The 42e International Cinema Festival in Abitibi-Témiscamingue (FICAT), which begins on Saturday, gives pride of place to historical dramas and Quebec cinema. The event also marks the return of seasoned filmmakers, and makes way for the next generation with its short film program, Espace court, and its professional component, La Watch.
Tell me why these things are so beautifulthe latest film by Lyne Charlebois, which depicts the love story between brother Marie-Victorin and his young assistant Marcelle Gauvreau, will be presented at the closing, next Thursday.
“It’s a very sweet film, which we enjoy watching,” summarizes Jacques Matte, co-founder and president of the festival. It’s a beautiful film about love, about science, and a touching portrait of a fascinating character. »
Historical biographical films
This is the first feature film by the Quebec filmmaker since Borderlinewhich earned him the Jutra prize for best production in 2009.
Tell me why these things are so beautiful stars Alexandre Goyette as the botanist and Mylène Mackay as his protégé. Marie-Victorin met the latter at 46, while she was 26.
She first becomes his student, then his assistant. In particular, he offers her lessons on sexuality, an eminently taboo subject at the time. The lovers maintained an epistolary exchange until the professor’s death, exploring in their letters human desires and “biology without veil”, they said.
It is also a historical film, but of a completely different register, which will open the festival on Saturday. Abbot stone. A life of fighting tells the life of Henri Grouès, who took the name “Abbé Pierre” as a resistance fighter during the Second World War, and created, among other things, false papers for Jews. ” It’s a biopic more classic in its narration, but very interesting. The staging is impressive,” underlines Mr. Matte.
Professional section
La Watch, the professional aspect of FICAT, is back for a fourth edition. This is a unique mentoring program intended for emerging local filmmakers, including those who present films within the Espace court program. High-caliber artists meet them and answer their questions in a chalet in the heart of the forest.
“Our selection of mentors is impressive,” says Danny Lennon, the programmer who coordinates La Watch. Denis Côté, Mariloup Wolfe, Ariane Louis-Seize and Martin Dubreuil are among the 15 guests who will introduce themselves to the apprentice directors in turn.
“I wanted to do something different, that you couldn’t find at another festival,” says Mr. Lennon. I created a program that I myself would have wanted to attend. That’s why I thought of the waterfront chalet — a typically Abitibi experience, which aims to help young people in the region. It’s a barrage of useful information for them. »
Springboard for the short film
Danny Lennon is well known in the Quebec film industry. Director and founder of the Prends ça court! prize gala, former director of programming for the Regard festival and programmer at the Phi Center, he began his career at FICAT more than 20 years ago.
“I knew I wanted to specialize in short films and I saw all the potential that this regional festival could develop in that area,” he says. Since then, I have trained young people from the region, who took my place, and FICAT has remained a springboard of choice for short films from here. »
The programmer, who has started to become more actively involved in the festival four years ago, is particularly proud to present this year The time of the jestersby Pierre Falardeau, for his thirtieth birthday.
“Manon Leriche, close collaborator and former spouse of Falardeau, agreed to come and meet the public with their son, Jules, who is also a director. It’s an excellent reason to see this classic of Quebec cinema again on the big screen. »