How do young Quebecers look at local cinema? The duty took advantage of the deliberations of the Prix collégial du cinema québécois to discuss 7e art with an audience in the prime of life. Incursion into the heart of a competition that gives local films several reasons to puff out their chests.
For 12 years, this competition, largely inspired by its literary twin, has featured five films made in Quebec that attempt to capture the hearts of students in the province.
During the year, in all registered CEGEPs and colleges, passionate professors organized viewing and discussion sessions around the five selected films. “It’s downright agriculture that we do, explains Simon Dugas, teacher at the Cégep de Saint-Laurent and organizer since the first hour of the competition. Except that we cultivate the interest of these young people for Quebec cinema. »
About fifty establishments participated this year: all had delegated a representative to Quebec, Friday, there to draw arguments in favor of their favorites – and sometimes also to torpedo the chances of triumph of others with their rants.
A general deliberation “as serious as the election of the pope in conclave”, according to Mr. Dugas, made it possible to name the victorious films by consensus. This year it is viking, by Stéphane Lafleur, who won the honours. Short films competed for the first time this year: it’s Oasisby Justine Martin, who won the prize.
In our image
Anthony Sirois, the delegate of the Cégep de Rimouski, admits it from the start: he hardly frequented Quebec cinema before the competition. “I didn’t feel like we were making genre films here,” he explains. Nevertheless vikingit may not be Star Wars, But it’s still science fiction! »
The competition enabled him to discover a cinema which, unlike the American cultural steamroller, “represents us and allows us to look at ourselves”. He particularly appreciated Arsenault and sonthe family epic with the allure of Godfather that the director Rafaël Ouellet camped in his native Bas-du-Fleuve.
“It’s happening in the area where I come from,” says Anthony enthusiastically. I found the fun to recognize myself in it; there is not an American film that could bring me that! »
In town, however, the same film seemed to get a more lukewarm reception than in the region. “At Cégep de Saint-Laurent, which is extra woke in the carpet, explains Simon Dugas, Arsenault and son didn’t lift all the way. On the other hand, the students loved Baby sitter, a very feminist and super committed film. »
A cinema that “stands up”
Those who rubbed shoulders with Quebec cinema for the first time as part of the competition promised to dive into it again, surprised by the quality of the works in the running.
“Our students have a preconceived and often very false idea of what Quebec cinema is,” observes Daniel Rondeau, teacher at John-Abbott College, an establishment in the West Island. They imagine Séraphin or summer comedies, but when we show them contemporary films, they are amazed by the quality of the works. »
“For me, Quebec cinema came down to Good cop, bad cop candidly admits Gérémy Plante, a student at John-Abbott. In his English-speaking enclave in the west of Montreal, he laments with regret, “there is no one who had spoken to him” of the 7e art made in Quebec.
For me, Quebec cinema came down to “Good cop, bad cop”
He now believes that Quebec can find its place on the international scene. “It is sure that these are more auteur films because of the small budgets, explains this regular of Netflix and other distribution platforms of this world. But we stand up to the auteur cinema that is made elsewhere. »
“You have to want it”
Many, on the other hand, criticize the marketing of Quebec cinema that is sometimes flawed with regard to young people. “You have to want to see a film to find it,” says Éloïse Paradis from Cégep de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It’s not advertised so much on social media. »
“When you’re not from Montreal and you’re not interested in it at first sight, it’s complicated to let yourself be attracted by it because you don’t hear about it,” adds Jérémie Couture, from Cégep de Rosemont.
A great admirer of Pierre Falardeau, who took his first steps in Quebec cinema thanks to Boys and to Elvis Gratton, Jérémie feels that local films still don’t show enough diversity. “In Quebec, one of our strengths is immigration, the fact that we are a blend of culture… I find that our films are still very “white” sometimes. »
The victory of a medium
Between the colorful realization of Baby sitterthe patiently woven plot of Falcon Lake and the intimate words ofA summer like thisthe diversity of the proposals had succeeded in reaching, in one way or another, the student audience.
The delegate from Lévis had even seen Baby sitter twice rather than once. “Not because I needed to,” he added. I just wanted to listen to that movie again! »
“Our cinema weighs in,” believes Marilune Sylvestre, from Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles. If we find ourselves on international platforms, it proves it! The young student believes that even if “the unlimited quantity of films” available online casts a shadow on the 7e Quebec art, distribution platforms can also serve as an international springboard for local cinema.
“If we confine ourselves to broadcasting here, that condemns our cinema to remain local,” says Marilune. However, we have our own touch: our stories and our way of telling them can radiate abroad. »
More than 1,000 students saw works made in Quebec as part of the competition this year. “There are two films that win, recalls Simon Dugas, but that, we don’t care a bit. Every year, all Quebec cinema wins here! »