Launched by the NFB’s French Documentary Studio under the direction of Colette Loumède, the 5 Shorts Project visits Quebec’s regions to discover new filmmaking talent. After celebrating artists from Quebec City and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, the program now turns its attention to Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where the NFB worked with Nadagam Films, a production company in Val-d’Or headed by Serge Bordeleau.

The third edition of 5 Shorts Project features, for the first time, five female directors, two of whom hail from the Kitcisakik Anicinape Community. This year, Émilie Villeneuve (Granny and Mia), Evelyne Papatie (Children of the Nomad), Délia Gunn (Délia 9 to 5), Jessy Poulin (The Mental Load for Dummies), and Gabrielle Cornellier (Toes Heels Toes Heels) took up the challenge of creating a very short film for the web. These films—moving, funny, and powerful—have distinctive styles, and all take a direct, meaningful, and uninhibited look at the family, the community, and the world.

GRANNY AND MIA

Synopsis 

As viewed through the lens of Émilie Villeneuve, the making of a rainbow cake takes on the magical power of bringing generations together. Mia, the director’s six-year-old daughter, is the amused and mischievous narrator of Granny and Mia, a short film in which she chats with her great-grandmother about school, being left-handed, and her wildest dreams.

Synopsis – short

In this film narrated by a six-year-old girl, the making of a rainbow cake takes on the magical power of bringing generations together.

CHILDREN OF THE NOMAD

Synopsis

Filmmaker Evelyne Papatie, who comes from a large, historically nomadic family, writes a magnificent, poetic letter to her children recounting the family history and heroism of their grandfather. In the autobiographical film Children of the Nomad, the bicycle on which she travelled all over Canada to meet different Indigenous communities becomes a powerful symbol of heritage, communication, and coming together.

Synopsis – short

The filmmaker, who comes from a large nomadic family, writes a magnificent, poetic letter to her children in which the bicycle becomes a powerful symbol of heritage, communication, and coming together.

DÉLIA 9 TO 5

Synopsis

At Réservoir-Dozois in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, director Délia Gunn, eight months pregnant, goes about her daily tasks: caring for children, fetching water, giving baths, and stacking wood. Délia 9 to 5 is a direct, unvarnished, yet tender and humorous portrait of a typical day, from morning to night.

Synopsis – short

A direct, unvarnished, yet tender and humorous portrait of a typical day in the life of director Délia Gunn at Réservoir-Dozois while she is eight months pregnant.

THE MENTAL LOAD FOR DUMMIES

Synopsis

This experiential documentary focuses, with a generous dose of humour and style, on a very serious problem: overwork. We hear the voices of Marie-Claude, 40, Madeleine, 65; Lina, 46; and Chantale, 54—four Abitibi women who do too much. Jessy Poulin invites viewers to reflect on the role of women in the home, on work/life balance, and on the dangers of exhaustion. The Mental Load for Dummies is a direct and much-needed invitation to “take a load off your mind.”

Synopsis – short

In this humorous experiential documentary, four overworked Abitibi women encourage viewers to reflect on work/life balance and the dangers of exhaustion.

TOES HEELS TOES HEELS

Synopsis

In a Rouyn-Noranda community hall, 30 people gather for an introductory line dancing course. People in their 20s and 30s are matched with seniors, while the charming and dynamic instructor, Lorraine Camirand, calls out the dance steps. Directed by Gabrielle Cornellier, Toes Heels Toes Heels documents a fun coming together of generations that uses dance as an opportunity for people to meet, laugh, and spend time with other members of their community.

Synopsis – short

Thirty people from different generations come together in a community hall to learn line dancing with a dynamic instructor, Lorraine Camirand.