Improvised film

Saturday march 12th › 21 h 30 › Salle François-Brassard › Improvised film

Jean-François Rivard

« Good god, already! These are the three words that came to my mind when I was invited to produce the improvised film for the Festival’s 15th anniversary. A decade has gone by since I climbed onstage for the first time and received the constraints for Small, Medium, Large. Am I the only one to think that time just flies by? That’s why one must make the most of it and this invitation represents quite an opportunity to come back and enjoy with you this great Festival that has been so generous with me. I only hope that these last years will have given me some wisdom in the management of stress because, against these unknown constraints, this second film makes me feel as if it was the first.

If somebody could prescribe me tranquilizers, it would be appreciated! »

One cineaste, a reduced team, 48 hours, constraint imposed by the public, script development, shooting, editing and very little sleep later...

As a long time friend of the Festival, producer of the first improvised film, subject of a retrospective at REGARD in 2007, we may nearly say that Jean-François is part of the team. This year, Rivard climbs back on the ring with all his boldness and faces again the challenge of creating a film within 48 hours, watch in hand. His return marks our 15 years and also symbolizes the passage of another level. Participate in the creation of the film and join the public, as well as Jean-François and his team, for the choice of constraints during the opening’s cocktail.

Jean-François Rivard’s bio

As soon as with his first film, Kopps, Jean-François Rivard earned the public and jury Award at the Vidéastes Recherché-es contest. He then distinguished himself as a script-writer and director at many international festivals with Soowitch, Kuproquo and Noël Blank (Génie award 2004 for best short film drama), which were all presented at REGARD. Beyond putting his signature on many advertising films, notably for Bell Canada, he participated in the series La Chambre 13 with the episode titled Ovocyte which he wrote and directed. In 2005, he obtained an unequivocal success on Radio Canada with the TV series Les Invincibles, which he wrote and directed with François Létourneau. After three seasons, Les Invincibles distinguished themselves by receiving numerous awards at the Gémeaux 2009, among which: best script, best production and best series. Les Invincibles were also the subject of an adaptation which was diffused on ARTE in France. Jean-François presently works at new series with his partner François Létourneau.