Presented by Hydro-Québec, REGARD – The Saguenay International Short Film Festival, unveils its program for the 29th edition, taking place from March 19 to 23. With 200 short films spread over 38 programs, 65 countries will be represented.
Of the selected films, 90 are from Quebec and 100 from Canada. The selection includes some of the biggest names in Quebec cinema, such as Francis Leclerc, Caroline Monnet, Vincent René-Lortie, Pierre-Luc Latulipe, Pier-Philippe Chevigny and Theodore Ushev, as well as a number of promising young talents.
“It's a record year for Quebec shorts, with nearly half of the 200 films presented coming from here. The 200 films are a reflection of today’s society. The programs echo current events, tackle human and social issues, but also allow us to have fun, to let loose and have a good time. Come and celebrate the people and talents of this world!” - Mélissa Bouchard, Programming Director
The 29th edition also sees the Festival inaugurating two new venues in downtown Chicoutimi. First is the REBAR, at the Festival HQ (350 rue du Hâvre), where our guests are welcomed, and where festival-goers can meet up and party – from Wednesday to Saturday, between 4pm and 2am. Next up is Le Pigeonnier (416 rue Racine Est), where most of the Marché du court activities will take place.
"This year, we want the whole city to be in REGARD mode. From Jonquière to La Baie, more than a dozen venues will vibrate to the rhythm of our activities and screenings. And with two new sites in the heart of downtown Chicoutimi, we can create a real hub for the REGARD community." - Marie-Michèle Plante, festival director
Official Competition
The Festival starts on Wednesday, March 19, in Theater C, with the Official Competition and its ten programs of cinematic surprises. With over 50 new releases and must-see films of the year, it's all about love, friendship, family, and moral and social issues. These programs always take place in the larger venues, either the Théâtre C in Chicoutimi or the Salle François-Brassard at the Cégep de Jonquière. Among the new Quebec films to look out for are Vincent René-Lortie's A Dying Tree and Nicolas Lachapelle's Le Punk de Natashquan, both world premieres. Also of note are Juan Frank Hernandez's Platanero, just back from its Sundance premiere, and this year’s opening film, Caroline Monnet's Pidikwe, which premiered last week in Berlin.
Focus Competition
The five-part Focus Competition is a showcase for emerging talent, diversity and often marginalized voices: Tourner à Tout Prix supports emerging and self-produced films; 100% Régions is an ode to eccentric filmmakers; Short & Queer celebrates sexual and gender diversity; Americana immerses us in Latin American production, and Regards Autochtones is a platform for First Nations filmmakers to bring their stories to life.
The 100% Régions program, presented by Hydro-Québec and Culture Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, includes works by filmmakers from Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (The Magician, L'oncle de Yougoslavie), Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Le patenteux), Capitale-Nationale (Interurbain), Estrie (A dance for Pandore), Matane (Toujours les mêmes), and Sept-îles (L'avant-dernière fois que j'ai fait caca dans mes culottes).
This year, the Regards Autochtones prize, presented by the Canada Media Fund, has been renamed the Alanis Obomsawin Award. The filmmaker will be on hand to award the prize and to present the short film Mon ami le Cheval Vert, which was selected in the school program. Coop Vidéo is also offering a six-month creative residency worth $16,000 to a Quebec indigenous filmmaker who has submitted a film to this year’s edition.
Thematic Programs
Thirteen themed programs are on the schedule for this 29th edition, including several festival classics making a comeback: Arts & Essai, Genre Films (presented twice this year) and the public favourite, Coups de cœur du public.
Récits de guerres is a new program and will immerse moviegoers in the daily lives of those living under constant threat, haunted by memories, or forced to fight. Le mal dominant, presented by Radio-Canada, explores mental health issues through the ‘lifelines’ that help protagonists maintain some balance. Finally, Sorcelleries invites the audience on a mesmerizing journey between visible and invisible worlds.
Halfway between a retrospective and a master class, Dialogues avec Phillip Barker et Vincent René-Lortie, presented by Le Quotidien, is a fascinating exchange of ideas between two directors who in recent years have won awards at the Festival.
On a festive note, REGARD celebrates the 15th anniversary of Kinomada, the world's largest nomadic creative short film laboratory, with a selection of films from the past 15 years showcasing the project's colossal contribution to Quebec’s cinematic landscape.
Presented by Cégep d'Alma, the Playlist session, which highlights Quebec’s music scene with music videos and films, will delight those nostalgic for the good old days of MusiquePlus. Carte Blanche au Post Porn Arts Fest (Poland) takes a political and feminist look at contemporary sexuality, body representation, queer culture, and sex work.
And let's not forget Dernières Mondiales, presented by Micro du Lac, the only program in which the good films have been removed. With humour and self-mockery, filmmakers comment live on the worst short films of their career.
Finally, the two new Palmarès sessions, presented by Mode Choc, give festival-goers the chance to watch or re-watch this year’s prize-winning films.
Youth Competition
The Festival’s Youth team invites parents and grandparents to (re)discover REGARD through the eyes of their children. For moments of pure wonder, two P’tites vues programs for ages 3 to 7 are offered: one in Jonquière on Saturday and the other in Chicoutimi on Sunday. Older children eager for cinematic discoveries and memorable encounters can attend Grandes vues, a special event for 8- to 12-year-olds in Chicoutimi.
These three programs are presented by Hydro-Québec. Finally, the teen program, created by teens, is back! A committee of seven young cinephiles has carefully selected this year’s lineup, which they have named Vision⁷. Guided by Noémie Bouchard, Director of the Youth section, and youth workers from Adolescents et Vie de Quartier de Chicoutimi, these passionate film lovers watched over 30 short films before curating their final selection.
There are a number of Quebec children's films to keep an eye out for this year: Sirène by Marilou Caravecchia-Pelletier and Rang du lièvre by Tim Bouvette, both world premieres; Le Pouillaouin by Carolyne and Katia Kurtness, a Mashteuiatsh film presented in one of the P'tites Vues programs; Boîte à Savon by Quebec City filmmaker Jimmy Pettigrew, another must-see film with a strong festival track record; and Alexa Tremblay-Francoeur's Saguenay-based short La petite ancêtre, undoubtedly one of the year's favourites.
Story time with Barbada
Barbada de Barbades, a renowned drag artist and jury member of the Youth Competition, will host her famous Storytime session for local families on Saturday, March 22, at 1pm at the Les Bouquinistes bookstore. She will read, among other tales, a classic children's book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: The Gruffalo, a story that also inspired a short film previously featured at Les P’tites vues. The event is free, with registration available at festivalregard.com.
Throughout the spring, the Youth team will welcome families to screenings starting March 20 and host more than 16,000 students from the region as part of the school program. A tour to visit schools in the Lac-Saint-Jean area is also planned for April.
Events
The REGARD Festival offers an immersive experience with a variety of events surrounding the short film screenings. Festival-goers are once again invited to dive into the electrifying world of the infamous Cabaret, presented in collaboration with La Noce, on March 21 and 22 from 11pm at Hôtel Le Montagnais. Concerts and surprises are on the menu. The Festival is also organizing 5 à 7 each evening, before select screenings. In addition, the Ruelle du court will bring Saguenay residents together for a friendly pétanque tournament and a neighborhood party, in partnership with Ubisoft Saguenay. Finally, the award ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 23, at 10am at Le Pigeonnier. During this event, which is open to everyone, the five juries will unveil this year’s 15 award winners.
Ticket Office
In addition to the Festival Passports – on sale for several weeks now – individual tickets for certain programs will go on sale at noon on February 26 on the festival website. Please note that admission to the Cabaret is free for Passport holders.