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Social distancing stories that bring us closer together

  • Employing a range of cinematic techniques, three directors craft stylish and thoughtful reflections on the COVID-19 experience.

  • Animated bedtime stories for budding rebels in the post-COVID world.

  • Inspiring, insightful and wildly inventive, these works explore the physical and emotional aspects of pandemic isolation.

  • These creators defy clichéd representations of their communities while navigating the uncharted waters of a global health emergency.

  • Distinct voices, speaking from different points on the COVID-19 map, enhance our understanding of the pandemic experience.

  • What new knowledge does COVID reveal? As old systems and attitudes crumble, artists muse on the impact and creative potential of disruption.

  • Made in the Beyond the Curve documentary lab, these seven short films capture their creators’ perspectives on the pandemic’s multifaceted impacts in Quebec.

The Curve

The Curve is the pulse of our nation, beating in its own time during this unprecedented time. Our creators, with their talent and creativity, are bringing to life the voice of Canadians touched by Covid-19, both near and far.

The Curve is an online destination where these experiences will be expressed in animation, documentary and digital storytelling formats.

Explore

Nadine Gomez

Nadine Gomez
After completing her master’s degree in communication from UQAM, Nadine Gomez directed her first documentary, Le Horse Palace, in 2012, followed by the short film Métro in 2015. The latter was created through Regard sur Montréal, a film residency of which she was the first recipient. Her second feature, Exarcheia: The Chanting of Birds, shot in Athens, premiered at RIDM 2018 in the national competition. Besides her many creative projects, Nadine has been on the board of the Conseil des arts de Montréal as head of the film committee since 2018.

Nicolas Paquet

Nicolas Paquet
Indie filmmaker Nicolas Paquet made his first documentary, La règle d’or, in 2011. This was followed by the feature-length Living Like the Land (Ceux comme la terre) in 2014 and the short film Sugar Shack Tales (Les sucriers) in 2016. Both have screened extensively at festivals in Canada and abroad. Snack Bar Rhapsody (Esprit de cantine, 2017) screened at RIDM that same year. Paquet brings rural realities to the screen and gives a voice to those who defy the status quo.

Eli Jean Tahchi

Eli Jean Tahchi
Lebanese-born screenwriter and director Eli Jean Tahchi makes films that are engaged, hard‑hitting, metaphorically rich and profoundly human. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in film production from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts. In 2011, he moved to Quebec to study film at the Université de Montréal, then at INIS, in the mixed program funded by Netflix. He has since worked in multiple genres, producing award-winning works that are culturally diverse and screen at festivals worldwide.

Marie-Julie Dallaire

Marie-Julie Dallaire
Marie-Julie Dallaire has close to 30 years’ experience directing films, TV shows and ads. Her career kicked off with her participation in La Course destination monde, a globetrotting adventure that saw her write, direct and edit 21 short documentaries in six months, working entirely alone. In 2015, Denis Villeneuve hired her to be his second-unit director on Arrival, the American sci-fi feature starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. In 2019, she co-wrote and directed Big Giant Wave (Comme une vague), a documentary essay on the importance of music. Jean-Marc Vallée was the film’s executive producer.

Christine Chevarie-Lessard

Christine Chevarie-Lessard
INIS and UQAM graduate Christine Chevarie-Lessard has worked in film, television, radio and the web. Her documentary feature A Delicate Balance (Point d’équilibre, co-produced by Productions Avenida and the NFB) premiered at RIDM 2018, where it won the Prix des détenues. It went on to screen at national and international festivals as well as airing on Unis TV, ICI ARTV and PBS and garnering a Gémeaux nomination in 2019.

Olivier D. Asselin

Olivier D. Asselin
A graduate of INIS and UQAM’s École des médias, Olivier D. Asselin probes current social and political issues through fiction, documentary and experimental works. His 88-minute documentary Pipelines, Power and Democracy premiered at RIDM 2015 and has since screened at numerous other festivals. The multi-award-winning Fondations (2019) won the Best Documentary Feature Film award at the Fine Arts Film Festival in Venice, California. Asselin’s most recent fiction short, The Assailant, premiered at Fantasia 2018.

Valérie Bah

Valérie Bah
Montreal-based writer, filmmaker and photographer Valérie Bah explores Black feminism, queer resistance and the world of dreams through her documentary and experimental works.

Tatiana Zinga Botao

Tatiana Zinga Botao
Actor, writer and filmmaker Tatiana Zinga Botao is a graduate of the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal. Her film credits include the lead role in Wanted: Strong Woman, a short directed by Marilyn Cooke, and another alongside Robin Aubert in Jeune Juliette, the latest feature by Anne Émond. She has performed on theatre stages at the TNM, the Quat’Sous and the CTD’A. She can also be seen in the TV series Nouvelle adresse, District 31, Les jeunes loups, Blue Moon and À la valdrague, and in the web series La maison des folles. Tatiana is currently directing her first experimental short film for the NFB, and La Forge Québec Cinéma, presented by Netflix, selected her feature film project for its 2020 mentorship program.