The NFB at RVF : Take a journey of discovery with the NFB!
Detailed program (pdf) Registration form onlineThe 2024 edition of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF) is emphasizing the joy of discovery.
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is taking part in the RVF for the 19th year in a row, with five programs of films available throughout Francophonie Month, from March 1 to 31. These documentary and animation programs are offered free of charge to groups, organizations and institutions that would like to hold screenings, either in-person or online, during this epic celebration of the Francophonie.
Though the NFB is no longer a young institution, it still nurtures up-and-coming artists, showcasing stories that delight, educate and open the eyes of viewers young and old alike. The films in these programs help us discover and share our stories, cultures and visions of the world.
Five programs for virtual or in-person screenings:
Program 1: Head in the Stars (14+)
The documentary series Étoile du Nord follows the inspiring journey of Laurie Rousseau-Nepton, resident astronomer at the renowned Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. As head of the SIGNALS project, she leads a team of some 60 scientists. Together, they study the formation of stars to better understand their influence on the universe.
Directed by Patrick Bossé, the series portrays the extraordinary daily life of this Quebec-born scientist with Innu roots. From the summit of the volcano Mauna Kea, Laurie uses cutting-edge instruments to make the sky reveal its secrets. The five short episodes, which blend Rousseau-Nepton’s personal story with scientific explanations, reveal a determined young woman who shines in a traditionally male-dominated profession. An outstanding science popularizer, Laurie conveys her passion for celestial objects and the importance of knowing where we came from to understand where we’re going.
Étoile du Nord (North Star) | Patrick Bossé | 2023 | 5 × 15 min | voiceover in English
Program 2: Building Community (16+)
In 2015 and 2016, Montreal’s Collège de Maisonneuve found itself at the centre of media attention on several occasions, thanks to multiple attempts by young people to leave for jihad in Syria and Iraq, as well as a number of incidents and fights prematurely attributed to the radicalization of certain students. In response, the CEGEP decided to make the notion of living together in harmony a special pedagogical project. It hired “hall workers” and encouraged intercultural meetings, discussion forums, intergenerational debates and other projects, hoping that this knowledge sharing about the different cultures represented at the school would take place in a spirit of goodwill. The series is based on the points of view of seven students recorded in 2018 and in the fall of 2021. We see them at a turning point in the construction of their identity, and we discover their vision of the world, their values and their frustrations with adulthood, the job market and social pressure.
Maisonneuve | Jean-Martin Gagnon | 2023 | 6 × 30 min | English subtitles
Program 3: Tomorrow Is Yet to Be Discovered (15+)
In Travailler autrement (Work Different), Julien Capraro examines the new world of work, which has been turned on its head by the pandemic. The concept of remote work raises questions not only about productivity and work-life balance, but also about our living spaces, urban planning and the need to consider the environment in every aspect of life. A thorough look at a complex subject that’s spurring employees of all ages to question their future at work.
Travailler autrement (Work Different) | Julien Capraro | 2023 | 50 min | English subtitles
Program 4: The Quest for Self (12+)
52 minutes
This compilation takes a humorous and imaginative look at the turmoil of discovering one’s identity and independence. In L’impossible été de Jules, Marie-Julie Dallaire portrays the tensions between a mother and her teenage son during the pandemic. With Alchimie moderne, Bren López Zepeda offers a breathless and vibrant quest for self. Samuel Cantin’s Le syndrome de la tortue reflects on the sometimes troubling physical transformations of adolescence. Ici par ici paints a picture of the childhood of Diane Obomsawin, who grew up between Quebec and France. In Janice Nadeau’s HARVEY, a young boy has to learn how to deal with grief. In Le fabuleux calendrier, Meky Ottawa takes an artist’s look at how people come up with interesting and creative ways to avoid social functions in favour of their own private space. And in La nuit du Nalujuk, by Jennie Williams, we encounter a community and its traditions.
L’impossible été de Jules (Jules’ Impossible Summer) | Marie-Julie Dallaire | 2020 | 14 min | English subtitles
Alchimie moderne (Modern Alchemy) | Bren López Zepeda | 2022 | 2 min | English version
Le syndrome de la tortue (The Turtle Syndrome) | Samuel Cantin | 2021 | 4 min | English version
Ici par ici (Here and There) | Diane Obomsawin | 2006 | 9 min | English version
HARVEY | Janice Nadeau | 2023 | 9 min | English version
Le fabuleux calendrier (The Fake Calendar)| Meky Ottawa | 2019 | 1 min | English version
La nuit du Nalujuk (Nalujuk Night) | Jennie Williams | 2021 | 13 min | English version
Program 5: Now We’ve Seen It All (8+)
36 minutes
Make way for whimsy and imagination! In the musical animated short La fille au beret rouge, Janet Perlman takes us on an extremely colourful journey through the Montreal metro. Louis Bodart’s 100 miles recounts a road trip that goes hilariously off the rails. Bouche décousue, by Andrea Dorfman, reminds us that while honesty is generally the best policy, too much of a good thing can be problematic. In La fille qui détestait les livres, Jo Meuris tells the story of a dislike that turns into a passion. Michèle Lemieux’s Nuit d’orage poses questions typically asked by children and offers some quirky answers. And Qalupalik, by Ame Papatsie, relates the legend of a sea monster that punishes disobedient children.
La fille au béret rouge (The Girl with the Red Beret) | Janet Perlman | 2023 | 6 min | Song in French, without words
100 miles | Louis Bodart | 2022 | 1 min | Without words
Bouche décousue (Big Mouth) | Andrea Dorfman | 2012 | 8 min | English version
La fille qui détestait les livres (The Girl Who Hated Books) | Jo Meuris | 2006 | 7 min | English version
Nuit d’orage (Stormy Night) | Michèle Lemieux | 2003 | 9 min | English version
Nunavut Animation Lab: Qalupalik | Ame Papatsie | 2010 | 5 min | English version