6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
ALL ACTIVITIES FREE OF CHARGE!
LIVE OUT YOUR BIG-SCREEN DREAMS WITH THE NFB AT NUIT BLANCHE
On March 2, head over to the NFB Space and dive into the world of film. Snap a glamour shot on the red carpet with a real Oscar® (yes, you read that right!) and star in your own animated short. Enjoy delightful film programs for all ages, screening in a loop at the Alanis Obomsawin Theatre. Don’t miss a magical night that promises to make all your secret filmmaking dreams come true.
Presented as part of Nuit Blanche à Montréal
TAKE A SELFIE WITH AN OSCAR®
Strut the red carpet and pose with the NFB’s honorary Oscar®, awarded in 1988. Share the photo with family and friends and on your socials. What could be more glamorous?
MAKE YOUR OWN ANIMATED FILM
Be the main character in your own short film with one of two stop-motion animation (pixilation) stations. Then you can share it with your friends and be a star!
ENJOY AN ASSORTMENT OF SHORT FILMS
Take in two delightful programs of short documentaries and animated films—one for families and the other at the end of the evening—screening in a loop. Original, award-winning, Oscar®-nominated, hilarious films. There’s something for everyone.
*Approximate runtime 32 minutes, no reservations required
Family program schedule
18:15 / 19:00 / 19:45 / 20:30
Late-night program schedule
21:15 / 22:00 / 22:45 / 23:30 / 12:15
FAMILY PROGRAM
Sleeping Betty
Claude Cloutier, 2007
Without words
In this animated short, Sleeping Betty is stuck in bed, victim to a strange bout of narcolepsy. The King calls on his subjects to rescue her and they all respond to the call: Uncle Henry VIII, Aunt Victoria, an oddly emotional alien, a funky witch and a handsome prince. But will a kiss really be enough to wake the sleeping princess? The film, drawn in ink, is a classic example of the anachronistic and playful world of Claude Cloutier.
Hedgehog’s Home
Eva Cvijanović, 2017
French version
Winner of over 35 international awards, Hedgehog’s Home is an animated film by Eva Cvijanović. Based on the classic story by Branko Ćopić, a writer from the former Yugoslavia, it is a warm and universal tale that reminds us there truly is no place like home.
What Rhymes with Toxic
Lynn Smith, 2021
French version
Chemical sludge is spilling into the lake. For the city councillor responsible, it’s just a big nuisance. For the wildlife, it’s a catastrophe. One turtle, in her desperate hour, summons up the courage to leave her home and speak truth to power. Turns out there’s more at stake than just the lake.
The Cat Came Back
Cordell Barker, 1988
English version
This hilarious animated short is based on the century-old folk song of the same name. Old Mr. Johnson makes increasingly manic attempts to rid himself of a little yellow cat that just won’t stay away…
LATE-NIGHT PROGRAM
Nalujuk Night
Jennie Williams, 2021
English version
Despite the frights, Nalujuk Night is a beloved annual custom, showing that sometimes it can be fun to be scared. Rarely witnessed outside of Nunatsiavut, this event is an exciting chance for Inuit, young and old, to prove their courage and come together as a community to celebrate culture and tradition.
Magical Caresses: Sweet Jesus
Lori Malépart-Traversy, 2022
French version with English subtitles
*This film discusses the subjects of sex and masturbation; viewer discretion is advised.
What happens when masturbation has its “come to Jesus” moment? This animated short takes a light and humorous approach to examining religion’s moral taboos around the female body and desires. A story full of kindness and questioning, in which good and evil intermingle with prayer and caresses.
NFB Pause with colourist Sylvie Marie Fortier
Simon Rouillard, 2022
French version with English subtitles
Learn about the restoration and digitization process of the NFB’s vast film collection with professional colourist Sylvie Marie Fortier.
The Flying Sailor
Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, 2022
Without words
Two ships collide in a harbour, an explosion shatters a city, and a sailor is blasted skyward. With ears ringing, blood pulsing and guts heaving, he soars high above the mayhem and towards the great unknown. A bold blend of comedy, suspense and philosophy, The Flying Sailor is an exhilarating contemplation of the wonder and fragility of existence.
Sweet Childhood
Zviane, 2017
French version
In this animated short, cartoonist Zviane comes across an old audiocassette while packing up before a move. Just the sight of the tape plunges her back into her childhood fantasies and her perceptions of the world. But the reality of what’s on the tape results in a hilarious episode that questions just how “sweet” childhood really is.
