composition), the team includes sound designer Sacha Ratcliffe, animator Rachel Samson and editor Xi Feng.
  • Catherine Lepage’s inspiration for Ultra Strong comes from her experience growing up in a Quebec City suburb, and the story is drawn from her books Bouées and Voler au-dessus des trous.

About the Film

In this 2D digital animation that evokes silkscreen printing, Catherine tries to toughen herself to impress the “princes” in her circle, who turn out to be more off-putting than charming. When all her dubious strategies fail, she must face the ultimate test: learning how to embrace her true nature. 

About Catherine Lepage 

Montreal-based animation filmmaker, graphic novel writer and illustrator Catherine Lepage is known for her distinctive visual style and the self-deprecating humour she uses to broach sensitive topics, such as mental health, social pressure and self-affirmation. Her first short film, The Great Malaise (2019), screened at over 50 festivals, including an international premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival, and won 7 awards, in addition to being named a Vimeo Staff Pick. Ultra Strong is her second film with the NFB.

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Version française ici.

Media Relations

  • 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 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, 7,000 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 12 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.